LA Angels: 3 X Factor Offensive Players For Remainder Of 2021 Season

The LA Angels entered Thursday’s contest a game under .500.

Our chances for the playoffs aren’t looking very good with Mike Trout healing very slowly.

If the Angels really want to make a run at this thing during these last seven weeks or so, they’ll need three x factors in particular to step up on offense. They’re supposed to be an offensive team, and need to get back to that identity.

No. 3 LA Angels X Factor Offensive Player for Remainder of 2021 Season: Jose Iglesias

Jose Iglesias‘ bat could be better for the LA Angels. After a great season last year where Iglesias hit .373/.400/.556 with a .956 OPS, the expectations for him this year were high.

Overall, that hasn’t been the case for Iglesias so far this year. He’s hitting .272/.305/.392 this season, which is obviously quite the downgrade.

I’m worried that Iglesias isn’t seeing the ball well. His strikeout percentage (15%) is the highest it’s been since 2013, and he’s only walking 3.8% of the time.

I don’t know exactly what Iglesias needs. Maybe he needs a mental reset, or maybe it actually is mechanical. There have been stretches of this season where Iglesias has looked good and even been a little underrated.

I still like what Iglesias does on defense. I get that 13 errors stinks, but think about how many crazy plays he has made this season. The eye test proves that he’s better than that error count.

I want to see a strong finish offensively, though, and know that he can do it. He did it just last year.

No. 2 LA Angels X Factor Offensive Player for Remainder of 2021 Season: Brandon Marsh

Brandon Marsh hasn’t been all too great since coming up to the LA Angels.

After dominating in the Triple-A ranks, Marsh has hit .155/.259/.211 since his call-up. The No. 1 prospect has flashed the leather, but hasn’t gotten it going offensively.

He has just four extra-base hits, all doubles. In these 24 games (all stats in this article are updated as of before Thursday’s game), he has driven in just two runs. He’s only scored six, and has only stolen two bases.

This is the same guy who hit .382/.417/.735 in Triple-A after he came back from injury. He absolutely can hit. It’s why I worry if his confidence has been shot.

If his head’s still on straight, and he’s confident in his abilities, he can get out of this.

And he should be confident, as few offensive prospects were better coming into his big league stint. He’s going to have a bright future someday, but if the Angels want to go on a run, Marsh absolutely needs to step up.

It’s tough to fill Trout’s shoes like this, but he can still be productive.