Los Angeles Angels Spring Training Notes
The Los Angeles Angels improved to a 5-3 (with a tie) Spring Training record with a 5-0 win over the Homeless Athletics this afternoon. Kyle Hendricks looked excellent over three innings, allowing two hits while striking out three batters. The Angels finally saw the back end of their bullpen in action as the duo of right-handers Ben Joyce and Kenley Jansen made their 2025 Cactus League debuts. Jansen, who was signed less than a month ago, had a clean 1-2-3 inning with one strikeout. He thinks the duo is “very special” and hopes to help Joyce any way he can.
Superstar Mike Trout walked twice and was hit by a pitch in his three plate appearances. Trout has five walks to go along with his five at-bats. Mickey Moniak and Jo Adell, the Angels’ new centerfield tandem, both played and drove in a run. Neither player has gotten off to a strong start at the plate. Moniak is slashing .133/.188/.200 and Adell is at .143/.133/.357. Yet, if the Angels are able to keep Mike Trout healthy by adding a light-hitting center fielder to the lineup, they’ll certainly do that. As mentioned in the Angels Spring Training Teaser piece, all it takes is 120 games for Trout to be in the MVP conversation.
Lastly, the Angels’ bats as a whole have yet to come around. The team finished with only two hits in their victory over the A’s. While Spring Training success doesn’t help predict season-long success, Angels fans would feel much better if the team started hitting the ball better over the next few weeks.
Other notes from Spring Training:
● Ex-Angels superstar Shohei Ohtani made his Spring Training debut against the Angels and hit a 3-2 fastball into the bullpen for a home run in his first at-bat. It shouldn’t come as too big of a surprise though because his career line against Angels starter Yusei Kikuchi is .304/.333/.739/1.072 with three home runs in 23 at-bats. While Ohtani will always hold a special place in the hearts of Angels fans, it’s hard to root for someone who plays for a team that is ruining baseball.
● Jorge Soler hit his second homer of the spring off of Chicago White Sox left-hander Jared Shuster on Friday afternoon. Currently, the 33-year-old Cuban is the only Angels’ player with multiple home runs.
● Young middle infielders Kyren Paris and Denzer Guzman have flashed their considerable upsides so far in camp. Paris hit a two-run home run in the ninth inning to tie the game against the Chicago Cubs on Thursday. His 1.625 OPS is second only to Soler among players who have played multiple games. While he struggled in 2024 with the Angels, he is still only 23. With Zach Neto out for Opening Day, Paris has a real shot at making the club. Guzman only has one hit so far, a triple, but he’s been selective at the plate and walked four times. 2025 is a big year for Guzman, who has been in the Angels Top-10 prospects list for years. Only 21, he’ll likely start the year in Double-A.