The Angels announced that they’ve claimed right-hander Vicente Campos off waivers from the Diamondbacks this afternoon. Campos was originally acquired by Arizona in the trade that sent Tyler Clippard to the Yankees over the summer, but ended up undergoing surgery for a fractured ulnar this September that came with an expected eight-month recovery time, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic notes on Twitter.
The 24-year-old Campos made his Major League debut this season, tossing 5 2/3 innings of relief for Arizona (in one appearance) and allowing three runs on four hits and two walks with four strikeouts. He pitched across three minor league levels this season between the D-backs and Yankees systems, ultimately spending most of his time at Double-A. In 142 2/3 minor league innings this year, Campos notched a 3.22 ERA with 7.6 K/9 against 2.7 BB/9.
Originally a Mariners farmhand, Campos went to the Yankees along with Michael Pineda in the now-lopsided Jesus Montero trade. MLB.com rated him 14th among Yankees prospects midway through the season and noted that he has the potential for three average-or-better offerings but also comes with serious durability concerns. That he was able to total a combined 148 1/3 innings between the Majors and minors this year — easily a career-high — bodes well for an Angels team that is in unequivocal need of pitching depth if he can recover from his surgery. Campos may not be ready to open the season on a big league pitching staff, as he has just 6 2/3 total innings at Triple-A in his career and will still be returning to full health, but he could eventually emerge as an option for the Halos next season.