Reid Detmers has not played for the Los Angeles Angels since being optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake on June 2.
His 12th start for the Bees could bring him closer to a return to the Angels than ever before.
On Friday night, Detmers played eight innings, allowing one earned run on three hits and two walks, while recording eleven strikeouts.
Reid Detmers tonight for AAA Salt Lake:
8IP, 3H, 1R, 1ER, 2BB, 11K
60% whiff-% on his slider (9/15) and changeup (3/5) pic.twitter.com/s6vLGlCZqx
— AngelsMiLB (@AngelsMiLB) 17 August 2024
There has been speculation for several weeks about Detmers’ return to the Angels. Barry Enright, pitching coach of Los Angeles, spoke to Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register at the time and acknowledged Detmers’ improvement before his 10th Triple-A start compared to his first seven.
Detmers had a 6.19 ERA in his first nine starts, but allowed just three earned runs and 14 strikeouts in his eighth and ninth starts. Entering Sunday, he was 5-6 with a 6.37 ERA, 83 strikeouts and 22 walks.
“We want him to have a winning streak,” Enright said on Aug. 5. “He’s had two that were really good. … If he has another good one, which is tomorrow, I hope to see him soon.”
The Angels didn’t make any changes to Detmer’s technique. They just wanted him to change his mental attitude.
“A lot of times it showed up in big situations, sometimes it showed up in two-strike situations,” Enright said. “He would try to make a pitch too mean. He would try to throw the fastball too hard and past somebody. The worst thing for him is when he has two strikes and suddenly it’s 3-and-2.”
“Locking guys up when you get there is going to be an ongoing process as the leadership improves. It’s more about trying to get them to hit it rather than trying to get them to miss it.”
Detmers must return to the Angels by Monday to remain in the same service-year bracket he would have been in had he not been demobilized. If he is recalled on Sunday or Monday, the Angels would have him under contract for three more seasons before he becomes a free agent. If he returns on August 20 or later, the Angels would have Detmers under contract for four more seasons.
Detmers will be eligible to referee next season if he returns by September 10.
Detmers has pitched for the Angels in parts of four seasons, compiling a career record of 15-25 with a 4.68 ERA since being selected in the first round of the 2020 draft.
