Randal Grichuk & C.J. Cron Make Immediate Impact In Return To Team

Before Monday night, C.J. Cron had not donned a Los Angeles Angels uniform since 2017, when the Halos dealt Cron to the Tampa Bay Rays for Luis Rengifo. Randal Grichuk, meanwhile, had never formally worn the uniform. The Angels’ 24th overall pick in 2009 was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals for David Freese before he could make his Major League debut.

That’s part of what made Monday’s 4-1 win over the MLB-best Atlanta Braves such a special moment. Grichuk’s fourth-inning solo homer and Cron’s ninth-inning RBI single provided the Angels with the insurance they needed to power past a team 30 games above .500.

The pair arrived in Atlanta from the Colorado Rockies on Monday prior to the first pitch. They were traded to the Angels on Sunday night in exchange for minor leaguers Mason Albright and Jake Madden. And manager Phil Nevin was impressed by both players’ immediate impact on the Angel lineup, according to Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com:

“Both guys played big roles,” Nevin said. “The home run by Grichuk, Cron’s add-on. He also plays a good first base. They both had a long day flying in from Colorado, but any time you can add something or contribute in your first game, it’s big.”

The win moves the Angels to 56-51, three games back of the final Wild Card spot in the American League — currently held by the Toronto Blue Jays — with only one team (Boston Red Sox) in the way of that.

Catcher Chad Wallach sees big things for the Angels and believes their new additions are going to fit seamlessly into those plans.

“It’s exciting,” Wallach said. “We’re in the playoff push, and any time you’re in that, it’s always fun baseball. These guys are fitting in really well. It’s just nice to have them. We think we can beat any team. That’s how good I think we are. We can play with anybody.”

The Angels have made two meaningful additions on each side of the ball, with Cron and Grichuk at the plate and Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo López on the mound. All four are already making positive impacts as the Angels fight towards a postseason push.

Taylor Ward in good spirits

Part of the reason for the acquisition of Grichuk is the indefinite injured list stint for Taylor Ward after suffering facial fractures on a hit-by-pitch. Luckily, all indications point to little to no damage in some of the more sensitive areas of the face including the eyes.

Ward is in good spirits as he begins the recovery process. Although the expectation is that Ward may miss the remainder of the regular season.