SEATTLE — Andy Schatzley remembers what he thought the first time he saw Denzer Guzman as a 17-year-old on the back fields of the Angels’ spring training facility in February 2021.
“Right away I sensed a feel for the game, a pace, a slow heartbeat,” said Schatzley, who is now the Angels’ infield coach but was the manager for the club’s Double-A Rocket City Trash Pandas in 2024 and 2025 when Guzman played there.
“He is somebody whose skill set speaks for itself, and he has adaptability. He doesn’t get sped up. He’s somebody who has a very calm, quiet confidence about him that really serves him well.”
As the Angels are finding out, Guzman can hit and play third base a little bit, too.
He was promoted from Rocket City to Triple-A Salt Lake in 2025, had an .820 OPS in 130 at-bats there, and made it to the majors last year as a September call-up at the age of 21.
This year, he broke spring training with Salt Lake and put it all together offensively, slashing .336/.403/.571 with 12 home runs and 57 RBIs in 237 at-bats before making it back to the Angels on June 8.
Entering Thursday night’s series finale against the Seattle Mariners, he was slashing .268/.325/.437 with three homers and 13 RBIs in 71 at-bats. He also had an active 16-game on-base streak. In his last start for the Angels on Monday night, he batted second in the order and started the Angels’ scoring with an RBI single in the first inning.
“I do my routine every day. I come out and play hard every game I play, and I just do what the coaches tell me,” Guzman said through an interpreter. “I really just go out there and play.”
That’s what the Angels say they love to see.
“It never feels like he’s overwhelmed or the stage is too big,” Angels manager Kurt Suzuki said. “He’s just going about his business every day. He believes in himself, and, and I really feel like he’s gonna be a good player for a long time.”
TROUT GETTING CLOSER?
Angels star Mike Trout, who has been on the injured list since June 18 with a right hamstring strain, remained the leading vote-getter among American League outfielders in the final All-Star Game voting update from MLB on Wednesday.
Trout is seeking his 12th career All-Star selection and 11th fan election as a starter. Voting closed Thursday for the Midsummer Classic, which will be played July 14 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, not far from Trout’s hometown of Millville, N.J.
The American League and National League All-Star rosters will be revealed Saturday at 4:30 p.m. PT on FOX (Ch. 11).
On Thursday, Suzuki said Trout is continuing to progress well in running and hitting in the cage but did not offer a possible timeline for his return.
“Mike knows how his body feels, and we’re going to listen to Mike,” Suzuki said.
O’HOPPE HEATING UP
Catcher Logan O’Hoppe has been on a bit of a tear lately.
In his last 18 games through Wednesday, O’Hoppe is batting .321 (18 for 56) with four doubles, two home runs and 10 RBIs. He had an RBI single in Tuesday’s game against the Mariners and afterward said his recent turnaround came in part from a low point in mid-May.
“I had to look in the mirror and just work harder,” O’Hoppe said.
But he doesn’t mean just taking more rounds in the cage.
“All of that, but also just being here more, making sure my habits off the field are as perfect as they can be, things like that,” he said. “I’m trying to really be honest with myself, and when I’m happy with it, then good things usually happen.”
RODRIGUEZ UPDATE
Suzuki said starting pitcher Grayson Rodriguez (low back inflammation) felt good after his Sunday rehab outing in Rancho Cucamonga and would throw a bullpen session “soon,” but he did not specify what the plan would be after that.
UP NEXT
Red Sox (LHP Jake Bennett, 2-3, 3.27 ERA) at Angels (LHP Reid Detmers, 3-5, 3.88 ERA), Friday, 6:38 p.m., ABTV, 830 AM