ANAHEIM — Luís Rengifo has apparently worked his way into more playing time, even after Andrelton Simmons returns.

With Simmons’ return to the lineup coming any day, the Angels designated Wilfredo Tovar for assignment and kept Rengifo. Tovar was removed to make room for one of the two pitchers added, Trevor Cahill and Jaime Barría.

After Simmons returns, most of the infield playing time figures to go to him, Tommy La Stella and David Fletcher. Manager Brad Ausmus said there’s enough playing time to justify keeping Rengifo in the majors, instead of sending him to play every day at Triple-A.

“We’ve been pushing Fletcher and La Stella to their limits in terms of playing,” Ausmus said. “Part of me feels like giving them a day here or there would help them long-term to keep them strong and healthy. If there’s some type of rotation, and not a strict rotation, but one where we can play them at three positions and occasionally give Simba a day off when he gets back. I think it’s very doable.”

Last week in Toronto, Ausmus suggested that Rengifo was better served playing regularly in the minors than sitting on the bench in the majors. Since then, however, Rengifo has heated up, going 9 for 26 (.346) in his last seven games, with two home runs.

Simmons could be activated as soon as Thursday. After playing seven innings in a Class-A game on Tuesday, he faced live pitching in a workout on Wednesday at Angel Stadium.

CAHILL TO BULLPEN

Trevor Cahill, who had a 7.18 ERA as a starter, was activated from the injured list as a reliever. He had been a successful reliever in 2016 with the Chicago Cubs.

“I’m just here to pitch,” Cahill said. “It wasn’t going great as a starter, so we might as well try something different.”

Ausmus said Cahill had a “great” attitude about the move to the bullpen, and is “ready for anything.”

OHTANI MILESTONE

Shohei Ohtani threw 40 pitches off a mound on Wednesday, his first time doing so since undergoing Tommy John surgery. He threw just 10 of them with the catcher squatting. He said he was throwing at about 50 percent effort.

“It felt really comfortable,” Ohtani said through his interpreter. “It felt good to get on there again.”

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Angels get an optimistic glimpse of the future in win over Padres Ohtani is not pitching this season, but he said so far his rehab has gone according to schedule. General Manager Billy Eppler said last month that Ohtani won’t be throwing at an intensity that would impact his availability as a hitter until September, if then.

ALSO

JC Ramírez has agreed to extend his rehab assignment, which was set to expire this week. Ramírez is rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, which means he could extend his rehab assignment beyond the normal 30 days, up to another 30 days, Ausmus said. Although Ramírez has allowed 17 runs in 17 innings so far in five rehab outings, Ausmus said they haven’t gotten to the point of evaluating the quality of his pitches. The reports have still been health related. …

Keynan Middleton, who is also rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, is “pretty close” to being able to face hitters. After he does that, it will be about three weeks before he is activated, Eppler said. …

The Angels optioned pitcher Jake Jewell, clearing a roster spot for one of the two pitchers they added.

UP NEXT

Angels (RHP Griffin Canning, 2-4, 3.88) vs. A’s (RHP Tanner Anderson, 0-2, 4.20), Thursday, 7:07 p.m., Fox Sports West, 830 AM