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LA Angels Thursday News Crash: Heineman

June 18, 2026

The Angels just acquired Tyler Heineman from the Toronto Blue Jays for cash considerations. The Angels designated Trey Mancini for assignment.

Ron Marinaccio’s suspension was reduced on appeal to two games. He will begin serving the suspension immediately.

Gleyber Torres is on the injured list with an oblique strain. The Nationals just released injured right-hander Julian Fernandez. Left-hander Kolby Allard opted out of his deal with the Guardians and has been released. The Royals are acquiring right-hander Randy Dobnak from the Mariners. The Braves just designated right-hander Hunter Stratton for assignment. Veteran catcher Austin Wynns elected free agency.

Guardians outfielder Chase Delauter is day to day with a small rib fracture.

Three cast members of Napoleon Dynamite bought a stake in the Richmond (IN) Flying Mummies baseball team. Locals call Richmond the mummy capitol of the midwest. The stadium holds 2,000 and has a replica of Uncle Rico’s van outside.

Photo credit: Rex Fregosi

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Trusted Member

milehigh

1 day ago

MLB want to drastically alter the draft now.
https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-domestic-and-international-draft-proposals

Legend

BannedInLA

2 days ago

Christian Moore in LF. Cool.

Legend

BannedInLA

2 days ago

Trout with a hammy? Damn. Yes another soft tissue injury.

Hopefully it’s truly mild and not some serious or lingering problem.

Super Member

Roy Hobbs

2 days ago

Reply to BannedInLA

When I watched him run out a 2B the other day I immediately thought he didn’t look right when he was running.

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BannedInLA

2 days ago

Reply to Roy Hobbs

Too bad. I was really hoping to see 550-600 at bats this year. I suspect now that it’s not going to happen.

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gitchogritchoffmypettis

2 days ago

Reply to BannedInLA

Don’t worry, they will spend two weeks telling us he’ll be back any day. Then they’ll not say anything for three weeks. Then we’ll find out he’s having surgery but it’s nice surgery. He’ll bounce right back…. actually, turns out he’ll be back next year sometime.

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GrandpaBaseball

2 days ago

Angels lineups in the past have been a lot worse than tonight’s. This bunch of “Will the mystery player sign in please” may surprise you tonight. Go Angels! Johnson getting a closer look. 🤓

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Eric_in_Portland

2 days ago

Trout says he’s feeling better. Still, 10 days of no Trout. Ugh

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Pineapple12

2 days ago

Ryan Johnson called up from AA and starting. CMo 2026 debut and LF debut. No Trout (IL – hamstring)

Absolutely insane lineup

Super Member

TrojanBoiler

2 days ago

Reply to Pineapple12

I was just about to post about RJ. Beat me to it!

This lineup kind of slaps though.

Trusted Member

GonFishin

2 days ago

Reply to Pineapple12

That is an atrocious lineup. And I see we are still trying to kill Johnson as a prospect.

Super Member

Roy Hobbs

2 days ago

Reply to Pineapple12

It may even be a better team on the whole as it forces Kurt to play the people he should be playing. It’s certainly better defensively.

Trusted Member

toad2065

2 days ago

Reply to Roy Hobbs

Get used to this lineup. We’ll be seeing a version of it for quite a while.

Super Member

Roy Hobbs

2 days ago

Reply to toad2065

Yes with a hamstring injury, Trout is likely out for a long time.

Super Member

bobblanton

2 days ago

Tank tank tank. 100 losses here we come

Super Member

bobblanton

2 days ago

Damnit his annual injury. I guess it’s time to call up rada

Super Member

bobblanton

2 days ago

Reply to bobblanton

I meant Moore. Moore in left. Siri in center I guess

Trusted Member

GonFishin

2 days ago

Trout hurt? Guess I’ll watch paint dry instead.

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Pineapple12

2 days ago

Oh the tank is ON

NEWS with @Ken_Rosenthal: Mike Trout is headed to the IL with a hamstring injury, sources tell @TheAthletic.

Brutal news for Trout with ASG upcoming and a comeback season in the works.

Christian Moore is getting the call-up.

https://x.com/i/status/2067731578776899601

Last edited 2 days ago by Pineapple12

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Eric_in_Portland

2 days ago

Reply to Pineapple12

oh come on! A joke, I hope.

Super Member

Roy Hobbs

2 days ago

Reply to Pineapple12

Now we can put Siri in CF and Moore in LF.

Super Member

smithy610

2 days ago

Reply to Pineapple12

Hamstring Strain. I hope it’s not like the “calf strain” in 2021.

Hearing Trout get injured again reminds me of this article about how the Knicks main goal coming into this season is keeping Jalen Brunson healthy, and it wasn’t just resorting to prayers.

It’s hard to overstate Smith’s impact in New York. When he took over the Knicks’ medical team almost two years ago to the day, the Knicks were injured so often, the futility reached almost comical levels. And now, they were the healthiest team, the last one standing.

Super Member

smithy610

2 days ago

Aww, too bad for Trey. I’m a sucker for a feel good story, and he seems to be a nice guy. He also hit well in SSS Hopefully he clears waivers and goes back to AAA because I have a feeling his next call up will not be for long.

Super Member

YOUknowulovetheIE

2 days ago

Reply to smithy610

He will be back

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Pineapple12

2 days ago

Johnny Slawinski, LHP, Angels

Slawinski is the leader in the clubhouse for the best pitching prospect remaining in the ACL. The 79th overall pick from last year’s draft has gotten huge amounts of whiff without sacrificing much in the way of control or command. In his last turn against the Brewers on June 12, Slawinski finished with 24 swings and misses. The only pitcher at any level with more that day? That would Milwaukee ace Jacob Misiorowski, who racked up 25 during his all-time gem against the Phillies.

Slawinski, ranked sixth in the Angels’ Top 30, draws his whiffs thanks to a filthy changeup with parachuting fade and drop away from righthanders, who are left helpless when the pitch puts on the brakes and heads back to earth. The lefty’s fastball sat in the low 90s and bumped up to 94 mph on occasion while showing the kind of life that helps it play at the top of the zone. His breaking pitches—he throws a curveball, slider and sweeper—are mostly seasoning at this point, and he threw just a handful over the course of his 4.1-inning outing.

Slawinski’s delivery is smooth and easy, and he does a good job repeating, though his slot wanders a bit at times. Nevertheless, he’s shown one of the best combinations of stuff and strikes in the ACL.

https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/5-mlb-prospects-getting-buzz-in-the-arizona-complex-league-in-2026/

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Pineapple12

2 days ago

Reply to Pineapple12

Bremner, Slaw, Shores, Snead, Munroe, Haley, Ford

Perry must’ve been sleeping during last year’s draft because it’s turning out nicely

Editor

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Jeff Joiner

2 days ago

Reply to Pineapple12

Did he change scouting directors or something last year? Outside of drafting a reliever second overall, this draft class is better than usual for Perry. At least early.

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Pineapple12

2 days ago

Reply to Jeff Joiner

I’ll credit it to having more draft experience and good fortune.

2021 — Bachman, Silseth, (maybe Luke Murphy later this year?)
2022 — Neto, Dana, Joyce, Natera
2023 — Schanuel, Raudi
2024 — CMo, Johnson, Jordan, TGA

2021 and 2023 are all time bad drafts 😭😂😂

Editor

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Jeff Joiner

2 days ago

Reply to Pineapple12

I’d bring Murphy up now. Unless he’s fallen off a cliff in the last two weeks. He was looking good last I checked.

I really liked the Murphy pick so I can’t slam that one.

2023 is so far horrid and I don’t see any chances for redemption.

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Pineapple12

2 days ago

Reply to Jeff Joiner

Murphy is untouchable right now — 23.1 IP, 0.39 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, 30 Ks

Time to call him up

Super Member

TrojanBoiler

2 days ago

Reply to Pineapple12

I have not heard this name before. Reliever?

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Pineapple12

2 days ago

Reply to TrojanBoiler

Yes, he was Vandy’s closer.
26 years old, 4th rounder in the 2021 all pitcher draft

Super Member

TrojanBoiler

2 days ago

Reply to Pineapple12

12 hits in 23 innings wow

Trusted Member

grichmanpoorman

2 days ago

Reply to Pineapple12

I was hoping to play contrarian with the 2023 draft so dived in a little… but between having no 2nd round pick; drafting the corpse of Alberto Rios in the 3rd round (when Karros was right there, in the same conference, at a position of need); 4th rounder Joe Redfield getting the heave-ho this spring; and what happened to poor Rio Foster… yeah, that draft sucked ass.

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FungoAle

2 days ago

Reply to Pineapple12

Perry held a Director of Scouting position with Toronto. I’m not cutting him any slack. He should know his way around come draft day.

That 2021 draft was very weird and harmful. It felt to me, he merely wanted to show the fans he was serious about his claim he would address the organizations pitching shortages. He had boasted he would. 20-pitchers (19 from college and one from from IMG). He obviously was narrow focused and skipped evaluating OF, 1st and 3rd positions the other open sores.

Even if Bachman settles in as a 1-2 inning reliable bullpen arm, not the production you want from such a high pick. Silseth was a decent value pick but cannot stay healthy. I’m nowhere near sold on Murphy contributing but after a low rate of 23.1-innings in 2026, his stats have turned for the better.

it’s funny, Jeff wrote an article 2 years ago on the 2021 draft. Not much has changed in 2-years. Dismal is still dismal.

https://crashingthepearlygates.com/2024/05/14/what-happened-to-the-2021-angels-draft-class/

Last edited 2 days ago by FungoAle

Super Member

TrojanBoiler

2 days ago

Reply to Jeff Joiner

I’ve seen enough, give this man an extension!

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RexFregosi

2 days ago

Reply to Pineapple12

Shores got some last night – short outing but he’s back.

Biggest surprise to me is the HS arms from 2025 are impressing me more than the college arms and that Snead is looking best of the college arms.

No doubt Pitching below AA is the best part of this organization in 2026.

Trusted Member

toad2065

2 days ago

Reply to Pineapple12

Thanks Pineapple. Appreciate your updates as I am too GA to track this stuff myself. Also, I am old!

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Pineapple12

2 days ago

Reply to toad2065

Of course! I work from home and have wayyyyyy too much time on my hands haha.

The farm is showing actual signs of life for the first time in like a decade. Makes it easier to find content to share 🙂

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FungoAle

2 days ago

Reply to Pineapple12

I like it! This one has a decent chance to make a difference.

Super Member

HalosFanForLife

2 days ago

As we move towards the deadline – Arte added a new accessory to his wardrobe.

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steelgolf

2 days ago

Reply to HalosFanForLife

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Super Member

TrojanBoiler

2 days ago

I’ve been checking all week to see if we claimed Heineman or worked out some sort of trade for him. This was a logical move and I am surprised this front office actually pulled it off.

Trusted Member

grichmanpoorman

2 days ago

Shores sighting…

https://www.milb.com/gameday/emeralds-vs-dust-devils/2026/06/17/819149/final/box

Super Member

TrojanBoiler

2 days ago

Reply to grichmanpoorman

Good to see Munroe having a good game. His June has been rough after a great May.

Super Member

YOUknowulovetheIE

2 days ago

Sweet Caroline is one of the worst songs I’ve ever heard in my life.

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Pineapple12

2 days ago

Reply to YOUknowulovetheIE

I love when a hot take is actually a hot take

Super Member

YOUknowulovetheIE

2 days ago

Reply to Pineapple12

I keep seeing stupid clips with it playing in the background now that the wc is here. I can’t believe the angels used to play this shit at every home game. Is it still going?

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Pineapple12

2 days ago

Reply to YOUknowulovetheIE

Hasn’t been played in either of the 2 games I’ve gone to this season.

For some reason the rest of the world has adopted Sweet Caroline and Mountain Mama West Virginia as their favorite American songs for sporting events lol

Super Member

YOUknowulovetheIE

2 days ago

Reply to Pineapple12

Good to know. I used to hear it a few times on TV but it has been a few years. I’d rather hear the backstreet boys multiple times.

Editor

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Jeff Joiner

2 days ago

Reply to YOUknowulovetheIE

You mean a song about a grown man singing to a very young Caroline Kennedy about touching each other is kind of sick?

Yeah. Very much so.

Super Member

YOUknowulovetheIE

2 days ago

Reply to Jeff Joiner

I’ve never really paid attention to it, I hear the first 10 seconds and I’m ready to shut it off. Now I have a legit complaint about. Creepy and a horrible song

Super Member

TrojanBoiler

2 days ago

Reply to Jeff Joiner

I had to look this up. The explanations don’t make me feel great about it. He was inspired by a beautiful picture of a THEN seven-year-old Caroline, and kept the name in his song writing book and then used it 4 years later to finish the song, when she was still only 11.

Weird.

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FungoAle

2 days ago

Reply to Jeff Joiner

Well, I think there is something missing. From Neil himself: “It was writing a song in Memphis, Tennessee, for a session. I needed a three-syllable name,” Diamond said during an appearance on “Today.” “The song was about my wife at the time — her name was Marsha — and I couldn’t get a ‘Marsha’ rhyme.”

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BannedInLA

2 days ago

Reply to YOUknowulovetheIE

And yet, fun AF in the right setting.

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FungoAle

2 days ago

Reply to BannedInLA

One has to have his underpants too tight if you cannot enjoy this song while hoisting a favorite beverage while in a drinking establishment. Song was a staple once a night along with Tom Jone’s “Delilah” in a frequently visited Tokyo international bar. Everyone from a wide range of cultures stopped to sing in unison and drink.

Super Member

YOUknowulovetheIE

2 days ago

Reply to FungoAle

I’m plenty of fun to chill with. I also don’t like The Beatles at all.

Trusted Member

toad2065

2 days ago

Reply to YOUknowulovetheIE

You are probably outside of Mr. Diamond’s demographic IE.

Trusted Member

milehigh

2 days ago

Reply to YOUknowulovetheIE

Better stay away from Fenway. Sung at the 8th inning every night.

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Fansince1971

2 days ago

Keep in mind the Angels have accomplished .400 ball playing either the 4th or 5th easiest schedule in MLB in 2026. It only gets easier with the remaining schedule panning out against (collectively) under..500 teams. So if they lose 100 this year it will be quite the accomplishment!