LA Angels coaching staff breakdown

LA Angels First Base Coach: Benji Gil

Benji Gil is the first base coach for the LA Angels. He was previously the manager of the Mexican National team at the last Summer Olympics. Before that, he coached in the LMB (Mexican Baseball League). He coached the Mariachis de Guadalajara, where he was the first manager in their history.

He was Manager of the Year for that league that year--the first season in that club's history. Gil played the game for a decent while--totaling eight years in the Big Leagues. All were in the AL West. Half were with the Rangers, and half were with the Angels.

He played shortstop, second base, and first base in the Bigs. He was easily the better player with the Halos than Texas. Not only did he win a World Series Championship with the organization, but he had a season to remember the year before in 2001. He hit .296/.330/.477 (.807 OPS) and recorded a 109 OPS+.

The Angels could use that offense in the middle infield these days, but at least they have him around to mentor guys and help develop. Gil is just 49 too--he's got plenty of time to keep adding to his resume as a coach.

LA Angels Pitching Coach: Matt Wise

Matt Wise has been the LA Angels Pitching Coach ever since the franchise tossed Mickey Callaway after sexual misconduct issues from him in the past. Wise inherited a tough situation, getting thrown into the fire just before the season as the investigation for Callaway was launched.

The pitching staff, however, did not regress despite having every reason to, and has drastically improved to start this season. That's correct, Wise was indeed brought back for 2022 without the interim tag. The Halos clearly seemed to have made the right decision, too.

The staff went from having a 4.69 ERA in 2021 to a 3.36 ERA. Their 1.100 WHIP is head and shoulders better from their 1.380 WHIP last season.

This is even with the Angels not re-signing one of their best starters from last season in Alex Cobb, and one of their top bullpen pitchers being out due to injury right now in Archie Bradley (he has just now come back from the injury). To be able to make these significant leaps after an offseason where there was a shortened spring training and MLB lockout affecting team operations is certainly nothing short of outstanding from Wise.

LA Angels Hitting Coach: Jeremy Reed

Jeremy Reed has been the hitting coach for the LA Angels for the last four seasons (including this one). Reed was originally the Minor League Hitting Coordinator for the Halos from 2017 to 2018. He was no stranger to that title--carrying it for the Milwaukee Brewers in the past.

Reed has done very well with the Angels. Offense has never been the problem with the Halos overall. Despite the Halos taking on some pretty bad contracts that Reed had to work with, the offense of this team hasn't been in much question during his tenure.

That's even with the amount of injuries keeping the Angels' best bats out for the season last year. Even in a year like that, Reed still found a way to find success out of Shohei Ohtani's bat instead. He always tends to come around and remind the fans of how lucky they are to have him with their organization.

Look at Taylor Ward. Reed's worked hard with Ward and it's really paid off. Ward has been one of the best players in the game this year. Reed has many great hitters on his resume, and hopes to add another in Brandon Marsh.

LA Angels Bench Coach: Ray Montgomery

Ray Montgomery had been with the LA Angels before he was named the bench coach prior to this season. He was the Director of Player Personnel last year with the Halos. He had been the scouting director of the Arizona Diamondbacks and Milwaukee Brewers prior to that. He was a former scout for the Brewers.

As a player, he was with the Astros for three years from 1996 to 1998. He was an outfielder for them. Interestingly, MLB Network and NY Post insider Jon Heyman has heard that Montgomery will be the manager of this team if the Angels decide to make a change:

"Folks are convinced that if the Angels make a change, the job would go to Ray Montgomery, the personable New Yorker (White Plains and Fordham) just elevated to his first coaching job as bench coach out of the front office," said Heyman.

The Angels, however, will only potentially be making a change if the team does not make the playoffs. With the team currently 27-17 and just a game out of first place in the AL West, it looks like the chances of missing the playoffs aren't the highest, though.

LA Angels Manager: Joe Maddon

This is Joe Maddon's fourth time being the LA Angels manager. He was the Halo manager three times as the interim manager before he came back to the team to be the full-time manager. He was 27-24 as an interim here. He left to be the full-time manager of the Tampa Bay Rays in 2006.

In Tampa, he turned what was arguably the worst franchise in the Big Leagues into an AL Champion within three years. That was just one of the two pennants he's won in his career, as he won the National League with the Chicago Cubs in 2016. He went to coach them in 2015.

He won the World Series that year with the Cubs--breaking their curse of 108 years without a title. It's safe to say that Maddon elevates every franchise he goes to. Within three years, he has the Angels looking like they're going to make the postseason for the first time since 2014.

In 16 years as a manager, Maddon has made the playoffs eight times. Keep in mind that that's the case despite most of his managing career happening with the Rays, who are notorious for not spending much money on the players the manager has to work with.

The Halos are in good hands with Maddon and his staff. The team is starting to really see their vision come to fruition with the top two players in the game playing great baseball for the club and the pitching coming around.