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Sam Aldegheri optimistic about new cutter as he rejoins Angels

May 5, 2026

ANAHEIM — Left-hander Sam Aldegheri is confident that a new look will be just what he needs to land a consistent role at the major league level.

Aldegheri was recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake on Monday after right-hander Nick Sandlin was designated for assignment, marking his second time on the Angels’ roster this season.

With a slider that has not been as effective as it was as recently as last season, Aldegheri has turned to a cut fastball and has been optimistic about the early returns.

“In the last couple of weeks, we’ve been working on a new cutter,” he said. “I still have the old slider, but (the cutter) has been working great. I’m happy with it.”

It has been a busy season already for Aldegheri, who pitched for his native Italy in the World Baseball Classic, was called up to the Angels on April 14 and then optioned back to Salt Lake on April 17.

He made his lone major league appearance this season on the road April 16 against the New York Yankees and gave up one run and two hits over 1⅔ innings with two strikeouts. He even earned the win after the Angels’ offense took the lead with a four-run sixth inning.

The first five sliders he threw in the outing against the Yankees all were out of the strike zone.

“We talked with the staff a little bit and the slider wasn’t working really well like last year’s,” he said. “We wanted something harder so we optioned for a cutter.”

Aldegheri pitched well for Italy in March but is ready to move on from the experience. He started and gave up two runs over 1⅓ innings in an eventual victory over Puerto Rico then went 4⅔ scoreless innings in a victory over Brazil on March 7.

As satisfying as Italy’s run to the semifinals was, Aldegheri is now looking forward.

“It means everything but of course now it’s in the past,” he said. “Right now, I want to think about the present and the season.”

Even with an opening in the starting rotation on Tuesday, Aldegheri said hours before Monday’s game that he has not yet been told his role. Manager Kurt Suzuki said nothing has been decided.

“We’re going to see how (Monday) goes first,” Suzuki said. “If we don’t need him (Monday in relief), then everything’s on the table (for a starter on Tuesday).”

Aldegheri last pitched for Salt Lake last Tuesday, when he gave up five runs on eight hits over six innings against Sacramento. Immediately after he returned to Triple-A from the Angels, he went five scoreless innings, allowing two hits with a season-best seven strikeouts while earning the win against Las Vegas on April 22.

“It always feels good to come back here and have the opportunity to play at the biggest level,” Aldegheri said. “I’m ready to do whatever the team needs of me. That’s what I’m here for.”

In eight major league appearances (five starts) for the Angels over the past three seasons, Aldegheri is 2-4 with a 6.35 ERA.

Sandlin was taken off the roster after he gave up a two-run home run in the eighth to the New York Mets’ Mark Vientos in his one inning of work on Sunday. He also allowed an RBI double to Marcus Semien, with the run charged to Tayler Saucedo.

The Angels trailed 2-1 before the inning started.

Sandlin had an 11.42 ERA over eight appearances this season and had five walks with six strikeouts over 8⅔ innings. He allowed two home runs.

AWARD WINNER

Right-hander Jose Soriano learned before his start on Monday that he was named the first American League Pitcher of the Month for the 2026 season.

Soriano had a 5-1 record and a major league-leading 0.84 ERA over his first 42⅔ innings. He had five scoreless appearances through the end of April, while allowing one run over eight innings April 6 against the Atlanta Braves and three runs over five innings April 28 against the Chicago White Sox.

The honor was 12 years in the making, with right-hander Matt Shoemaker the last to earn a Pitcher of the Month award as a member of the Angels in August of 2014.

In his worst outing of the season last week, Soriano was pitching in Chicago through neck stiffness.

“He’s feeling good,” Suzuki said. “I talk to him every day and every day you ask him, he’s like, ‘I feel outstanding.’”

STILL NO WORD

Left-hander Yusei Kikuchi had an MRI on his left shoulder Friday, went on the injured list Saturday and as of Monday, the Angels still were not set to reveal any details of last week’s imaging.

“We’re waiting to get the report and have him see the doctor before we get any clarification on how we’re going to go,” Suzuki said Monday.

On Sunday, after Kikuchi was placed on the IL, Angels general manager Perry Minasian said: “We’re just waiting to see how it progresses. He’s getting looked at again and we’ll go from there.”

UP NEXT

White Sox (RHP Erick Fedde, 0-3, 3.24 ERA) at Angels (TBD), Tuesday, 6:38 p.m., Angels Broadcast Television, 830 AM

Orange County Register

News Details

Sam Aldegheri optimistic about new cutter as he rejoins Angels

AWARD WINNER

STILL NO WORD

UP NEXT

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