Guillo

Zuniga

Zuñiga was designated for assignment after the Angels signed Travis d’Arnaud. The right-hander made 15 appearances for Los Angeles in 2024 with a 5.09 ERA and 12/8 K/BB across 17 2/3 innings. There should be interest in him on a minor-league deal now that he’s on the open market.

Zuñiga has been removed from Los Angeles’ 40-man roster to make room for newly-signed veteran backstop Travis d’Arnaud. The 26-year-old righty recorded a pedestrian 5.09 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 12/8 K/BB ratio across 17 2/3 innings last season for the Angels. He might attract some interest on waivers as extra organizational relief depth.

Zuniga is coming up as bullpen depth with Ben Joyce going on the injured list. He has a 6.43 ERA, 1.71 WHIP and three strikeouts in seven innings over five appearances with the Angels this year. He has one save, though it’s unclear if he’ll be an option for saves now in the absence of Joyce.

Zuñiga has been shipped back to the minors to free up a roster spot for Thursday’s starter Davis Daniel to take the ball against the Tigers. The 25-year-old righty was called back up over the weekend after missing a couple months with a pectoral strain. He should be back in a couple weeks.

The 25-year-old hurler will add an extra arm to the Angels’ bullpen — at least until they figure out how they plan to fill Patrick Sandoval’s spot in their starting rotation. Zuniga has made four appearances out of the Halos’ bullpen this season, posting a 7.20 ERA, 1.60 WHIP and a 2/4 K/BB ratio across five frames.

Zuñiga has made four appearances this season for Los Angeles and will remain stationed in the upper minors as extra organizational depth after wrapping up a rehab assignment.

Zuñiga began his rehab assignment missing over a month and a half with a right pectoral strain. The right-hander will have a chance to rejoin the Los Angeles bullpen after that assignment is over, but it will likely not be in a high-leverage role.

It’s unknown when Zuñiga picked up the injury, as he hadn’t appeared in a game since April 3. The hard-throwing right-hander will miss at least two weeks with the injury, and Hunter Strickland has been recalled from Triple-A to take his place on the roster.

Zuñiga throws 97-101 mph, but he doesn’t always know where it’s going; he walked 20 in 30 2/3 innings while amassing a 7.63 ERA in Triple-A last season. While there’s clearly some potential here, the Angels aren’t the best organization to help him reach it. He’ll almost certainly head back to Triple-A for a spell.

This is the corresponding move for the Keynan Middleton signing. Zuñiga’s tough year saw him post a 7.63 ERA in 30 2/3 innings in Triple-A, get called up in late August anyway and then suffer a season-ending forearm strain in his second major league appearance. The 25-year-old Zuñiga throws 97-101 mph, so even with the injury and his history of control issues, it doesn’t seem likely that he’ll clear waivers.