5 former Angels players whose spring performances are leaving fans with regret

While the Los Angeles Angels seem to be rounding into shape down at spring training, it is hard to ignore the fact that this offseason has been more about what has been lost. Thanks to some long-built organizational deficiencies and some less than timely injuries, 2023 seems to have marked the end of an era for trying to contend for a World Series title for the Angels.

That is not to say that LA won't be competitive in 2024. In fact, if some of these young guys like Zach Neto and Nolan Schanuel continue to progress, the Angels could make things downright interesting this season, especially in the AL Wild Card race. Still, one has to wonder how some former Angels are doing this spring and how much the team will regret not finding some way to keep them around.

Here are 5 former Angels players that are crushing it this spring

Just to make things interesting, this isn't going to be a list of free agents that left the Angels this offseason because, well, that would be boring at this point. Instead, all of these players were part of the Angels organization at some point and are now showing out down at spring training this year. Some were big names (you can probably guess one of them) while others were seemingly minor losses that look like they could be real contributors for their teams in 2024.

Andrew Heaney

The Angels originally acquired Andrew Heaney in the trade that sent Dan Haren, Dee Gordon, and Miguel Rojas to the Marlins. Over the next six seasons, Heaney never really lived up to his billing as a top 10 draft pick, as he posted a 4.35 ERA in 84 starts with fairly standard strikeout and walk numbers. LA ultimately decided to trade Heaney to the Yankees in 2021, and he bounced around a little bit afterwards before landing with the Rangers.

Heaney's numbers with Texas in 2023 were more of the same we have come to expect, but he is having a pretty nice spring training at the moment. He currently leads Texas' pitchers with 12 strikeouts down at camp, and he has posted a perfectly respectable 3.60 ERA in his three appearances.

Jared Walsh

Jared Walsh started his professional career as an unassuming 39th round pick in the 2015 draft. By the 2020 season, Walsh had made it all the way to the big leagues, where he got some AL Rookie of the Year votes after posting a .971 OPS in 108 plate appearances. Unfortunately, a bout with thoracic outlet syndrome that required surgery in 2022, as well as problems with headaches and insomnia in 2023, derailed Walsh's ascent and LA ultimately designated him for assignment at the end of last season.

Walsh seems to have landed on his feet with the Texas Rangers on a minor league deal. So far this spring, he has put up a 1.048 OPS with a couple homers in 11 games. With Nathaniel Lowe dealing with an oblique injury, there is a strong chance that Texas will carry Walsh on their Opening Day roster to play first base for him while he is out. We wish nothing but the best for Jared given what he has been through.

Keynan Middleton

A lot of people don't remember that Keynan Middleton started his career with the Angels. He was their third-round pick in the 2013 draft and eventually made his big league debut in 2017. His first three seasons in the Angels' bullpen went pretty well, except for a pesky Tommy John surgery in 2018 that cost him a bunch of time. By the end of the 2020 season, Middleton was out of a job and was forced to take the journeyman approach, as he played for the Mariners and Diamondbacks before finding himself with the White Sox and Yankees (the latter acquiring him at the trade deadline) last year.

Middleton has a new team once again in 2024, as he signed a one-year deal with the Cardinals this offseason. So far, he is making St. Louis look smart for getting that deal done, as he has yet to give up an earned run this spring. Given his performance last year and how this spring is starting, LA has to be kicking themselves for letting Middleton go for nothing.