Michael Stefanic To Make MLB Debut For Angels 

On Sunday, the Los Angeles Angels announced that former Rocket City Trash Pandas infielder Michael Stefanic has been promoted and will make his Major League debut in the series finale in Houston against the Astros, batting sixth and playing second base.

Stefanic becomes the 14th former Trash Pandas player to reach Los Angeles and will be the fourth to make his Angels debut this season, following Aaron Whitefield, Chase Silseth, and David MacKinnon. Stefanic began 2021 with the Trash Pandas and was the starting second baseman in the inaugural game in franchise history.

He appeared in 21 games for Rocket City, batting .345 with one home run, nine RBI, 11 runs, and a .406 on-base percentage. His one home run for the Trash Pandas was a big one. With the score tied in the bottom of the eighth on May 12, 2021 at Toyota Field, Stefanic launched a two-run blast to left field, giving the Trash Pandas a 6-4 lead they would hold for their first victory at their new home in the second game ever at Toyota Field.

He was promoted to Triple-A Salt Lake on May 29, 2021 and continued to hit for the Bees, batting .334 with 16 home runs, 54 RBI, 21 doubles, and 67 runs scored in 104 games to be named a Triple-A West Post-Season All-Star. His .334 batting average ranked second in Triple-A West while posting a club-best 15-game hitting streak for the Bees from July 10-25, hitting .411 in that span.

This season for Salt Lake, Stefanic has been just as good offensively, batting .320 with one home run, 19 RBI, seven doubles, and 30 runs in 46 games. Stefanic was originally signed by the Angels as a non-drafted free agent on July 19, 2018 out of Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California.