The Los Angeles Angels are off to a strong start in the 2025 season, holding a 6-3 record that places them second in the AL West. Under the guidance of veteran manager Ron Washington, the team is seeing a wave of young talent begin to make an impact. However, pitching remains a major concern. The Angels currently have a team ERA of 4.81, which ranks 23rd in the league. They also sit in the bottom 10 for both strikeouts and walks allowed, and are tied for the second-most home runs surrendered. The bullpen has struggled even more, posting a 5.58 ERA so far this year.
In response to these struggles, the Angels announced some roster moves on Sunday. They released pitcher Hans Crouse, sent Caden Dana to the minors, and added Michael Darrell-Hicks to the big league roster. Crouse pitched in 25 games for the Angels last season, logging 25.1 innings with a solid 2.84 ERA and a 1.224 WHIP. He also averaged 12 strikeouts per nine innings but struggled with control, issuing six walks per nine. He began 2025 with Triple-A Salt Lake but had to leave a recent outing after only four pitches, likely due to a serious injury.
As reported by Sam Blum of The Athletic, the timing of Crouse’s release—just days after his injury—is unfortunate. Crouse, who features a fastball, slider, and changeup, has stuff that can miss bats but struggles with command and limiting hard contact. While the severity of his injury hasn’t been confirmed, he’ll aim to recover and work his way back to the majors.
Darrell-Hicks goes from being an undrafted free agent in 2022 to the big leagues a few years later.
The Angels release Hans Crouse just days after suffering what appeared to be a serious injury. Rough. https://t.co/79kLRN10JR
— Sam Blum (@SamBlum3) April 6, 2025
Meanwhile, Michael Darrell-Hicks’ journey continues as he rises from an undrafted free agent in 2022 to a spot on the Angels’ major league roster in just a few years.
