Angels’ Tyler Skaggs and Carlos Perez are impressive in triple-A performance

Tyler Skaggs impressed the Angels’ organization with his 14-strikeout, no-walk performance Thursday with triple-A Salt Lake, convincing the team his return from August 2014 elbow surgery is, at last, imminent.

And, according to Angels Manager Mike Scioscia, Skaggs’ catcher, Carlos Perez, did the same in his first minor league game in 14 months.

“He really caught a good game,” Scioscia said. “We wouldn’t expect anything different from him.”

Scioscia said the “major impetus” for Perez’s demotion last week was his offense. He opened 2016 as the team’s starter. He does not have a track record of above-average production, but the major league staff thinks he can be better than the .563 on-base-plus-slugging percentage he logged in the first half.

“Carlos, from a defensive aspect, was playing at a high level,” the manager said. “What he really needs is to get some at-bats to find a little more consistent approach in the batter’s box that’s going to let him contribute offensively. He was putting pressure on himself when he was getting into a game.”

Thursday was Perez’s first start in triple A. He called Skaggs’ pitches and homered.

Skaggs will start at least once more for Salt Lake, Tuesday in Iowa, before he joins the Angels’ rotation. He reached 84 pitches in the seven-inning start Thursday.

“The reports, were as encouraging as the stat line,” Scioscia said. “When Tyler comes back into our rotation, we want to make sure that he’s pitching up to his capabilities and all his pitches are working well. It’ll take as much time as it takes. We’re not going to rush him.”

Short hops

As the signing deadline passed Friday, the Angels announced they signed 35 of their 40 selections from last month’s MLB draft. Most notable of the five unsigned is 13th-round right-hander Anthony Molina, a Florida high schooler profiled in the book “The Arm”. …

Left-hander C.J. Wilson underwent shoulder surgery Friday, performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache. He is out for the season; he will conclude his five-year contract with the Angels having last pitched for the team in July 2015. …

Left-hander Andrew Heaney returned to the team for the first time since he underwent elbow surgery, also with ElAttrache, on July 1. …

Infielder Cliff Pennington remains at least several days away from beginning a rehab assignment for his strained left hamstring, sustained May 31. He has played three games in the last two months, interrupted by two instances of the strain.

pedro.moura@latimes.com

Twitter: @pedromoura