TORONTO — The first half-season of Yusei Kikuchi’s three-year deal with the Angels has been an unqualified success.
Kikuchi was named to the All-Star team on Sunday afternoon. He was the only Angels player picked to the team.
General manager Perry Minasian announced Kikuchi’s selection in front of the whole team.
“All my teammates were really happy for me,” Kikuchi said through his interpreter. “And Perry came in and delivered a really heartfelt message. It really got to me. It felt a little emotional. After that, I just have this feeling that I want to do something special this team this year.”
Kikuchi, who signed a three-year, $63-million deal with the Angels, has a 2.81 ERA in 18 starts, with 106 strikeouts in 102⅓ innings.
Over his last 11 starts, he has a 2.05 ERA. Kikuchi has cut his walk rate from 13% in his first 13 starts to 5% in his last five.
“The first maybe 10 games or so, I didn’t feel like myself,” Kikuchi said. “I thought something was missing and I thought of making mechanical adjustments and whatnot. Talking to the pitching coaches and GM, they helped me out a lot. The last few starts, I’ve been feeling like myself again. I also have to say thanks to (Logan) O’Hoppe and Travis (d’Arnaud) for leading me. They’re always so prepared. I can trust them.”
This will be Kikuchi’s second All-Star Game. Kikuchi, 34, was also selected in 2021 when he was with the Seattle Mariners. He did not pitch in the All-Star Game that summer in Colorado.
Kikuchi is scheduled to make his final start for the Angels before the break on Saturday. He said he’s not sure yet if he’ll make himself available to pitch in the All-Star game the following Tuesday, in Atlanta.
“I’m not sure exactly yet,” he said. “The biggest focus is just helping this team and trying to go the postseason with this team. So I’m just not going to forget the fact that I have to put the team first.”
Outfielder Jo Adell was the other Angels player who had a reasonable case to be an All-Star selection. Typically, a few players pull out of the game in the final week for various reasons, so there is still a chance that Adell could be named as a replacement.
HOPE FOR O’HOPPE?
O’Hoppe had four hits in a three-game span, heading into Sunday, which gave him some reason for optimism that he is emerging from his slump.
“Yes, steps in the right direction, for sure,” O’Hoppe said before Sunday’s game. “Still not anywhere close to where I want to be, though. It’s frustrating that it’s been going on for as long as it has, but it’s taking steps in the right direction.”
O’Hoppe said he can’t even put a finger on exactly what’s gone wrong, but it doesn’t feel as bad last year’s slump.
“Compared to the rut that I went through last year, this is getting better much quicker,” O’Hoppe said.
O’Hoppe had hit .165 with a .461 OPS in the 27 games before Sunday. The slump coincided with Mike Trout’s return to the DH spot. Before that, O’Hoppe was able to get some at-bats at DH when he wasn’t catching. Since then, O’Hoppe has been sitting around two of every five games.
O’Hoppe started three straight games June 16-18 in New York, and hit a little better after that. He also started all three games in Toronto.
Interim manager Ray Montgomery said he’s also been impressed that O’Hoppe’s work with the pitchers has improved, which is a key to getting him more starts.
“We’re going to keep him out there, and obviously looking for him to get as many at-bats in a row as he can, to get comfortable,” Montgomery said.
NOTES
Infielder Chad Stevens was debating on Sunday morning whether he should get a signed ball from Max Scherzer, who gave up Stevens’ first big league hit a day earlier. “It’s pretty unbelievable,” Stevens said. “That’s a Hall of Fame guy out there. To get my first knock off him, it feels great.” …
Third baseman Yoán Moncada (right knee inflammation) played six innings at third base in an Arizona Complex League game on Saturday, and he’s next scheduled to play a full game in the field. Moncada is 1 for 5 with three walks in two games in Arizona. Moncada has been cleared to swing from both sides of the plate. …
Right-hander Chase Silseth, who has been on the Triple-A injured list, pitched two innings in Arizona on Saturday. He did not allow a run, and he struck out four. …
Utilityman Chris Taylor (broken hand) has begun doing some defensive drills. Taylor is expecting to return sometime shortly after the All-Star break. …
Right-hander Ryan Johnson pitched a one-hit shutout, with 12 strikeouts, for Class-A Tri-Cities on Saturday night. Johnson, who began the season in the Angels bullpen, has a 1.99 ERA in 10 Class-A starts, with 61 strikeouts and 10 walks in 54⅓ innings.
UP NEXT
Rangers (RHP Jacob deGrom, 9-2, 2.13) at Angels (LHP Yusei Kikuchi, 3-6, 2.81), Monday, 6:38 p.m., FanDuel Sports Network West, 830 AM