O.C. native Michael Lorenzen will make debut for Angels against Marlins on Monday

Two nights after Noah Syndergaard made his Angels mound debut, Orange County native Michael Lorenzen will do the identical on Monday night time when the veteran right-hander, who signed a one-year, $6.75-million deal in November, begins towards the Miami Marlins in Angel Stadium.

Lorenzen, who performed at Fullerton Excessive and Cal State Fullerton, grew up an Angels fan and performed heart subject as a Little Leaguer due to Jim Edmonds, who staffed the place for the Angels from 1994-99.

“Clearly, due to that catch in Kansas Metropolis,” Lorenzen mentioned, referring to the 1997 play by which Edmonds sprinted straight again to the warning monitor and made a full-extension, over-the-shoulder diving seize of a David Howard drive with two on and two outs. “I nonetheless assume it’s the very best catch ever.”

The 2002 World Collection-winning staff, full of such gritty gamers as Darin Erstad, David Eckstein, Scott Spiezio and Troy Percival, additionally left an indelible mark on Lorenzen.

“That they had a bunch of excellent baseball gamers, and it undoubtedly influenced the best way I see the sport and the way I believe the sport must be performed,” Lorenzen mentioned. “Erstad, Eckstein, Spiezio … all these guys had been hard-nosed gamers who performed the sport the precise approach. They ran onerous, performed onerous … it was only a enjoyable staff to observe.”

Lorenzen, who’s transitioning from the bullpen to the rotation this season, performed his first seven massive league seasons in Cincinnati. The additional calls for of members of the family and associates generally is a distraction for some gamers who signal with hometown groups, however that shouldn’t an issue for Lorenzen.

“I’ve been doing this for eight seasons now, so nothing will get in the best way of my course of,” Lorenzen mentioned. “I allocate folks to take care of sure issues like tickets. I don’t need to see any of that. For a youthful me, it will most likely be robust, however with the place I’m at in my profession, it must be superb.”