Jeff Mathis, who earned a spot with the major league team after the Angels decided not to re-sign Bengie Molina, has split time behind the plate with Jose Molina, but neither player has produced in the lineup. Mathis hit just .103 in 39 at-bats, with his last hit coming in Minnessota on April 18. In addition, seven of nine runners have been successful against him behind the plate.
Mike Napoli, the Angels' 17th-round pick in the 2000 draft, has hit .244 in the Pacific Coast League so far in his first taste of Triple-A pitching. The right-handed slugger has three homers and six doubles through 21 games, but has struck out 29 times against just nine walks.
Napoli re-emereged as a prospect in 2004 when he slugged 29 homers at Rancho Cucamonga a year after he had reconstructive shoulder surgery. Last year, the Hollywood, Fla., native led the Angels' Double-A affiliate in the Texas League with 31 homers.