November 18th, 2022

ANAHEIM – The Angels today acquired INF Gio Urshela from the Minnesota Twins in exchange for minor league RHP Alejandro Hidalgo. In a corresponding 40-man roster move, LHP Jhonathan Diaz has been designated for assignment.

Urshela, 31, (pronounced ur-SHEL-uh) set career highs in 2022 with 143 hits, 41 walks and 144 games for the Twins, while totaling 27 doubles, three triples, 13 home runs and 64 RBI. His 21 infield hits led the Twins and ranked 10th in the American League. Following the All-Star Break, his .317 (69/218) average ranked 11th in the A.L.

A native of Cartagena, Colombia, Urshela was originally signed by Cleveland as an international free agent in 2008 and made his Major League debut with Cleveland during the 2015 season. He has totaled 602 career games across parts of seven seasons with Cleveland (2015, 2017), Toronto (2018), New York (A.L.) (2019-21) and Minnesota (2022). Urshela also has four years of postseason experience, totaling 22 career playoff games and was a Gold Glove Award finalist in 2020 with the Yankees.

Hidalgo, 19, was originally signed by the Angels as an international free agent on July 2, 2019 and spent the 2022 campaign with Low-A Inland Empire. The Venezuelan native totaled 17 games (16 starts) across his two minor league seasons in the Angels organization.

COURTESY MLBpressbox.com & ANGELS MEDIA RELATIONS