3 LA Angels players we should raise the bar for in 2024

1 of 3

Expecting much of anything from the 2024 Los Angeles Angels is nothing more than wishful thinking, at least for now. The Angels have lost Shohei Ohtani to the Dodgers, and so far, have done nothing to replace him. The offseason is young and there are plenty of great players still available, but it's hard to envision the 73-89 Angels with Shohei, doing much better without him.

While the 2023 season was a bad one for the Angels, these three players played their way to earning higher expectations in 2024. It might not amount to much winning, but these players should play a huge role on the team assuming health.

1) Brandon Drury

Brandon Drury broke out in 2022 for the Reds and Padres, winning a Silver Slugger and hitting 28 home runs. The breakout felt very random for a journeyman who hadn't been a full-time player since 2019 with the Blue Jays. Things finally clicked for Drury who then signed a two-year deal worth $17 million to join the Angels that offseason.

The contract Drury received suggested teams didn't expect him to replicate that production. Silver Slugger winners certainly don't make $8.5 million as their annual salary. Drury had a lot to prove and did just that by putting up very similar numbers for the Angels.

Drury slashed .262/.306/.497 with 26 home runs and 83 RBI. He missed a month due to injury but was still one of the most productive second basemen in the AL offensively, and even impressed with his glove as well. Ohtani was obviously the team's best hitter, but it's not a stretch at all to say Drury ranked second on the team.

Drury began the 2023 season as a player with a lot to prove, hitting seventh on Opening Day. He turned out to play like an all-star for much of the year and now has the expectations of being one of the better second basemen in the league squarely on his shoulders.

2) Logan O'Hoppe

I know, I know. Logan O'Hoppe only played 51 games in his rookie season. Putting him on this list of players we should raise the bar for might be a bit unfair, but that's where we are. O'Hoppe really impressed in his limited action, and should be expected to take another leap.

The Angels backstop impressed in Spring Training, earning the starting job over Matt Thaiss. Not only did he win the job, he was arguably the Angels' best run producer before hurting his shoulder on a swing at Yankee Stadium. O'Hoppe had gotten off to an excellent start offensively and had even impressed defensively to the point where Ohtani was comfortable throwing to him.

O'Hoppe would return from his long IL stint in late August and would struggle out of the gate, but finished his season strongly. In the month of September, he slashed .258/.317/.581 with nine home runs and 15 RBI. Nine home runs in a month for any player is impressive, nine home runs in a month for a rookie catcher coming off months of inactivity is even more impressive.

The 23-year-old is sure to go through some peaks and valleys, but he proved he belonged in his short sample size of playing. The Angels should expect him to continue to swing an impressive bat in year two and hopefully not miss four months again.

3) Jose Soriano

The Angels bullpen is a mess. It has been a mess for years, and last season was no exception as the team ranked 25th in bullpen ERA and were in the top seven in blown saves.

Going through the appearance leaders for the Angels in 2023, it's hard to find much to look forward to until you find Jose Soriano's name. Carlos Estevez had a great first half, but his rocky finish has Angels fans worrying about him being the team's closer in 2024. Aaron Loup was a disaster from the start and is a free agent. Matt Moore was great but is also a free agent. Fourth on the appearance list was Jose Soriano who impressed in his 38 games of action.

The right-hander posted a 3.64 ERA in 42 innings of work for the Angels. Command eluded him at times which wasn't a surprise, but he displayed elite strikeout stuff and limited to home run ball, allowing just four roundtrippers.

Soriano wound up racking up 15 holds compared to just one blown save. He worked his way to the primary set-up role when Moore and Reynaldo Lopez left via waivers and outside of one horrific September outing, pitched well.

The only area the Angels have address thus far is the bullpen, as they've added three relievers on MLB deals. The only issue with the relievers they've added is none of them profile as a late-game arm. At least they shouldn't rank ahead of Soriano. As of now, he'd be Estevez's primary set-up man. He'll certainly have a big role in this bullpen. He pitched well as a rookie, and it's not unreasonable to expect more of the same, if not better, from this electric right-hander in 2024.

manual

Home / LA Angels News

3 Angels players we should raise the bar for in 2024

1) Brandon Drury

2) Logan O'Hoppe

3) Jose Soriano

Schedule