ANAHEIM — Zac Kristofak said he held up the security line at the Austin, Texas, airport because his brother finally called him back. It was an unforgettable call, even though few words were spoken.
“A lot of silence, but we got the message across,” Kristofak said on Sunday morning, after a three-hour flight and a trip from LAX to Angel Stadium.
The right-hander had been called up the majors for the first time, a happy chapter to a story of tragedy that he and his brother had endured.
Zac and Harrison Kristofak’s mother had been murdered by their father at their home in Georgia in 2012, when Zac was 15. Although it had been reported in Atlanta, Kristofak first went public with the ordeal in a profile published last September by The Athletic.
Since then, supporters have been waiting for the day when Kristofak would reach the majors.
That day came on Sunday. Kristofak was set to be the starter on Sunday at Triple-A, so he was best positioned to provide the Angels bullpen with the coverage it needed after a blowout loss on Saturday.
As Kristofak, 26, stood in the Angels clubhouse surrounded by reporters, he said he hoped that his story could be an inspiration for others who had gone through tragedies or hardships.
“That’s 100% the purpose of it,” he said. “I’m here to help people. I’m here to help people 100%. Baseball is my platform. That’s cool. I get to put on this uniform today. But, man, if I can help somebody, that’s a big part.”
Kristofak said he was about to go to sleep on Saturday night in Round Rock, Texas, where Salt Lake was playing. He was preparing for his Sunday start when he got a call from his manager letting him know that he was headed to the majors.
Kristofak called his brother, who didn’t reply until hours later, when he was at the airport.
How long Kristofak stays in the majors remains to be seen. The Angels needed some immediate help after relievers worked 6-1/3 innings on Saturday, not including one inning from outfielder Aaron hicks.
Kristofak had a 3.38 ERA in 18-2/3 innings at Triple-A.
“The little bit I saw of him in spring training, he’s a strike thrower,” manager Ron Washington said. “I hope coming to the major leagues he doesn’t change.”
THE OTHER MOVE
The Angels had room on the roster for Kristofak because they placed right-hander José Cisnero on the injured list with shoulder inflammation.
Washington said Cisenero’s injury is not serious.
“He had some problems in there and we just thought we needed to shut it down,” Washington said. “I don’t think it’s anything that any operations need to happen.”
Many frustrated Angels fans certainly would have been OK with the team designating José Suarez for assignment. The left-hander has a 10.13 ERA in 16 innings.
Washington said it’s too early to give up on Suarez.
“This isn’t anything that you go through and then you get buried for it, especially when you have shown what you are capable of doing,” Washington said. “You just can’t give up on people. You’ve got to give them a chance to go through struggles and see how they handle struggle and see how they recover from struggle. And that’s where we are. We’re letting him handle it, and now we’re going to find out how he recovers. And after we go through all the steps that it takes, we’ll make a decision if we need to make a decision.”
Suarez’s performance has raised two questions. The first is whether he would actually be claimed if he were placed on waivers. The second is whether the Angels should even be mind if they lost him.
As for the first, a quick poll of four officials from other teams — two executives and two scouts — was split evenly on whether Suarez would be claimed. Three of them represented teams that are currently rebuilding. One said he would take a chance on Suarez for his team.
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Without removing anyone on the major league team from the 40-man roster to clear a spot for Kristofak, the Angels instead designated right-hander Jimmy Herget for assignment. Herget had a 4.66 ERA at Triple-A.
NOTES
Miguel Sanó (left knee inflammation) remains on the active roster, but Washington said the Angels were hoping to “stay away from him for a couple more days” to allow his knee to improve. …
When the Angels face left-hander Christopher Sanchez on Monday, it will be just the fourth time in 29 games that they face a left-handed starter. …
The Philadelphia Phillies will be visiting Angel Stadium for the first time since 2017.
UP NEXT
Angels (RHP Griffin Canning, 1-3, 7.50) vs. Phillies (LHP Christopher Sanchez, 1-3, 2.96) at Angel Stadium, 6:38 p.m. PT Monday, Bally Sports West, 830 AM.