LA Angels: 3 overperforming position players in the first half

No. 2 LA Angels position player who has overperformed in the first half: Jared Walsh

Jared Walsh has been absolutely phenomenal for the LA Angels this year, and he better be an All-Star in 2021.

In the first half, Jared Walsh put up a line of .281/.343/.562 and smoked 20 home runs. At 59 RBI, he’s on pace for 108 by the end of the year.

He’s having a breakout year, and it’s awesome because he’s not even getting paid 600K this year to have this level of production.

He’s also great defensively, and covers a ton of ground over at first base.

He’s getting paid under 600 thousand dollars to have the second-highest hard-hit percentage on the roster at 39.8%.

He’s in the top four of AL first basemen in both slugging percentage and fWAR (2.1). His batting average places in the top five.

He’s second in fielding percentage among AL first basemen at .996, as he looks great on defense. He’s been so much better than what Pujols has been both with the Angels and with the Dodgers.

Walsh is also quick for a first basemen, which has helped out on defense in particular.

No. 3 LA Angels position player who has overperformed in the first half: Shohei Ohtani

Shohei Ohtani was the undisputed AL MVP of the first half of this season.

In the first half, Ohtani hit .280/.364/.705. That .705 slugging percentage is the best in baseball.

His first-half home run count was also the best in baseball. He clobbered 30 home runs in the first half of the season, which no Angel had ever done before.

Not only is he on pace to hit 60 home runs this year, but his 66 first half RBI puts him on pace for 132 this season. Only two players in this league have driven in more runs than him this season.

His OPS climbed to an astonishing 1.068 at the midway point of the year, which is third in the Majors.

He can play the field too, and even stole 12 first-half bases.

On the mound, he’s the Angels’ Ace. He has a solid 3.60 ERA, and struck out 12.45 batters per nine innings in the first half, which is in the top five of the MLB.

He’s going to be the starting DH for the AL in the All-Star Game, and may even see action on the mound too.

He’s the most dominant and most valuable player in the Majors, and is only making three million dollars this season. It’s easily the number one steal in the Major Leagues.

He, and his two other overachieving teammates are why the Angels absolutely can turn this season around when Trout gets back.