5 LA Angels hitters who are not helping themselves during spring training

The Los Angeles Angels lost their best hitter from a year ago. Shohei Ohtani is no longer wearing an Angels uniform, and that's sure to put some increased pressure on the Halos' lineup heading into the 2024 season. Ohtani is irreplaceable, but the Angels will need to do their best to offset the loss.

So far this spring, some of those big bats that new manager Ron Washington was counting on have yet to show up during the Angels' Cactus League games. Even Mike Trout is hitting just .229 with 16 strikeouts this spring.

Some pundits refer to spring training stats as meaningless. But batting practice and side sessions aren't the only things managers use to make decisions. While spring games aren't the only way to measure a player's performance, it certainly helps to put up good numbers. These five Angels players have not done so this spring, and some are in jeopardy of losing their roster spot because of it.

5 LA Angels hitters who are not helping themselves during spring training

Logan O'Hoppe, Angels catcher

O'Hoppe is ticketed for the Angels roster and will be hanging the signs for Patrick Sandoval on Opening Day when the Halos visit Camden Yards to take on the reigning AL East Division Champion Baltimore Orioles.

But O'Hoppe has struggled this spring. In 15 games, the Angels backstop has posted a miserable .560 OPS with a dozen punch outs next to his name. After a cup of coffee with the Angels in 2022, O'Hoppe appeared in 51 games for the Halos last season.

While his batting average and on-base percentage were well below league-average, O'Hoppe recorded a .500 slugging percentage and 14 home runs. The Angels will need to see O'Hoppe make more contact in 2024 without sacrificing power. O'Hoppe has just three extra-base hits this spring, including one home run. At the moment, it would seem as though O'Hoppe will be batting in the bottom third of the Angels lineup.

Luis Rengifo, Angels infielder

Rengifo has not looked comfortable at the plate this spring. The 27-year-old is hitting just .207/.233/.241. No one is going to confuse Rengifo for a power-hitter, but the Angels infielder has just one extra-base hit in 10 Cactus League games.

If Rengifo's struggles bleed over into the regular season, don't be surprised if Brandon Drury grabs the lion's share of starts at second base. If the Halos add another bat to act as the team's designated hitter before the start of the season, Rengifo could be relegated to a bench role.

Stringing together some solid performances before the end of spring could give Rengifo a necessary boost of confidence heading into Opening Day next week.

Ehire Adrianza, Angels infielder

If Adrianza had put up better numbers this spring, he'd be pushing the aforementioned Rengifo for playing time. Unfortunately, Adrianza's spring has been even worse than Rengifo's. The former Atlanta Braves shortstop, who signed a non-roster deal earlier this year, is hitting a measly .192/.276/.423.

Adrianza does have two big flies next to his stat line, but those both came in the same game and represent the only extra-base hits the veteran has recorded this spring. Adrianza is angling for that final bench spot on the Angels Opening Day roster, but he'll need a strong finish to be sure that the role doesn't go to someone else.

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