Why The Angels Have Reason For Optimism Going Forward

Things may be looking up for the Angels.

2023 was no doubt a very tough year for the Los Angeles Angels organization, and this offseason could see them lose their best player. But, for the first time in what seems like a while, there is some sense of optimism that surrounds the team, due to them having a few solid, young players to work with going forward.

It wasn’t all bad for the Halos this season, as they saw some guys really step up to show what they can do. So, even if Shohei Ohtani does leave the organization, they do have some nice pieces going forward.

Of course, they would rather have Ohtani stay on the roster, but the likelihood of that is low. So, they will need to make sure with the guys that they can continue to help mold them into quality MLB players.

Guys like shortstop Zach Neto, catcher Logan O’Hoppe, first baseman Nolan Schanuel and others will be the ones to lead this team moving forward. They all showed glimpses this season and will use this offseason to continue building their production for the team.

Schanuel showed out during his first chance with the Angels. He appeared in 29 games for the Halos this season after being drafted just a few months ago. But he made the most of his chance, hitting .275 with one home run and six runs barred in. He should only improve with more playing time, and the Angels are excited to see what he can do over an entire season.

Both Neto and O’Hoppe provided much value to this team after battling through different injuries. Neto finished his rookie season hitting .225 with nine home runs and 34 runs batted in. He was electric for the Halos and looks to be their shortstop of the future.

O’Hoppe missed most of the season dealing with an oblique injury, but he was special in September. He finished the season with 14 home runs, hitting .236 and 29 runs batted in. If he can stay healthy moving forward, the Angels may have found the catcher of the future.

They also got a strong season from pitcher Chase Silseth, who put up an ERA of 3.96 and a record of 4-1. He looked much better as a starting pitcher and will be given every opportunity to be in the rotation next season.

Alongside these young players are veterans like star Mike Trout, Anthony Rendon, Brandon Drury and more. It could be a nice mix of talent for the Angels next season, and this is without free agency as well.

For the first time in a long time, the Angels have a few potential position players of the future. While the last decade has been tough for everyone, the future does look much brighter. This offseason will play a big role in how things turn out, and the hope is that this team can get back into contention soon.