Gosselin returns to Atlanta, but back in Angels uniform

ATLANTA >> Phil Gosselin returned to the team he’d been with last season in the ballpark where he’d been just two weeks earlier.

The Atlanta Braves designated Gosselin for assignment earlier this month. He was at his home in Philadelphia while he was in DFA “limbo,” and then the Angels signed him. On Friday night, he was back in Atlanta, but in the opposite clubhouse.

“I really enjoyed my time here last year,” Gosselin said. “I was hoping to be back in the offseason. It didn’t work out. I’m happy to be back with these guys. A lot of good friends and coaching staff I know well and all that. It’s good to be back.”

Manager Phil Nevin said the Angels would use Gosselin in a variety of roles. He’s a right-handed hitter who can play first, second and third base and left and right field. He would seem to be a prime candidate to start at first against tough lefties.

“He’s a nice bat off the bench,” Nevin said. “He can roll out of bed Christmas morning and hit a baseball. He’s very versatile.”

Gosselin had a .676 OPS with the Angels last season. This year with the Braves he produced a .553 mark in just 24 plate appearances. He had an .830 OPS in 204 plate appearances at Triple-A.

Trout update

Mike Trout, who is on the injured list because of a rib cage injury, was with the team in Atlanta. Nevin said Trout “feels good today.” Trout is eligible to be activated as soon as Monday, and Nevin said he’ll be out “hopefully not too much longer than that.”

“He’s getting treatment,” Nevin said, “but it’s obviously not there. It’s going to take a minute.”

The Angels have signed their top 10 picks from the draft, including a record $1,497,500 for 11th-round pick Caden Dana, a high school pitcher from New Jersey. It’s the largest bonus ever for a player outside of the top 10 rounds, breaking the record the Angels set last year with their 12thround pick.

The Angels cleared room in their draft signing pool for the Dana signing by inking seven of their first nine picks to deals that were below the slot value for their picks, including first-round pick Zach Neto. The shortstop from Campbell University signed for $3.5 million, which was under the $4.41 million value for the No. 13 pick.

The Angels gave hardthrowing Tennessee righthander Ben Joyce $1 million, which was above the $702,100 value for his slot in the third round. Northwest Florida State right-hander Jake Madden signed for $997,500, nearly double the $512,900 value for his pick in the fourth round.

Homecoming

The Angels had not played in Atlanta since 2014, and they had never played at Truist Park, which opened in 2017. This series is a little extra special for Georgia natives Jared Walsh and Brandon Marsh.

Walsh said he grew up in Gwinnett, which is about 30 minutes from the ballpark. Marsh went to high school in Buford, which is about 45 minutes away, and his mother currently lives about 20 minutes away.

“It’s super cool,” Walsh said. “I have a ton of people here. Old high school coaches, college friends, people I grew up with. It’s really exciting.”

Marsh said this series had been circled on his calendar since the schedule was released a year ago.

“It’s a blessing to be here,” Marsh said. “It’s extra special.”

Also

The Angels optioned infielder David Mackinnon and called up outfielder Dillon Thomas, a necessary move while Trout is on the injured list.