Players Competing for Starting Spots this Spring
Jan 10, 2025 - Written by Zac Holladay
Photo Credit : @TrashPandas - X
A New Year, A New Season
This is the new year! Celebrate the new year of 2025 and the new baseball season. The Angels have a lot of new faces to the squad and plenty of new potential to be showcased for the foreseeable season. As there are multiple moves that could be made between now and Opening Day 2025, there are some decisions to be made about who will make the final cuts off the Opening Day roster and who shows enough talent in Spring Training to make the team. But before that, let's discuss what positions are reserved.
Positions Locked In for 2025
With many holes needing to be filled in the 2025 roster, there are some guys that have certain positions locked down. Within the infield, young guns SS Zach Neto, 1B Nolan Schanuel and C Logan O’Hoppe have their positions within easy reach. O’Hoppe is most likely the easiest on the whole roster to lock in due to his strong tools and leadership skills behind the plate. But, with last year showing some slowdown throughout the season, newly acquired C Travis d’Arnaud from the Braves will see some decent time behind the dish to ease the workload for the 24 year old catcher. While Neto will plan to play everyday at the shortstop position, he isn’t expected to be healthy for Opening Day. And while Schanuel is the Halos best-bet for the position, there is a possibility he could be replaced soon due to the market being hot for the Angels desire to add another big bat. But for the most part, these three guys are the number 1 options for their positions.
While the infield is a bit simpler to dissect, the Angels in the outfield is a complex subject that could include a multitude of combinations. Right now, Mike Trout is a question mark for what position he will hold at the beginning of the season, whether that's an outfield spot or sharing some time at DH with Jorge Soler. But no matter where he plays, he will be in the lineup as much as he can physically handle, with off-days thrown in more frequently than years past. Taylor Ward is expected to start in the outfield for Los Angeles as he was atop the Angel leaderboards in a majority of the offensive categories in 2024. While he is one of the many trade targets on this Angels roster, he will have a job playing in the outfield if he continues his career in Anaheim.
There are few Angels pitchers that fit the profile of a “guaranteed spot”. As Angels struggle with acquiring pitching every offseason, it is hopeful that at least one more starter is added and of a ‘frontline starter” caliber. But of the rotation, SP Tyler Anderson and new acquisition SP Yusei Kikuchi are projected to be atop the starting five. The two southpaws showed tremendous potential in 2024 with Anderson earning an All-Star selection and Kikuchi making a massive change and thriving with the Astros after being traded from Toronto. SP Jose Soriano also showed a big step up in his career and shows massive amounts of potential for a frontline starter. Newly added veteran SP Kyle Hendricks is projected to be at the back end of the rotation and will be a role player and mentor to the youth. And for the bullpen, guys like RHP Jose Quijada and LHP Ben Joyce are the few that should go into Opening Day with a job. They did their job in 2024 and they are the most reliable and consistent pieces that the Angels have in the bullpen.
Positional Battles
So who’s going to be fighting for a starting spot at what positions? Well with a team that has more depth than years past, the Angels have some options at multiple positions. While this should be seen as a positive problem, this will diminish the development of some guys.
Infield Options
The infield has a good amount of options that can be switched around. Second and third base are open as far as it’s anyone’s position. The projected starters are 3B Anthony Rendon and UTIL Luis Rengifo. While Rengifo has shown great progress in the last few years and can play 2B as well as SS and 3B, Rendon will have to earn the position as he has shown no decent production in his five year tenure with the Angels. With Rendon fighting for his spot, he could be beat out by Kevin Newman and even minor league players by the names of Carter Kieboom and Scott Kingery. But any of those guys would have to make a very good impression in spring if they want to be considered. Meanwhile, along with Rengifo, there is top prospect 2B Christian Moore in the system. With the Angels recent early call-ups, Moore has a very real chance at making the Opening Day roster. Him and Rengifo could possibly take the third base job from Rendon if Angels look to move on with his services. With the 2B spot, it will most likely be given to either Moore or Rengifo. Both are willing to play other positions and have the possibility to be moved if needed. But the Angels decision on what to do with Moore, keep him to develop in the minors or bring him up, will ultimately decide the 2B job.
Photo Credit : @JoShowAdell - X
Outfield Showdown: Moniak vs. Adell
The Halos have 4 really solid outfielders in Mike Trout, Mickey Moniak, Jo Adell and Taylor Ward. All these guys have shown they can maintain an outfield spot and display decent defense. While Mike Trout and Taylor Ward are the two guys that have shown the most consistent offense (when healthy), it will ultimately come down to either Jo Adell or Mickey Moniak. But while Moniak is a fan favorite who has shown signs of being great, Adell had the better numbers in 2024. It will, ultimately, come down to a toss up. Expecting that these two outfielders are still here in ST and Angels don’t add a star outfielder, Moniak and Adell will fight for the last outfield spot. Both of them have intriguing strong suits and have rooms in which they need to improve. It will be decided at the end of Spring Training.
Pitching Depth: Prospects and Proven Talent
Most, if not all, of the pitchers will have to prove their spot in 2025. A big chunk of the bullpen will be made up of the best possible options of Hans Crouse, Ryan Zeferjahn, Brock Burke, Sam Bachman, Victor Mederos, etc. Now while there are a few starting pitchers that could make a run at filling in a bullpen spot, they all have a decent run at the rotation. Young guys brought up last year from the minors, like Caden Dana, Sam Aldegheri and Jack Kochanowicz, all will have their chance to prove themselves. In addition, you have Chase Silseth, who was on the IL most of last year, and Reid Detmers, who was sent down to AAA mid-year. All five of these guys will have to prove their stability and consistency.
The Path to Success or Underachievement?
Taking all of these players into account, the depth of the 2025 Angels is promising. The potential that this team has to compete in the AL West is interesting. Although a lot of players have to do what is expected of them and to stay healthy, they have good players with great talent. The big deciding factor is what pieces go where. This particular puzzle could be put together in many ways. But certain decisions that manager Ron Washington and his coaching staff make will decide the stability of the Angels. Will they make the right moves? Or will they play with their regular expectations and underachieve?
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