Angels pick up righty Pounders in trade

Brooks Pounders is on his way to Los Angeles.

The Angels acquired the 6-foot-5, 265-pound right-hander -- at the time the Royals' No. 22 prospect -- in a trade for Class A hurler Jared Ruxer on Thursday. Pounders checks into his new system as its 13th-ranked prospect.

Pounders was originally taken by the Pirates in the second round of the 2009 Draft out of Temecula Valley High School in California. He was traded to the Royals two years later in a deal for infielder Yamaico Navarro. The righty tossed a nine-inning no-hitter for Double-A Northwest Arkansas on June 28, 2013, but missed time each of the next two seasons due to Tommy John surgery and a lat injury. When healthy, he boasts a fastball that can hit 97 mph that he complements with an average slider, curveball and changeup.

Want to thank the @Royals organization and fans for everything the endless support. A first class organization through and through.

- Brooks Pounders (@BrooksPounders) December 2, 2016

The California native started this season with Triple-A Omaha and compiled a 5-3 record with a 3.14 ERA and 90 strikeouts over 80 1/3 innings. He was also named a Pacific Coast League midseason All-Star. The Royals called up Pounders to the big leagues on three separate occasions in the second half, and the 26-year-old posted a 9.24 ERA over 12 2/3 innings in his first Major League action.

The Angels drafted Ruxer, 24, in the 12th round in 2014. The University of Louisville product split this season between Class A Burlington and Class A Advanced Inland Empire, where he produced a combined 4-8 record, 3.08 ERA and 99 strikeouts over 111 innings.

Thank you to all my teammates, coaches, and staff with the Angels. Excited for a new opportunity with a great organization @Royals!

- Jared Ruxer (@RuX40) December 2, 2016