3 LA Angels players that desperately need to prove themselves in 2022

The LA Angels have a lot of talent coming into next year, and they’re going to have even more once the offseason is over.

For now, the team needs to focus on developing plans to progress the players they have right now and let the front office decide on new faces to bring in.

There are three guys who need to prove their worth this season. They may need to prove themselves for different reasons, but improved performance is going to be very needed.

No. 3 LA Angels player that desperately needs to prove himself in 2022: Jose Suarez

Jose Suarez is a great bullpen pitcher. He’s a decent starting pitcher. He has lots of potential as a starter, but hasn’t reached all of it quite yet.

Next year is his chance to prove that he can be a reliable starting pitcher in this league. In nine games in relief last year, he went 3-1 with a 1.98 ERA. As a starter, he played 14 games and posted a 4.44 ERA.

The reason Suarez is coming into next year with so much momentum is that there were times earlier in his time as a starter this past season where the stats were misleading. Joe Maddon was pulling Suarez from games too early. He ended up proving that his stats were misleading in his last five starts.

In those last five starts he posted a 3-1 record, a 2.97 ERA, a CG, and a .202 BAA. Suarez has what it takes. Now he just needs to prove he can do it over a full season.

No. 1 LA Angels player that desperately needs to prove himself in 2022: Anthony Rendon

Anthony Rendon was signed by the LA Angels to be the second-highest average annual earner in the big leagues (among position players). He has not earned it at all.

In these first two years of his contract, he’s hit .261/.372/.436 (.808 OPS) with 15 home runs, 65 RBI, and 53 runs in 110 games. Those certainly aren’t numbers that justify $35 million per year, which is once again the second-highest average annual value of any position player in baseball.

This year, he not only had arguably the worst year of his career, but he also missed 104 games. Rendon doesn’t want to be remembered like one of these classic Angels’ contracts that have gone terribly recently. This is his chance to prove he’s not one of those guys.

It certainly can happen. He’s no slouch when it comes to talent. This is the same guy who hit .328/.413/.590 (1.003 OPS) with 11 runs and 143 RBI in the 2019 postseason. He led his team to a World Series Championship against an Astros team that was involved in the biggest cheating scandal in sports history.

Talent isn’t his issue, and a player can’t lose talent. Talent isn’t any of these three players’ issues.

Upton is a former No. 1 overall pick, and a four-time All-Star. Suarez already showed he has the stuff.

It’s possible, and these three guys need to make it happen if we want to take a leap next year.