2019 Angels Year in Review: 2nd Base

11/4/19 - Jay Sheehy - Founder and Editor-in-Chief

The first two position recaps for the Los Angeles Angels were unmitigated disasters that most likely aren’t going to get any better in the 2020 season. Second base is a different story, however, as the Angels ranked 11th in baseball and in the process found three players that will all be significant contributors in the upcoming season.

Second Base: A Glimmer of Hope

Left to right: Tommy La Stella, Luis Rengifo

Tommy La Stella ($1.35 million) - No, no, no, not Tommy La Stella…All-Star Tommy La Stella. Like the other names on this list, La Stella played multiple positions (mainly 2nd and 3rd where he played 46 and 30 games respectively) this season which was his first as an all-star. His .295/.346/.486/.832 line was a solid 119 OPS+ which was good for third on the team (behind Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani). While La Stella has always been a step slow on defense his versatility makes up for it. His all-star nod might have been iffy but the only issue Angels fans have with his year was the fractured tibia that knocked him out for the remainder of the season a little before the All-Star game.
Baseball Reference credited him with 1.5 WAR. FanGraphs credited him with 2.0 WAR.

Luis Rengifo ($555,000) - Acquired in the trade with Tampa Bay that sent C.J. Cron away, Rengifo was a pleasant surprise in 2018, moving up three levels and finishing with a .299/.399/.452/.851 line that put him firmly on the radar for a 2019 roster spot with the big club. After getting called up in the 26th game of the season, Rengifo bounced around in May before finally sticking for good after May 23rd. He brought the kind of energy the Angels desperately needed. With 104 games at second base (and 12 at shortstop), Rengifo had the most time at the position. The 22-year old made the most of his time despite some struggles offensively. His .238/.321/.364/.685 line was only good for a 84 OPS+ but his stellar defense made him better than league average. The real surprise of Rengifo’s season was his lack of stolen bases. Ending up with only two steals (out of seven attempts) was a major reduction from the 41 bases he stole in 57 attempts in the minors in 2018. While there will surely be rumors of moving Rengifo in the off-season, due to his youth/contract/talent, the Angels supposed surplus of infielders is misguided due to the injury histories of Andrelton Simmons and Zack Cozart. Rengifo shows an excellent eye and with any increase in power he will be a solid everyday player for the Angels for years to come. And it only cost C.J. Cron. That’s the kind of deal the Angels need to be making.
Baseball Reference: 1.6 WAR. FanGraphs: 1.2 WAR.

David Fletcher ($555,000) - See Third Base.

Where we go from here:
Tommy La Stella will be back and ready for Spring Training. He should slot in for roughly $3 million.
Luis Rengifo will be back (unless traded — hopefully not) and get a small bump in salary.

Along with David Fletcher, second base is completely covered for the 2020 season in Anaheim. Down on the farm, Angels #6 prospect, Jahmai Jones, was just included on the 40-man roster (so as not to be lost in the upcoming Rule 5 Draft) after a rough season in Double-A. He has had trouble on offense the last few season and his prospect star has definitely dimmed. Will Wilson, the Angels #4 prospect, is a SS/2B who was drafted out of NC State in 2019. He looked good in his first taste of professional baseball and could be on the fast track after spending the summer in Rookie Ball in Orem. Two plus years out could see Jeremiah Jackson, a 2B/SS who is ranked as the Angels #5 prospect. Jackson destroyed Rookie Ball to the tune of 23 Home Runs over 65 games, leading the league.

For the first time out of three positions it can be said that the Angels are set for the present and future.