First impressions of 11 Angels' offseason additions after 3 spring training games

Angels spring training games are here, so it's time to start making judgements, little-by-little, by what we see on the field. Not anything major, just some things here and there you pick up during games. Fans have yet to see Yusei Kikuchi, Kenley Jansen, Victor González, Michael Petersen, and Shaun Anderson, but all the other additions are in-play here.

Yoán Moncada, Travis d'Arnaud & Kyle Hendricks

After getting held back due to soreness, Moncada finally made his Angels debut in the team's third spring training game. There's very little to go on here, but he drew a nice walk in his first AB.

Both d'Arnaud and Hendricks made their Angels debut as battery mates against the Giants too. They certainly showed chemistry over Hendricks' two innings pitched -- Hendricks was painting the corners, and d'Arnaud was stealing strikes. d'Arnaud was showing off his vaunted pitch framing, granted it is a bit easier with a right-handed thumber like Hendricks on the mound. After a horrible 2024 season, Hendricks showed signs of life with his new team.

As he's wont to do, d'Arnaud was just messing around out there. He called a Hendricks cutter with his hand for all to see in the top of the first inning, then he called a sinker the old-fashioned way at one point in the second inning in lieu of PitchCom. In the bottom half, he got hit by a pitch on his elbow, picked up the ball, and pretended to tag out the Giants' catcher. He seems like a fun guy to be around for sure.

Jorge Soler

Soler's first two games for the Angels were both as the team's DH. With Mike Trout and Taylor Ward in line to take the vast majority of the corner outfield playing time during the season, the need to get Soler in-game outfield reps is lessened.

That being said, Soler being a full-time DH takes away from Washington's ability to get guys off their feet but keep their bat in the lineup during the season. Trout will filter into DH on some days, but also guys like Travis d'Arnaud, Logan O'Hoppe, Taylor Ward, Yoán Moncada, and maybe even Christian Moore. Soler will need to get into a corner outfield spot eventually during camp. There's no rush to send him out yet, though. It would appear that the more Soler gets into game shape, the more time he will see in the outfield in spring training.

Obviously, the Angels did not acquire Soler for his glove. He crushed a 3-run home run out of Tempe Diablo Stadium in his third Angels plate appearance, which was the team's first round-tripper of camp. Soler hit a single and walked in his first two Angels' plate appearances against Seattle, and hit another single in his fourth PA against San Francisco.

Kevin Newman

Newman certainly throws the ball in an interesting way. Fans can really see why his arm strength ranked in the 27th percentile last season, he definitely has a squirt gun.

Once Zach Neto returns from injury and takes over the shortstop position, there's a world where Newman takes some third base reps. That seems less than ideal after seeing him throw the ball across the diamond early in spring training. However, Newman should be a solid backup shortstop, second baseman, and first baseman. Moncada and Rengifo can go ahead and take over third base instead of Newman.

Tim Anderson

Anderson is in camp looking to prove he is at the stage of his career where he can divvy up which positions he plays at. However, that will come with some growing pains for the former every day shortstop. While playing shortstop against Cleveland, Anderson cost Reid Detmers a run by whiffing on a shallow pop up by jumping too early to catch the ball. On the positive side, he turned a great 4-3 double play against Seattle.

Anderson certainly still has his aggressive mindset at the plate. If he is to make the Opening Day roster, he desperately needs Christian Moore to cool off.

Ryan Noda

As The OC Register's Jeff Fletcher pointed out: "Noda has already walked four times in his first six plate appearances of the spring. He also doubled." Noda is not the most typical ballplayer, but he is effective when he is right. In 2023, he posted a staggering 98th percentile BB% as well as a 94th percentile chase rate. He backed up those metrics in 2024, despite a down year overall and limited playing time. The man can get on base.

Scott Kingery

If you like hitters who post high exit velocities, you'll like Kingery's game against Cleveland. He hit leadoff for the Halos and clobbered a double off Ben Lively at 104.0mph to open the game, then scored on a single by Mickey Moniak later in the inning. Kingery later hit a 106.5mph lineout to centerfield.

Dakota Hudson

Is Hudson a sneaky dark horse candidate to make the Opening Day roster? He has a solid track record of success at the big league level, and threw two scoreless innings in his Angels debut.

Hudson is out of the least pitcher-friendly park in baseball, and could thrive in a new environment. He is competing for a long reliever role against José Suarez, Chase Silseth, Garrett McDaniels, Sam Bachman, Sam Aldegheri, Caden Dana, and maybe even the loser of the Detmers vs. Kochanowicz battle for the no. 5 spot in the rotation.

Connor Brogdon

Things could have gone better for Brogdon against Cleveland. He let up back-to-back home runs against the first two batters he faced. He was low-mid 90s on his four-seam, mid-upper 80s on his cutter, and low 80s on his changeup.

Chuckie Robinson

Robinson is certainly as advertised defensively. He made a great defensive play by picking up a dribbled grounder up the third base line and throwing out the batter at first. He has shown a penchant for keeping balls in the dirt in front of him too.

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