June 10--REPORTING FROM ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The Angels recalled Kyle Kubitza from triple-A Salt Lake on Wednesday, and the third-base prospect will make his major-league debut against the Tampa Bay Rays in Tropicana Field Wednesday night.
In 57 games at Salt Lake, Kubitza, who was acquired from the Atlanta Braves for left-hander Ricardo Sanchez last winter and is in line to replace David Freese in 2016, hit .287 with a .362 on-base percentage and a .452 slugging percentage. He had three homers, 21 doubles, four triples and 28 runs batted in.
He was called up as a temporary replacement for Freese, who left Tuesday night's game in the seventh inning because of right hamstring tightness but was not placed in the disabled list.
To make room for Kubitza on the 25-man roster, outfielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis, who hit .136 in 10 games with the Angels, was designated for assignment.
