LA Angels: Predicting breakout seasons for these 3 homegrown players
![Jared Walsh, Los Angeles Angels (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_752,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/https-3A-2F-2Fhalohangout-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fgetty-images-2F2017-2F07-2F1311539756-850x560-6b282bb2c4a771b4a7ebcc0819315300.jpg)
![Max Stassi, Los Angeles Angels (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/w_480/shape/cover/sport/https-3A-2F-2Fhalohangout-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fgetty-images-2F2017-2F07-2F1308035918-99f5c229e85eba9d56bcf55d5df145f1.jpg)
Through nine games this season, the Angels are off to their best start in over a decade with a 6-3 record. It’s still early, but the Halos are proving many of their preseason doubters wrong with their performances thus far against some of the best teams in the American League.
Many fans were upset general manager Perry Minasian did not bring in any high-level talent in the offseason, but now it’s looking like his decisions may not be so bad after all. It’s nearly impossible for teams to ‘buy’ a championship. It’s a burden financially, so most of the talent on the team needs to be developed internally.
Angels: Why these homegrown three players will have breakout seasons.
The Angels don’t have highly regarded farm system of top prospects, but right now there are a few homegrown players who are off to a strong start to begin their 2021 campaigns.
More importantly, all of the players I believe will have breakout seasons are under contract through at least 2025.
I also want to give an honorable mention to catcher Max Stassi. He was drafted by A’s and made his big-league debut with the Astros so he’s not homegrown, but he picked up where he left off a season ago.
In 17 plate appearances, Stassi is 5-for-14 with one home run, one RBI, and three walks. Stassi, 30, has one final year of arbitration eligibility but it’s possible a contract extension happens if he continues to produce offensively.
Will the same be considered for these three Angels in the near future?
![Griffin Canning, Los Angeles Angels (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/w_480/shape/cover/sport/https-3A-2F-2Fhalohangout-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fgetty-images-2F2017-2F07-2F1311544695-8f5db903337eb4c07a2105ffa9ddd3fa.jpg)
He doesn’t jump off the page in terms of an overpowering pitch arsenal, but it’s possible starter Griffin Canning is the most important piece of the current Angels rotation.
The 25-year-old will enter his first season of arbitration eligibility in the offseason and won’t be a free agent until the 2026 season.
Griffin Canning will be a piece to build around for the future Angels rotation.
Of the current six-man rotation, two-way phenom Shohei Ohtani is the only pitcher under contract for next season. Dylan Bundy, Jose Quintana, Andrew Heaney, and Alex Cobb will each hit the free-agent market. It’s possible the Halos bring one or more of those pitchers back, but if they don’t, Ohtani and Canning will be two pitchers with starting experience to build around.
This makes Canning’s 2021 season more important than ever. He needs to prove he can be a reliable arm in the big leagues, and Canning will get his first shot to produce in a full-162 game season.
Griffin Canning Career Statistics:
- 2019 (18 games, 17 starts): (5-6, 4.58 ERA) 90.1 IP 1.218 WHIP (4.37 FIP)
- 2020 (11 starts): (2-3, 3.99 ERA) 56.1 IP 1.367 WHIP (4.33 FIP)
Canning made his first start of the season in a 7-5 win (11 innings) on Thursday against the Blue Jays. He allowed three runs in the first inning, including a two-run homer to Vladimir Guerrero Jr, and a solo home run to Cavan Biggio in the six inning. Besides those blemishes, Canning’s start was encouraging.
Overall he allowed four earned runs on three hits while walking one and striking out seven through 5.1 innings pitched. He also retired 14 straight batters before the Biggio home run.
It wasn’t perfect, but if Canning can average around six innings and three earned runs per start, it’s going to give the Angels a great chance to win games, especially with this high-powered offense.
![Jared Walsh, Los Angeles Angels (Photo by Ralph Freso/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/w_480/shape/cover/sport/https-3A-2F-2Fhalohangout-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fgetty-images-2F2017-2F07-2F1305556614-b4f17b2df8fad79281c8548beb24233f.jpg)
Of the current Angels position players not named Shohei Ohtani or Mike Trout, first baseman Jared Walsh is on pace for a monster season.
The 27-year-old is slashing .385/.467/.808 with three home runs and nine RBI in 30 plate appearances this season. More importantly, Walsh has come through during clutch situations in half of the Halos wins so far.
Walsh calls game! #Angels #WeBelieve
— Halo Hangout (@HaloHangout) April 5, 2021
pic.twitter.com/bGHfgDBoik
Walsh is proving his small sample size last summer was no fluke.
Jared Walsh Career Statistics:
- 2019 (31 games): 87 PA (.203/.276/.329) 1 HR 5 RBI (-0.3 WAR)
- 2020 (32 games): 108 PA (.293/.324/.646) 9 HR 26 RBI (0.7 WAR)
As future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols plays into the final days of his Angels career, Walsh will see more playing time at first base during the season.
Angels: Jared Walsh is on the verge of becoming an All-Star.
I will be the first to admit, I wasn’t sure if Walsh was the real deal after a small showing in 2020. Even though it’s still early, I think he’s clearly developed all the tools necessary to take the next steps towards becoming an All-Star caliber first baseman.
You can’t help but love a player like this. A former 39th round pick in 2015, Walsh has defied the odds to make it to baseball’s highest level and now he’s making his case to stay for good.
Even better news for the Angels is Walsh does not become arbitration eligible until the 2023 season.
Whether it was intentional or not, the Halos found a hidden gem in Jared Walsh.
![Chris Rodriguez, Los Angeles Angels (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/w_480/shape/cover/sport/https-3A-2F-2Fhalohangout-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fgetty-images-2F2017-2F07-2F1307621072-4be572e239817ddf94f8e1630ce03ad7.jpg)
Angels No.4 prospect Chris Rodriguez has been nothing short of electric in his appearances this season. I think Rodriguez has provided a jolt not just from a statistical standpoint, but he brings an energy and excitement to the rest of the team.
The 22-year-old has had an uphill battle to get back to the mound. Rodriguez has not pitched competitively since the 2019 season due to back surgery and the global pandemic. He hasn’t pitched above High-A ball, but the Angels were impressed enough with his overpowering high-90s fastball and mid-80s breaking ball during spring training to give him the green light to pitch in the big leagues.
Angels: Is it too early to make a case for Chris Rodriguez as Rookie of the Year?
Sheesh ?
— Halo Hangout (@HaloHangout) April 10, 2021
pic.twitter.com/vF7coBeDyi
More from LA Angels News
- New York Post columnist has LA Angels bringing veteran starter back to LA
- Dodgers make wild mistake signing failed LA Angels starter
- Why LA Angels’ Qualifying Offer to Raisel Iglesias could become historical
- Both Gold Glove finalists for LA Angels getting snubbed is a complete joke
- Marcus Stroman definitely appears to be interested in the LA Angels
So far so good, as Rodriguez has allowed just one earned run on five hits while striking out eight and walking five through 6.1 innings pitched this season.
Maddon has opted to use Rodriguez as a long reliever rather than throwing him in the starting rotation. It’s the smart move to get Rodriguez’s feet wet while monitoring his health, and it’s still very possible to use the right-hander in the rotation at some point in the future.
I don’t think they should use him in the rotation unless it’s an emergency situation. Things are going well right now, so if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. For skipping multiple levels of minor league competition, what Rodriguez is doing right now is all the more impressive especially considering the competition he’s faced.
If he can continue this pace, Rodriguez will be among the league’s best rookie arms of 2021.
Next. Angels fan catches Ohtani 422-foot home run
Want your voice heard? Join the Halo Hangout team!
Again it’s still early and a lot can happen between now and the end of the season, but right now the future of the Angels is looking brighter than it was a few months ago.