Orange County's Devenski candidate for bullpen spot
TEMPE, ARIZ. ❯❯ Relievers Chris Devenski, Jonathan Holder and Jacob Webb are each enjoying something of a baseball rebirth this spring.
In Devenski's case it has the added benefit of happening with the team he cheered for as a kid in Orange County.
“It feels awesome, man,” Devenski said. “I grew up five minutes from (Angel Stadium). I used to drive by there every day to go to school.”
Devenski, a product of Gahr High and Cal State Fullerton, said his favorites were players like Tim Salmon, Garret Anderson and Troy Percival. He was 11 when he celebrated the Angels' World Series title in 2002, and then he worked as a security guard at Angel Stadium when he was in college.
Devenski was an All-Star reliever with the Houston Astros before a pair of surgeries cost him most of the past three seasons.
Holder, 29, had a 3.56 ERA in his first three years with the New York Yankees, but a shoulder injury has prevented him from pitching in the majors since 2020.
Webb, 29, had a 2.47 ERA in parts of three seasons with the Atlanta Braves, but he hurt his ankle working out during the lockout last year.
Now, all three are non-roster invites with the Angels, each vying for a spot in the bullpen.
Right-handers Carlos Estevez, Ryan Tepera and Jimmy Herget and left-handers Aaron Loup, José Quijada and Matt Moore all seem to be locks for the bullpen, with right-hander Andrew Wantz also likely to have a firm hold on a job based on last season. Jaime Barría is out of options, so he'll be on the staff in some capacity, as either a long reliever or a swing man between the rotation and the bullpen.
The Angels are expected to have eight full-time relievers and perhaps a ninth if they use a swing man for the final rotation spot.
Devenski, Holder and Webb are the three most established bullpen candidates among the non-roster players.
“My goal would be to break with the team,” Devenski said. “That's the ultimate goal. That's what I'm working towards, trying to just be the best version of myself. I was there, and then it kind of slipped away under me.”
Devenski, 32, was the Astros' 25th-round pick in 2011, and a year later he was traded to the Astros. He reached the big leagues in 2016, and in 2017 he posted a 2.68 ERA for the World Series champions. He also made the All-Star team that season.
Devenski struggled for a couple of years, and then had surgery at the end of 2020 to have bone chips removed from his elbow. He had Tommy John surgery while he was with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2021. He made it back to the big leagues late last season, pitching three games with the Philadelphia Phillies.
This spring is the first one since before the surgeries that Devenski has been 100% healthy.
He pitched a scoreless inning in his spring debut on Saturday, striking out two. Webb and Holder also pitched on Saturday. Webb worked a scoreless inning and Holder gave up one run.
“All my pitches are working pretty well,” Webb said on Sunday. “Still a work in progress, but I feel pretty good.”
Holder, who was in TripleA each of the past two seasons with the Chicago Cubs, said he didn't start to feel normal after the shoulder issues until the middle of last season.
He's eager to show the Angels he can again be the pitcher who had those solid years in the Yankees bullpen.
“I'm excited to prove it to myself and to the staff here and everybody,” Holder said.
Notes
Right-hander Chris Rodriguez (shoulder) is on the schedule to throw live batting practice, another step toward a return to action after he missed the past season and a half. “The progression has been great,” manager Phil Nevin said. “We're just kind of monitoring his bullpens and telling him to throttle back a little bit because of what he's been through the last few years, but he's been good.” …
Right-hander Griffin Canning (back) is scheduled for a second live batting practice session and then he will pitch in a game in about a week, Nevin said. …
Left-hander José Suarez will not pitch in a game the first time through the Angels rotation. The Angels will instead have him throw the equivalent of three innings in live batting practice on Tuesday. They want Suarez to spend extra time getting accustomed to pitching with the pitch timer before he works in a Cactus League game. Suarez is pitching the same day as Shohei Ohtani, so he'd be in line to take Ohtani's spot in the Cactus League rotation after Ohtani leaves for the World Baseball Classic.