Matthew

Lugo

Lugo, a former second-round pick by the Red Sox back in 2019, was hitting .232/.243/.464 with four homers and nine RBI in 70 plate appearances over 31 games with the Angels this season. He can play all over the field and should provide organizational depth for the Royals at a few positions.

Lugo looked like he was going to be an interesting reserve outfielder for a hot minute last summer when he homered three times in eight games to start his Angels career. The 25-year-old scuffled over the final few months to finish hitting .232/.243/.464 with four homers and nine RBI in 70 plate appearances over 31 games. He was hitting .257/.388/.389 with three homers and 11 steals in 47 games for Triple-A Salt Lake this season.

Lugo was a common option/recall in 2025, and it’s no surprise he’ll open the 2026 season — barring something unforeseeable — in Triple-A Salt Lake. It also won’t be a surprise if he’s one of the first names the Angels call up when they need reinforcements.

Lugo is 12-for-44 with one homer and 10 walks. After a breakthrough 2024 in the Red Sox system, he spent most of last season in Triple-A for the Angels, hitting a disappointing .262/.320/.443 at Sale Lake. Since he’s quite versatile, he still might prove to be a nice 26th man in the majors, but he’ll probably head back to Triple-A to open 2026.

The 24-year-old outfielder has struggles in his time with the Halos this season, slashing .232/.243/.464 with four homers and nine RBI in 70 plate appearances. His demotion clears a spot on the active roster for the return of Christian Moore on Saturday.

Ward required about 20 stitches over his right eye, but he’s otherwise okay. Matthew Lugo is starting in left field in his place on Tuesday. Given how terrifying the incident seemed in the moment, it’s a welcome relief for everyone that he managed to avoid catastrophic injury.

Lugo returns to the big leagues with Nolan Schanuel hitting the shelf with a left wrist bruise. The 24-year-old has torn the cover off the ball at the Triple-A level this season. He batted .238 (10-for-42) with three homers and six RBI in 17 games earlier this season in his first exposure to the big leagues.

The 24-year-old is hitting .353/.396/.625 in July with four home runs, 14 RBI, and four steals. He is making a case to get another crack at MLB at-bats and should get an opportunity, especially if the Angels deal one or both of Taylor Ward and Jo Adell at the deadline.

Lugo gets the boot from the active roster to make room for top prospect Christian Moore. The 24-year-old outfielder should be back with the Angels at some point, but just as a depth piece.

Taylor was hit on the hand by a pitch last night, though he stayed in afterwards and there was no indication after the game that it led to an injury. A fractured hand is typically at least a four- to six-week injury, though it could be less for Taylor if it’s a hairline fracture. This isn’t the way the Angels were intending to make room for the newly acquired LaMonte Wade Jr. on the roster, but it works out that way all the same. Matthew Lugo was probably in line for a demotion, but he gets to stick around now.