Dream Angels starting lineup for the 2023 season

Dream LA Angels starting lineup: Mike Trout batting second, CF

Mike Trout has been the Angels second hitter for years now and I don't expect that to change anytime soon. He could hit third also, but I like Trout getting more at-bats in the two-hole.

In the modern game, most teams have begun hitting their best hitter second. Even Aaron Judge, a player who just hit 62 home runs, hit second more than anywhere else for the Yankees.

Trout gives the Angels speed, power, and an elite on-base ability batting second. He'd also have an elite bat behind him for protection giving him even more pitches to hit.

Trout hit second 100 times in 2021 and hit third 17 times. It's the spot where he's been at his best his entire career and is the spot he will continue to hit in next season.

If Turner is on this team, he'd get even more pitches to hit with Trout behind him. The top of this dream Angels lineup would be the most formidable in the game by a landslide.

Turner signing is a dream, but Trout being here is reality. Expect him in the two-hole every day in 2023.

Dream LA Angels starting lineup: Shohei Ohtani batting third, DH

Hitting behind Turner and Trout is Shohei Ohtani. The reigning AL MVP who will probably finish second this season because of Judge's historic year is hitting third.

Most of Ohtani's starts in 2022 came batting third. He hit third 79 times. He lead off 32 times and hit second 40 times. He even hit fourth twice. I expect Ohtani to slot in comfortably behind Trout in the three-hole.

Ohtani was at his best batting second last season but his numbers were still pretty great hitting third.

Ohtani hitting behind Turner and Trout means there will likely be a baserunner or two on base for Ohtani to drive in virtually every time up. He'd shatter his career high of 100 runs batted in and would give the hitters behind him even more chances to drive runs in.

The Angels have said that Ohtani isn't going anywhere before Opening Day so you won't be dreaming when you see Ohtani in the Opening Day lineup.

The real dream for Angels fans would be the organization finding a way to extend the superstar.

Dream LA Angels starting lineup: Anthony Rendon batting fourth, 3B

The Anthony Rendon experience has not been a good one for Angels fans. Rendon was one of the best players in the National League before signing with the Angels in the 2019 offseason.

Rendon signed after being the best position player on a World Series-winning Nationals team. Just about everything that could have gone wrong has since he arrived in Anaheim.

Rendon had a solid 2020 but injuries have limited him to just 105 games in the last two seasons combined.

In those 105 games, Rendon has hit just .235 with 11 home runs and a 97 OPS+. So Rendon has not been on the field and when he has, he hasn't been good. I mean his best highlight in 2022 was a home run he hit left-handed in a blowout victory.

If the Angels want to be competitive in 2023 they will need Rendon to hit cleanup and protect Ohtani.

If he remains healthy, I expect Rendon to at least provide the Angels with some power. He might not put up the numbers he did in Washington, but he has to be a productive hitter. I still have a little bit of faith.

Dream LA Angels starting lineup: Jared Walsh batting fifth, 1B

Jared Walsh came off a nightmare 2022 campaign where he slashed .215/.269/.374 with 15 home runs and 44 RBI in 118 games played. Walsh was playing hurt for most if not the entire season.

He underwent surgery to correct thoracic outlet syndrome and is expected to be ready for Opening Day.

Hopefully feeling at 100%, Walsh can go back to the hitter he was in 2021 when he was an all-star, hit 29 home runs, and had a 127 OPS+.

A healthy Jared Walsh lengthens the Angels lineup so much. He provides an elite power bat to stick in the middle of that lineup and protects someone like Anthony Rendon, giving him better pitches to hit.

Walsh drove in 98 runs in 2021 and would probably drive in even more if he remained healthy playing on this dream team.

It's a lot to ask for, but if Walsh can revert back to his old form, the Angels lineup would be in such great shape. If anything, I expect him to be much better than he was this past season.

Dream LA Angels starting lineup: Taylor Ward batting sixth, RF

Taylor Ward broke out in a huge way in 2022. He hit leadoff more than any other spot and performed at his best in that role.

Ward I believe would be a great leadoff option for 2023 as well as he displayed an elite eye, ranking in the 93rd percentile in chase rate and the 79th percentile in walk rate according to baseball savant.

Ward slashed .281/.360/.473 with 23 home runs and 65 RBI this past season. I expect him to be even better in 2023 playing fully healthy.

Ward showed he can hit for power and would be a great run producer. He's a guy who because of his ability to get on base while also hitting the ball out of the ballpark, he can really hit anywhere. I wouldn't be mad if he led off, and I also wouldn't be mad if he switched spots with Walsh.

Ward would get plenty of opportunities to drive in runs while also getting on base for a much-improved bottom of the order.

Dream LA Angels starting lineup: Andrew Benintendi batting seventh, LF

Andrew Benintendi is a guy I don't think is out of the question the Angels sign. The need for another outfielder is clear, and Benintendi checks a lot of boxes.

The Angels struck out more than any other team in baseball this past season. While some of that has to do with hitting coach Jeremy Reed, part of it also is on the personnel.

Benintendi is a guy who puts bat on ball and doesn't strike out much. He struck out 14.8% of the time in 2022 which ranked in the 88th percentile according to baseball savant.

The Angels could use a guy like Benintendi badly. He's another example of someone who can hit just about anywhere. He's led off, he's hit second, he's also hit at the bottom of the order.

Having someone like Benintendi in left field over guys like Jo Adell and Mickey Moniak makes this team much better offensively. Aaron Judge is the big outfielder available but Benintendi would be a great get as well.

Dream LA Angels starting lineup: Luis Rengifo batting eighth, 2B

Luis Rengifo is another player who broke out this past season and had a career year. He's generating some interest on the trade market but the Angels will likely keep him.

Rengifo hit 17 home runs and had a 103 OPS+ in 2022. He saw time in many different positions and gave the Angels another bat teams had to pay attention to.

While Rengifo hit third more than any other spot in 2022, he'd be better suited at the bottom of the order. The Angels hopefully won't have to play guys like Andrew Velazquez and Matt Duffy every day for extended periods of time.

Rengifo is a switch hitter who if he walked more, would've had a great offensive season. He drew just 17 walks in 511 plate appearances.

Rengifo's job hitting behind guys like Ward and Benintendi would be to drive them in. Those guys get on base a ton and Rengifo has power. He has to be the one to come up with the clutch three-run homer once in a while.

I hope to see improvement from Rengifo both offensively and defensively then maybe we can have a conversation about him being part of the Angels' future plans.

Dream LA Angels starting lineup: Logan O'Hoppe batting ninth, C

Logan O'Hoppe played in the final five games of the season and had four hits in his 14 at bats.

O'Hoppe is the number one prospect in the Angels system and he hopefully will earn the starting catcher role in 2023.

Max Stassi is still here, but he had an abysmal 2022 with the bat. O'Hoppe should have the chance to win the job with a good showing in Spring Training.

O'Hoppe provides the Angels with yet another threat at the plate. The team that finished 25th in runs scored would be improved drastically if he hits ninth on Opening Day.

There's a very good chance this spot will belong to David Fletcher, but if my dream does come true, O'Hoppe will start the year here.

With his performance in the minor leagues and his status as a top prospect, I wouldn't be shocked to see O'Hoppe hitting much higher in May.

I like the idea of hitting Benintendi in this spot so he could get on base in front of the studs at the top of the order, but I think hitting O'Hoppe here with low pressure and good hitters behind him would get the most out of him.

This lineup most likely will not take shape but I still expect the lineup to be much improved from what it was in 2022.