LA Angels: Halos need Kean Wong to step up in Major League stint

The LA Angels recalled Kean Wong from Triple-A Salt Lake on Saturday.

The move comes after the Angels placed Justin Upton on the IL.

Wong can be valuable due to his ability to play different positions on the field.

Kean Wong is quietly an X-Factor for the the LA Angels in this final stretch before the All-Star break.

Kean Wong needs to provide an impact in whatever opportunities he gets for the LA Angels.

Wong can of course play second, but he can also play both corner outfield spots and third base.

It’s been a rough year for the health of the LA Angels outfield, as franchise player Mike Trout and streaking Upton are now both on the IL.

If Wong doesn’t improve in this new shot he has with the club, he’ll get sent down again quickly. He doesn’t have the best resume as an MLB player, so that would be pretty bad for his career.

This year, Wong had hit .184/.205/.289 in his 17 games for the Halos this year before getting recalled. He’s yet to hit a home run so far, and he’s driven in five runs.

He pinch hit for Anthony Rendon yesterday, who came out in the eighth inning. He’s likely not seriously hurt, but the game was getting out of hand, so Joe Maddon decided to bring him out of the game. In Wong’s pinch hitting opportunity, he popped out.

It’s just one game, and one at-bat for that matter, but if the Angels want to get back to .500 by the time Trout gets back, they’ll need lesser players to up their games and step up. Everybody will need to step up, from huge earners like Rendon, to Minor League recalls like Wong.

Wong has played well at all four of second base, third base, left field, and right field defensively this year. He’s yet to make a single error this season. If he can improve his production on offense, he’ll be able to make an impact on this team.