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3 Angels players we should raise the bar for in 2023

By Zachary Rotman |
Sep 7, 2022; Anaheim, California, USA; Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Patrick Sandoval (43)
Sep 7, 2022; Anaheim, California, USA; Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Patrick Sandoval (43) / Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
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The Los Angeles Angels will need a lot of players to step up in 2023 if they want to get back to the postseason. Stepping up can mean a couple of things. They need to play better, but they also need to stay on the field.

Guys like Mike Trout, Anthony Rendon, and Jared Walsh can't be missing significant time. Young players like Jose Suarez and Reid Detmers have to take another step.

There're three players who struggled last season who we should temper expectations for. Others took steps forward and need to have the bar raised. Here're some players who should take a big leap in 2023.

1) LA Angels starting pitcher Patrick Sandoval needs to prove he can be a front-line starter in 2023

Patrick Sandoval had a lot to prove in 2022. He had great promise but never made more than 14 starts in a season before. 2022 was the season for him to help anchor what was supposed to be an improved rotation.

Sandoval stepped up in a big way, posting a 2.91 ERA in 27 starts and 148.2 innings pitched. A sub-3.00 ERA is never something to complain about, but there's some untapped potential there for this southpaw.

Sandoval walks too many. His 3.6 BB/9 were a big reason he didn't go as deep into games as Angels fans would've liked. At times it felt like he was trying to execute the perfect pitch instead of trusting his stuff.

Sandoval has to limit walks and pitch deeper in games. He improved in both areas, albeit slightly, in the second half. If he can do this, the Angels will have a very formidable top-three in their rotation with Sandoval joining Shohei Ohtani and Tyler Anderson.

2) LA Angels catching prospect Logan O'Hoppe has to be ready to contribute

It might be unfair, but the Angels desperately need Logan O'Hoppe to perform well in Spring Training, win the starting catcher job, and run with it.

The Halos traded Brandon Marsh to the Phillies to acquire O'Hoppe, the man they hope is their catcher of the future. O'Hoppe is the best prospect in a depleted Angels system and is the 64th-ranked prospect in all of baseball according to mlb.com.

O'Hoppe is a catcher with loads of potential offensively. He slashed .283/.416/.544 with 26 home runs and 78 RBI in AA this past season. Just a monster year. This offensive output earned O'Hoppe a call-up at the end of the season and he had four hits in 14 at-bats in the final five games of the season.

The Angels have Max Stassi on an extension but Stassi struggled mightily offensively and even took a step back defensively. Stassi is not trustworthy at the plate at all right now, so the Angels need O'Hoppe to be the big bopper he's projected to be. He doesn't have to hit 40 homers right away, but it sure would be nice to see him hit 20.

3) LA Angels relief pitcher Jimmy Herget has to be a reliable late-game arm

The biggest surprise of last season was the emergence of Jimmy Herget. He was one of the final additions to the Opening Day roster after being signed to a minor league deal and he had an outstanding year for the Angels.

Herget thrived in a variety of roles. He was used early in games as a multi-inning reliever. As the season went on he was used later and later in games until he was closing games out in September.

Herget was the Angels best reliever by far, and he might have to be again if they want to compete in 2023.

The Angels did sign Carlos Estevez, a promising reliever who's had lots of success away from Coors Field. He should be very helpful. However, other than Estevez, there isn't really another guy the Angels can count on.

Can Aaron Loup and/or Ryan Tepera bounce back and show Angels fans why the team signed them? I hope so, but it's hard to argue that they will considering they're only getting older.

Herget proving 2022 wasn't a fluke is essential to the team having success. If he struggles, there isn't much to turn to who you can trust late in a game. Expecting him to be lock-down is what has to happen.

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