Angels report: Kyle Kubitza is dealt to the Rangers

The Angels sold infielder Kyle Kubitza to his hometown Texas Rangers on Tuesday, concluding the 25-year-old’s abbreviated stint as their third baseman of the future.

Kubitza had been designated for assignment last week. Acquired from Atlanta for teenage pitching prospect Ricardo Sanchez in January 2015, Kubitza performed adequately for triple-A Salt Lake, but not well enough to make the Angels believe he had a future as a big leaguer.

Over 171 games, he hit .266 with a .355 on-base percentage and .414 slugging mark. In 39 major league plate appearances, all last year, he hit .194 and struck out 15 times.

After former top prospect Kaleb Cowart regained some of his lost sheen last season, the Angels tried Kubitza at first base, second base and in left field. Cowart, a third baseman, spent a week in the majors last month.

“Kyle has a lot of tools, but just hasn’t put everything together,” Angels Manager Mike Scioscia said. “He’ll get a fresh start. I think he definitely has ability. He has tools. It’s just he was a little slow putting it together in Triple-A the way we’d like to see the last couple years.”

Trout a certain All-Star starter

Mike Trout has amassed more than 2.3 million votes for next month’s All-Star Game, to be played in San Diego. Only one American League player has received more: Kansas City catcher Salvador Perez.

Trout is slated to start alongside Boston’s Mookie Betts and Jackie Bradley Jr. For Trout not to start, another AL outfielder would have to gain a million or more votes on him in the next nine days.

Trout is likely to be the Angels’ lone representative, because no one else on the team is in the top five vote-getters at his position.

Short hops

Scioscia said Nick Tropeano’s Wednesday start for Class-A Inland Empire would have to be “off the charts” for the 25-year-old right-hander to make his next start for the Angels. …It was Tim Lincecum’s responsibility to watch the U.S.-Argentina Copa America semifinal in the Angels’ clubhouse and report regular updates to the position players unable to watch. The game was played at nearby NRG Stadium. …The Angels agreed to an above-slot deal with their sixth-round draft pick, right-hander Cole Duensing from a Kansas high school. Duensing grew up with shortstop Nonie Williams, the Angels’ third-round selection. They also gave Williams an above-slot signing bonus last week.

pedro.moura@latimes.com

Twitter: @pedromoura