Angels Make Move Before Yankees Game

The bullpen issues run deeper than one rough night. Robert Stephenson opened the year on the 60-day injured list, now out for the season after undergoing elbow surgery and Kirby Yates is also sidelined with left knee inflammation. There’s also the hard-throwing Ben Joyce, who has yet to return since shoulder surgery on May 14, 2025. The Angels have had to operate with patchwork relief options since Opening Day, and Monday’s game only accelerated the need for backup. 

However, Aldegheri has not been sharp in the minors with Salt Lake, allowing 16 runs over 13.1 innings across three starts. The results have been rough, but his availability matters more than his numbers right now. The 24-year-old is on four days' rest, which makes him one of the few arms capable of providing meaningful length out of the bullpen, even more so as the Angels are just three games into a 13-game stretch. 

The recall is a reminder of how quickly a promising spring can give way to early-season struggles. Aldegheri turned heads during the World Baseball Classic, going 4.2 innings against Brazil in Italy’s opener, allowing just one hit while striking out eight. His second outing against a stiffer Puerto Rico lineup was rougher, but the tournament showed enough that the Angels kept him in their plans. He finished the WBC with a 3.00 ERA over two appearances. 

Beyond the roster crunch, Aldegheri carries a unique profile. He is the first pitcher born and raised in Italy to play in the major leagues and became the first Italian-born player to win a Major League game in more than 70 years, beating the Texas Rangers in September 2024. 

How Aldegheri responds to adversity over his next few appearances could determine whether he's a short-term solution or something more.