Back with Angels, Reid Detmers says he’s been ‘ready to go for a long time’

When Reid Detmers was optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake on May 31, the Angels tried to emphasize it was not a demotion. General manager Perry Minasian said Detmers was sent down to work on some mechanical issues with his delivery.

Detmers, however, said Sunday that the move “definitely” felt like a demotion.

“I’ll never say it’s not a demotion,” Detmers said. “Obviously, it’s a step back. That’s just the nature of it. It was tough, obviously, to be sent down. I don’t think I ever really agreed with it, but that’s not really my decision.”

But Detmers said he used the 10 starts he made at Salt Lake to improve his command and refine his changeup.

Detmers gave up nine runs in his first two starts at Triple-A, but he allowed only 15 runs in his final eight starts and struck out 50 batters in 44 1/3 innings.

Detmers said he’s been “ready to go for a long time,” and he was glad to finally get the call back to the Angels.

“I was chomping at the bit, but I knew I wasn’t quite there yet,” Detmers said.

Detmers is scheduled to start Tuesday against the Oakland Athletics.