LA Angels 2021 spring training guide: who will start in right field?

Dexter Fowler

When I mentioned that the Angels strategy this offseason was to add quantity over quality, that is an understatement in regards to the right field. Last season, the corner outfield spots were clogged with a lack of production. It appears that instead of acquiring a top outfielder, the Angels have decided to bring aboard some options to fill the space until they feel Jo Adell or Brandon Marsh is ready to take the reigns. They’ve brought aboard four new names to compete for the role.

If the season started today, Dexter Fowler would be the starting right fielder. In the final year of his contract, he was acquired by the Angels in a trade with the Cardinals to hold down the position while Adell develops. Not only that, but he is expected to act as a mentor to the rising star.

“They’re both high-energy, fun kind of guys,” manager Joe Maddon said. “Dex has had the experience of playing with a couple different organizations, a World Series hero. I see it as a being a good union. I really do. I mean, Dex is good for anybody. But [he and Adell have] similar kinds of personalities.”

Over the course of his 13-year career, Fowler has bounced around a fair bit. He spent his first six seasons in Colorado, then Houston for one, Chicago for two, and the last four with St. Louis.
With the Cubs, he famously hit a leadoff home run in game seven of the 2016 World Series to help propel the organization to their first championship since 1908. An experience like that is always a welcome addition to any team.

How long will Dexter Fowler be the everyday right fielder for the Angels?

However, while it’s true that the intention with the Fowler acquisition is to start him in right field, I find it hard to believe his spot is guaranteed.

From a performance standpoint, he hasn’t exactly impressed in recent years. Fowler has not finished with a batting average above .250 in the past three seasons.

With the Angels desperate to get back to the playoffs, they will be eager to play the best lineup they can.

Fowler’s veteran presence is a plus, and the acquisition should be celebrated. That being said, I don’t believe his spot in the starting lineup is as secure as the Angels are making it out to be.
One of these players can take Fowler’s starting spot.

Jo Adell

We all know about Adell’s disastrous rookie season last year. His .161/.212/.266 slash line was not something the Angels had envisioned for their top prospect when they called him up in early August.

While the organization still views Adell as a future star, Maddon has already gone on record to say Adell would start the 2021 campaign in the minors.

Now, having said that, you never know what Maddon’s true intentions with a comment like that are. It’s entirely possible he has attempted to motivate the 21-year-old to take his offseason training seriously by giving him something to prove. Not only does Adell post his daily workouts, but he has also made improvements to his swing. It looks like the comment is indeed driving him to improve.

I also believe Adell could use some more time in the minors. He was called up to triple-A late in the 2019 season, so in addition to the lack of minor league games last year, he’s only had a brief cup of coffee in Salt Lake. The extra time could help to build up his confidence so that he’s ready to contribute to the playoff push when called up.

An impressive spring camp could put Jo Adell on the Opening Day roster.

Of course, all the evidence points to him beginning the year in triple-A with his horrendous season, the acquisition of Fowler, and Maddon’s comments. Still, I’m optimistic that if Adell shows up to camp and dominates, there is a non-zero chance he wins the right-field job.

Taylor Ward

With the Angels within striking distance of the playoffs near the end of the 2020 season, they benched a struggling Adell for Taylor Ward, who was fairly solid, slashing .350/.400/.483 over the final two months of the season.

Regardless of his performance, due to the small sample size and lack of power production (0 home runs in 2020), the Angels are not relying on Ward to headline the position on the depth chart. Not only have they brought in a few additional outfielders, but they’ve also begun working Ward out as a catcher, to add to his versatility.

The position is not new to the 27-year-old, as he began his minor league career behind the dish. He later moved to third base, which the Angels credit as a factor in improving his offensive output. Ward then moved again to the outfield after the Angels signed Anthony Rendon. The Angels trying Ward out as a catcher suggests his days as the everyday starting right fielder are behind him.

Taylor Ward will be used as a super utility player for the Angels this season.

As it stands, the Angels will start Max Stassi at catcher, with veteran Kurt Suzuki as the backup. Maddon has used three catchers on his depth chart before, so it’s possible Ward is kept on the Opening Day roster as a utility player for behind the plate and in the outfield as needed.

That is unless Ward has something to say about it. If Ward can prove this spring that his late-season hot streak wasn’t a fluke and that he is capable of extra-base production, he might have an excellent chance to reclaim the starting spot. He’s done it once, and there’s no reason to believe he can’t do it again.

Brandon Marsh

Having ascended to the top spot in the Angels farm sytem, the anticipation for Brandon Marsh’s MLB debut is growing. He hasn’t appeared in the majors yet, although he would have been likely to make his debut this past season under normal circumstances, so a call-up this year is extremely likely.

We will see Brandon Marsh play for the Angels this season, it’s just a matter of when.

With his debut imminent, one figures he will be getting serious looks this spring and how he stacks up among the other options. While Angels fans and coaching staff observe his skill set, they’ll understand why Marsh is highly touted. He can make hard, consistent contact that is developing into home run power, he has the ability to get on base, has plus-speed, and offers plus-defense.

That developing power is fairly new. Marsh has always displayed strong raw power, but it hadn’t translated to games until the 2019 Arizona Fall League, where he slugged .522, and Angels Alternate Camp, where he hit seven home runs in just over 100 at-bats.

If Marsh repeats his performance from last season, he will give the Angels coaching staff much to think about. He figures to be the long-term option in left field or possibly center field if Trout moves to a corner down the road. With the right field position up for the taking this spring and with his skill set, Marsh could easily compete for the role.

If the Taylor Ward-back-to-catcher experiment pays off, the fourth outfielder role may be up for grabs. The Angels front office has signed a few seasoned veterans to minor-league deals to create a bit of competition. These names include Jon Jay, Juan Lagares, and Scott Schebler.

Jon Jay

Jay, who is another ex-Maddon player from his time with the Cubs, has enjoyed an 11-year career. He has always been a strong defender and a contact first hitter, consistently hitting in the high .200s. He has a 2011 World Series ring from his second season when he was a member of the Cardinals. Jay spent his first six seasons with the Red Birds but has been a journeyman ever since, having brief stints in San Diego, Chicago (both Cubs and White Sox), Kansas City, and Arizona.

As a 36-year-old, it’s unlikely he will regain his form, as he hasn’t hit above .270 since 2017. Jay will need a late-career resurgence to even have a shot at making the starting lineup. He will most likely have his eyes set on a backup outfielder role.

Juan Lagares

Predominantly a center-fielder, Lagares will also be battling for that fourth outfielder role, as it is unlikely he will win the starting right field job. Throughout his career, he has never really shined offensively. His best year came in 2014, where he slashed .281/.321/.382. On the other side of the ball, he profiles as a strong defender; in fact, during that same 2014 season, he captured the NL Glove Glove award for the center field position.

It’s doubtful Lagares will be considered as a starter. He figures to serve more as a late-game defensive replacement for Justin Upton if he makes the team out of spring training.

Scott Schebler

Out of all the minor league signings, Schebler is the most intriguing. He broke out after hitting 30 home runs while slashing .233/.307/.484 during the 2017 season. However, that year may have been a fluke as he has amassed a total of 19 home runs at the big league level since then.

It’s not likely he returns to his breakout form, but he is worth keeping an eye on, as he has shown that he could perform at the highest level. I don’t expect to see Schebler with the big club unless he emerges this Spring Training as the player he once was.

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I believe Fowler will emerge from Spring Training as the everyday right fielder, despite being outperformed by one of the younger guys such as Adell or Marsh. With the Angels desperate to get back to the playoffs, if they feel Adell and Marsh are ready, it won’t be long into the season before we see them called up.