Denzer Guzman takes over the hot corner as veteran injuries force a roster shakeup, giving the surging top prospect a prime opportunity to cement his major league role.
Before Monday’s series opener against the Houston Astros, the Los Angeles Angels made a string of roster moves that’ll shake up the major league roster for the time being. With infielders Adam Frazier and Vaughn Grissom heading to the injured list, the Halos selected first baseman/outfielder Trey Mancini and called up one of the top prospects in the organization, infielder Denzer Guzman.
Frazier heads to the 10-day IL with elbow inflammation in his right elbow, while his while Grissom joins him with a left oblique strain. With two major league infielders out, it only made sense to give the Angels’ No. 7-ranked prospect another shot in the majors.
Guzman spent 13 games at the major league level at the end of the 2025 season. In his short stint, Guzman never found his bat, slashing just .190/.209/.357.
Angels’ manager Kurt Suzuki said Guzman will essentially be the club’s everyday third baseman for the time being.
All 13 of Guzman’s games last season came at the shortstop position, with Zach Neto missing the end of the season, but he’ll now make the move to the hot corner better to fit the needs of the major league club. With his 60-grade arm tool, Guzman projects to be a positive third baseman.
Starting the 2026 campaign with the Triple-A Salt Lake Bees, Guzman put on a show in the minors. In 58 games with the Bees, Guzman had held a .336 batting average and a .974 OPS. Hitting 30 extra-base hits and 57 RBIs in a limited number of games, it was only a matter of time before Guzman forced his way back onto the major league roster.
Guzman got the start on Monday after the call-up, where the Angels allowed a late-game comeback to the Astros, ultimately losing 5-4. In the contest, the 22-year-old logged five at-bats where he struggled to bring his impressive on-base ability from Triple-A, going hitless with a strikeout.
It would be unfair to expect Guzman to maintain the excellence he showed at the minor league level in his first game back. With five more games to come in the homestand, Guzman will have a good opportunity to settle in and find his rhythm in the majors.
We’ll see Guzman and the Halos on the field again tonight at Angel Stadium, with first pitch scheduled for 6:38 p.m. PST. The Angels will be hoping to claw away at the 5.5 game lead the Astros have over them for fourth place in the division.
