Angels sign reliever Jeremy McBryde to major league contract

The Angels signed reliever Jeremy McBryde to a major league contract Friday, even though the 27-year-old right-hander has spent his entire eight-year professional career in the minor leagues. To make room for McBryde on the 40-man roster, the Angels designated outfielder Roger Kieschnick for assignment.

The 6-foot-2, 240-pound McBryde features a 93-mph fastball as well as a power slider and has a good track record against right-handed hitters. He went went 3-4 with a 2.22 earned-run average and 17 saves for Oakland’s triple-A team at Sacramento last season, striking out 66 and walking 26 in 65 innings.

McBryde held the 135 right-handed hitters he faced in 2014 to a .154 average, .178 on-base percentage and .223 slugging percentage with 46 strikeouts and three walks.

McBryde was a 38th-round draft pick of the San Diego Padres in 2005 and spent his first seven years with that organization. He has a 28-38 record and 3.95 ERA and 47 saves in eight seasons, striking out 651 and walking 165 in 613 innings.