LA Angels 2021 spring training guide: best infield in the league?

Baseball season is oh so close as teams have officially reported for spring training. On Monday, the Angels welcomed most of their completed roster to their training facility in Tempe, Arizona, as preparations for the 2021 season continue.

This article is part of our Halo Hangout Spring Training Guide, where we talk about position battles and players to watch for as the regular season closes in. So far we’ve covered the following topics: catcher, the rotation, and the outfield, and top prospects.

Today, we will discuss the players that will make up the infield, including nine players on the active roster and five non-roster invitees.

The Angels have a ton of talent among their starting infielders, along with players who will be fighting for reserve spots on the roster this spring.

When looking at the Angels roster, the infield seems set as spring training begins. This group includes one of the league’s best players, a glove-first player coming off a career season at the plate, everyone’s favorite swiss-army knife, and a shared spot between a guy looking to break out and one of the all-time greats ready to ride off into the sunset.

As for every Major League team, health is paramount, and keeping guys on the field will be critical throughout the season. Few teams have the talent on the infield that the Angels do with this group.

Angels Non-Roster Infielders (Highest Level Player Statistics):

• Phil Gosselin (MLB, 8 seasons): 749 PA .261/.314/.361 10 HR 54 RBI
• Jeremiah Jackson (Rk, 2 seasons): 482 PA .261/.326/.559 30 HR 83 RBI
• Jose Rojas (AAA, 2 seasons): 651 PA .284/.347/.539 31 HR 113 RBI
• Livan Soto (A, 1 season): 282 PA .220/.311/.253 1 HR 20 RBI
• Kean Wong
  • (MLB, 1 season): 18 PA .167/.167/.167 0 HR 0 RBI
  • (AAA, , 3 seasons): 1425 PA .286/.350/.413 24 HR 157 RBI

The five non-roster invitees provide a mixed bag of experience and intrigue looking to get roster spots. While only one player has a breath of Major League experience, the rest of the group provides promise looking towards the future.

Phil Gosselin

Phil Gosselin is the most experienced of the group, as the 32-year old has played parts of eight seasons in the majors between six teams. Gosselin has proven his versatility with extended playing time at six different positions, a trait Joe Maddon appreciates in a player. While he he’s played more than 46 games one time in his career, 122 games in 2016, Gosselin has shown enough with his bat and versatility that he could warrant a look for a potential bench spot.

Kean Wong

The Angels brought back a familiar face this offseason in Kean Wong to a minor league deal. After a brief stint with the Rays, Wong was brought in towards the end of the 2019 season, where he played one game and went hitless in four at-bats. While there is a minimal track record, Wong has shown that he can hit during his three years of triple-A ball, making him a potential value as minor league depth this upcoming season.

Angels: Keep an eye on the young NRI players as promise and potential are relevant within this group.

Jeremiah Jackson

One of the players that many fans will be looking forward to seeing will be Jeremiah Jackson, the Angles No.4 prospect, according to MLB.com. Jackson represents the future or potential trade chip, hoping that losing a minor league season due to the COVID pandemic will not negatively affect the soon-to-be 21-year old.

As a second-round selection in 2018, Jackson found a power stroke in 2019, hitting 23 home runs in 65 games. While some see him eventually transitioning to second base, he will continue to be an exciting player to keep an eye on, with Jose Iglesias becoming a free agent after this year.

Livan Soto

Livan Soto is another name that most Angels fans remember. Soto was a signing from the Atlanta Braves, who were forced to release him for violating the league’s policy on signing International Free Agents. Soto is currently ranked as the Angles No.18 prospect. The 20-year old infielder is coming off a tough 2019 where he only hit .220 when he hit A ball but has continued to progress as a fielder.

Jose Rojas

Jose Rojas has become somewhat of a cult hero over the past few seasons as there have been times where Angels fans have wished the team would call him up at some point. Looking at his numbers in triple-A, you can understand why. Rojas crushed the ball in 2019, batting .293 to go along with 31 home runs and 107 RBI. Rojas also put in time at first, second, third base, and the outfield.

While never a top prospect throughout his minor league career, Rojas could see time if he can continue his production as a hitter while providing the defensive versatility that Joe Maddon loves.

Players battling for bench spot (Career Statistics)

• Franklin Barreto (MLB, 4 seasons): 219 PA .180/.210/.360 9 HR 29 RBI
• Jack Mayfield (MLB, 2 seasons): 112 PA .170/.198/.283 2 HR 8 RBI
• Luis Rengifo (MLB, 2 seasons): 512 PA .221/.310/.331 8 HR 36 RBI
• Matt Thaiss (MLB, 2 seasons): 189 PA .202/.291/.405 9 HR 24 RBI

When looking at this group, there are players that have a lot to prove as they battle to earn a reserve spot.

Jack Mayfield

Mayfield was acquired in a trade from the Atlanta Braves after playing the two previous seasons with the Houston Astros. He was initially waved by Houston back in November before being claimed by the Braves. Seeing as the Halos acquired the 30-year old as a trade and got rid of Robel Garcia, they must like his game by giving him a major league spot.

Franklin Barreto

Franklin Barreto is another acquisition the Halos are hoping can find the potential he had as a former top prospect. Acquired in exchange for Tommy La Stella, Barreto will provide a versatile glove off the bench. However, the bat has not shown up for the 24-year-old.

Luis Rengifo

Roughly a year after the Angels acquired Luis Rengifo in exchange for CJ Cron in 2018, it seemed like a fleecing of the Rays after the young infielder shot up the prospect ranks. Fast forward three years and Rengifo has consistently seen time with the Halos, providing a solid glove at second and shortstop while filling in for injured players.

Like Barreto, it has been a bit of a struggle to get consistent hitting for the 24-year-old. While batting a respectable .238 with seven home runs as a rookie in 2019, Rengifo could not build momentum from that. Last summer, his batting average dropped to .156 with one home run.

Angels: One of the reserves on the active roster is looking to take the next steps in their careers.

Matt Thaiss

After being selected 16th overall in 2016 as a catcher, the Angels moved Thaiss permanently to first base to focus on his advanced college at the time.

Thaiss was noted for his patience at the plate, along with his ability to use the entire field as a hitter. Not known for his power, the hope was that he would grow into it as he progressed through the minors, and once he arrived at triple-A, the team decided to improve his versatility by shifting him to third base. In parts of two seasons at Salt Lake, Thaiss has hit a combined .276 along with 24 home runs and 100 RBI.

Thaiss, like others before him, had difficulty translating his bat to the big league-level hitting .202 in parts of two seasons. The 25-year old has also continued to work on his versatility by playing some reps at second base and the outfield in order to improve his value. With his first-round pedigree and minor league success, watch for Thaiss to take a step when his next opportunity is presented.

Anthony Rendon (Last Five Seasons)

• 2016: 647 PA .270/.348/.450 20 HR 85 RBI
• 2017: 605 PA .301/.403/.533 25 HR 100 RBI
• 2018: 597 PA .308/.374/.535 24 HR 92 RBI
• 2019: 646 PA .319/.412/.598 34 HR 126 RBI
• 2020: 232 PA .286/.418/.497 9 HR 31 RBI

Not too much to talk about here, one of the surest things going into this year is ‘Tony Two-Bags’ manning the hot corner. Last year Rendon proved that Angels management was wise to double back after missing out on Gerrit Cole and bringing in the best bat on the market instead.

The Angels can expect more of the same consistency from Anthony Rendon this season.

The expectation was to provide Mike Trout with some well-needed protection in the batting order, and Rendon has done just that. Even during his slow start putting the ball into play Rendon showed his trademark patience putting up the highest on-base percentage (.418) of his career. While he had his lowest batting average since 2016, his numbers probably would have been closer to his career average in a full season.

This season Rendon will be precisely what we’ve seen, a Gold Glove and Silver Slugger who continues to develop in his prime years. After years of being overshadowed by players like Nolan Arenado and Kris Bryant, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Rendon give the Angels another MVP.

Jose Iglesias (Last Five Seasons)

• 2016: 513 PA .255/.306/.336 4 HR 32 RBI
• 2017: 489 PA .255/.288/.369 6 HR 54 RBI
• 2018: 464 PA .269/.310/.389 5 HR 48 RBI
• 2019: 530 PA .288/.318/.407 11 HR 59 RBI
• 2020: 150 PA .373/.400/.556 3 HR 24 RBI

The new guy in this group is veteran shortstop Jose Iglesias who was acquired from the Orioles for minor leaguers Garrett Stallings and Jean Pinto in December. With the conclusion of the Andrelton Simmons-era in Orange County, there was a lot of speculation on how the Angels would fill that hole.

David Fletcher has played in that spot over the past three years, when Simmons was injured. Given Fletcher’s versatility, it was expected that Maddon would prefer to have someone else as the everyday shortstop.

Jose Iglesias is an underrated addition to the Angels roster this season.

Gernal Manager Perry Minasian made a sneaky good acquisition by bringing in the very underrated Iglesias. The 31-year old has always been a glove-first shortstop; though he has never won Gold Glove and is just below the defensive excellence of Simmons. Still, Iglesias has been the owner of numerous web gems in his own right.

It is also good to point out that his offense has been trending up in recent years. A career 88 OPS+ hitter, Iglesias put up a career-year in 2020 with a 160 OPS+ in 39 games. While it’s a small sample size that is unlikely to remain over a 162-game schedule, the hope is that he can continue to hit and get on base while batting towards the bottom of the order.

Jose Iglesias is a nice pickup for the Angels, but it is worth noting that he is on the last year of his contract. If the Angels fall out of contention, his name will come up as trade bait, similar to Simmons in his tenure. However, with a loaded crop of free agent shortstops headlining the 2021-22 class, even if Iglesias helps the team remain competitive over the full season, his time in Anaheim could be limited.

David Fletcher (Career Statistics)

• 2018: 307 PA .275/.316/.363 1 HR 25 RBI
• 2019: 653 PA .290/.350/.384 6 HR 49 RBI
• 2020: 230 PA .319/.376/.425 3 HR 18 RBI

Sliding in as the starting second baseman will be everyone’s the swiss-army knife, David Fletcher. A throwback player in terms of his prototype, Fletcher has become a fan-favorite in Anaheim with his grit, scrappiness, and hustle.

Fletcher has continued to show his value by moving all around the field for the team. Whether replacing an injured Rendon at third, an injured Simmons at short, or filling in the outfield, Fletcher has moved all over and still provided a plus glove wherever he goes.

Maddon is likely hoping that Fletcher can stay at second for most of this year, which would entail the team having a good bill of health throughout the season. Fletcher has been nominated for a Gold Glove in the past, and if he remains at one spot through the duration of the season, he may just be able to pick up his first and show how he is one of the elite defenders in the game.

Angels: Can David Fletcher repeat the same success from last season?

While the versatility and glove are essential to the team, the bat at the leadoff position may be what is most important for the Angels moving forward. In a league where the ‘three true outcomes’ are king, Fletcher’s game entails more of getting a hit no matter what. Whether that is continuing to foul pitches off, swinging at the first pitch, or hitting a ball over his head, having a guy that can get on base in front of Mike Trout and Anthony Rendon provides immeasurable value for this team.

Fletcher has been a pleasant surprise over the past three years for the Angels, his offense has continued to improve over his career. What is most important is continuing his solid defense at second base while giving the big bats the opportunity to continue to drive in runs.