Angels No.7 prospect Jack Kochanowicz set to make his MLB Debut against Mariners

ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Angels were set to begin a four-game series Thursday against the American League West first-place Seattle Mariners and were scheduled to start rookie right-hander Jack Kochanowicz.

First pitch was scheduled for 6:38 p.m.

Kochanowicz was drafted by the Angels in the third round of the 2019 MLB Draft and has started to make a name for himself in the farm system. He has a 2.90 ERA at Double-A Rocket City.

In his last three starts, he has pitched two complete games and gave up combined five runs with 18 strikeouts.

Jack Kochanowicz revamped his arm slot/delivery in 2023 to become a more groundball heavy starter, has 2.90 ERA over his last nine starts in Rocket City including two complete games -- Kochanowicz (Ko-Hawn-O-Wickz) is already on 40-man https://t.co/LaAXWYB91I

— Taylor Blake Ward (@TaylorBlakeWard) July 10, 2024

As Kochanowicz will make his MLB Debut tonight, Angels manager Ron Washington said he kept the message simple for him.

“He's got a great defense behind him," Washington said. "The things that he did in the minor leagues, repeat them here.

“Other than that, I don't want him to be impressive to us. The main thing is to be impressive to himself. And if he's impressive to himself, it'll be impressive to everybody else."

Marte sent down

In a corresponding move, the Angels sent down relief pitcher Jose Marte to Triple-A Salt Lake. Marte has pitched in nine games for the Angels with a 3.55 ERA.

The decision to send down Marte wasn’t an easy one, Washington said.

“We needed some length," he said. "When it’s time that we need someone, he certainly will be the first one to come back.”

Since Opening Day, the Angels have two starting pitchers remaining with Patrick Sandoval out for the year (Tommy John surgery) and Chase Silseth and Reid Detmers demoted (both at Salt Lake).

Who will start Sunday?

The Angels do not have anybody slotted to start in the series finale Sunday. Washington said that Roansy Contreras is preparing to be the starter but he could also be the team’s long reliever.

In his last three starts, Contreras gave up eight runs and has pitched in 7 2/3 innings.

Another starting candidate for Sunday is right-hander Sam Bachman, who was scratched from his start in Rocket City on Friday.

With Bachman gone from Double-A, the Trash Pandas are scheduled to play without any starting pitchers this week.