PITTSBURGH – Kyren Paris had a taste of big-league success in 2025. Few jumped out of the gate as well as he did, batting .400 with five home runs and five stolen bases through his first 13 games.
That early success ended up being short-lived. Paris followed that start with a 19-for-91 stretch (.110) and was demoted to the minors for the rest of the season. He wouldn’t be recalled until rosters expanded to 28 players Sept. 1.
“This is a game of adjustments, especially when you’re a young player coming into the league,” Paris said Saturday at PNC Park ahead of the Angels’ contest with the Pirates. “They’re going to take notice of you quickly when you’re having success and figure out a way to combat that. It’s up to you to make those adjustments.”
Those changes are most evident in some mechanical tweaks. Paris started tinkering with his swing in July, opting to close his stance to be more square and cutting down on his leg kick. He implemented them into games almost immediately and took off offensively, slashing .335/.436/.629 with 12 home runs in 44 games in Triple-A since the start of July.
“It felt like I was learning what it takes for me to be my best,” Paris said. “I knew the adjustment needed to be made, so I took it right into a game. I started having success pretty shortly after and stuck with it ever since.”
That torrid stretch in the minors earned him another promotion, but playing time has been scarce so far. He has yet to take an at-bat in his return to the majors, getting his first game action Friday when he appeared as a pinch-runner in the seventh inning. Manager Kurt Suzuki views him as a super-utility player now, being used as an infielder or outfielder.
“I think he’s always going to be a luxury just because he can play all of those positions,” Suzuki said.
“I’m an athlete,” Paris said. “I can do it all. Where I’m needed, I want to be available and go out there and make plays.”
Paris is still looking for that first start of the season, but at 24 years old, there is optimism that these changes could make him look more like the player Angels fans saw in April last year.
“I feel like the adjustments I’ve made will help me maintain that and become a consistent player and put my best out there on a daily basis,” Paris said.
TROUT’S CONNECTION WITH A YOUNG STAR
Mike Trout and Pirates shortstop Konnor Griffin chatted before Friday’s and Saturday’s contests, a formal in-person meeting after the infielder reached out to Trout asking him for advice on how to rehab back from his finger injury.
Griffin, the consensus top prospect entering the year, debuted in the majors at 19, like Trout. There’s plenty of hype around Griffin, but does Trout see any similarities to his 19-year-old self?
“The way he plays the game, it looks like he is having so much fun doing it,” Trout answered. “The thrill, the excitement he brings. He can hit the ball out of the ballpark or lay down a bunt and beat it out. A special talent, for sure.”
NOTES
Right-hander Sam Bachman pitched ⅔ of an inning Friday for Single-A Rancho Cucamonga as part of a rehab assignment. He walked two and struck out one on 21 pitches, and Suzuki noted his fastball velocity was in the 98-99 mph range. Bachman’s stint on the injured list dates to Aug. 3 for right forearm radial nerve inflammation. …
Josh Lowe returned to the lineup Saturday, his first game action since being scratched from Wednesday’s lineup with neck stiffness.
UP NEXT
Angels (RHP Walbert Ureña, 9-9, 2.85) at Pirates (RHP Paul Skenes, 9-11, 3.97), 10:35 a.m. PT Sunday, ABTV, 830 AM