Jordan Walden’s fastball speeds his promotion to the big leagues

Reporting from Minneapolis — 

Manager Mike Scioscia said Jordan Walden’s promotion to the big leagues Sunday had plenty to do with the 22-year-old reliever’s 98-mph fastball and nothing to do with the Angels giving up on this season and building for the future.

Walden, who spent the first four months of 2009 at double-A Arkansas and three weeks at triple-A Salt Lake, joined the Angels at Target Field after infielder Maicer Izturis (inflamed right shoulder) was placed on the 15-day disabled list for the third time this season.

“We’re making moves that we feel are going to help us now and in the future,” Scioscia said. “You can see the impact [center fielder] Peter Bourjos has had. If we feel a guy can help us now, there will be a role for him. We’re not looking past today’s game. Jordan has the potential to be a dynamic player.”

Jason Bulger and Brian Stokes, who both opened the year with the Angels, have been on rehabilitation assignments at Salt Lake since early August, but Scioscia said Walden had “the most upside of the guys we were looking at.”

That upside is based on the 6-foot-5, 220-pound right-hander’s fastball, which has been clocked as high as 102 mph this season. Walden also throws a changeup and has been working on his slider.

Command has been Walden’s issue. He had a 3.35 earned-run average, 38 strikeouts and 22 walks in 43 innings of 38 games at Arkansas and a 4.05 ERA, three strikeouts and two walks in 6 2/3 innings of six games at Salt Lake.

“My arm feels good, and I can let it go,” Walden said. “I’m learning how to pitch this year.”

Frequent flier

It was a whirlwind weekend for Walden, who flew with the triple-A team from Memphis to Salt Lake after Friday’s game, arriving at 4 a.m. Saturday.

Salt Lake had a home game Saturday night, and Walden flew from Salt Lake to Minneapolis on Sunday morning. He returned to Orange County with the Angels after Sunday night’s game.

For those scoring at home, that’s about 4,650 air miles on three flights, each landing in a different time zone, in about 2 ½ days.

“It’s kind of crazy,” Walden said in the team’s Target Field clubhouse before Sunday night’s game. “I grew up watching all these players, and now I’m sitting here with them. It’s different.”

Jepsen returns

Kevin Jepsen was back in the Angels’ bullpen Sunday after missing Saturday’s game because of a throat infection.

Jepsen woke up Friday with a sore throat, body aches and a fever. He was in the bullpen but did not pitch Friday night. He felt so ill Saturday that he returned to the team hotel before the game.

But Jepsen, who is on antibiotics, said he was able to eat breakfast Sunday morning, his first meal in two days, and he said he was available to pitch Sunday night against the Twins.

“I feel better,” Jepsen said before the game. “I just don’t have any energy.”

mike.digiovanna@latimes.com