West Orange alum Nolan Fontana called up by Los Angeles Angels -- Observer Preps

A little under five years to the day that Nolan Fontana was selected by the Houston Astros with the 61st pick of the 2012 Major League Baseball Draft, the former West Orange High star has been called up to The Show.

Fontana, now in the Los Angeles Angels organization, was officially recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake to join the Angels this afternoon.

The timing of Fontana's promotion is nothing if not perfect for friends and family hoping to catch his first Big League action — the infielder will join the Angels in St. Pete, where they begin a four-game series with the Tampa Bay Rays this evening. Per a tweet by the Angels earlier today, Fontana will start at second base and bat ninth.

Fontana has played well for the Triple-A Salt Lake Bees so far this season. In 38 games, the former Florida Gator is hitting .265 with 25 RBIs, five home runs and seven doubles. Fontana's strongest asset, though, has always been his fielding — he has close to a 1.000 fielding percentage this season for the Bees, spending time at second base, shortstop and third base.

The call-up for Fontana comes on the heels of some national attention for a walk-off, inside-the-park home run for the Bees May 13.

For a Q-and-A the West Orange Times & Observer did with Fontana during his 2016 Spring Training with the Astros, click HERE.

Contact Steven Ryzewski at [email protected].