LA Angels coaching staff breakdown

The LA Angels have one of the best managers in baseball. It's why many trust this staff and how they can not only maintain but also develop the best two players in baseball who they're lucky enough to have on their team.

It takes more than just a manager to take a baseball team to the promised land. Angels fans know this, as their manager held multiple positions other than interim manager in his first stint with the Halos--where he won a title.

While this article will get to him in a bit, it's first worth taking a look at who the team has behind him, working to sure up the product that Arte Moreno is expecting of this team.

LA Angels Third Base Coach: Phil Nevin

Phil Nevin is the LA Angels' third base coach. He was hired in this past offseason, coming from the New York Yankees where he held the same position for the past three seasons. Before that, he was the third base coach for the San Francisco Giants for the 2017 season.

He is a former Minor League Manager, managing the Reno Aces from 2014 to 2016. The Aces are the Triple-A team of the Arizona Diamondbacks organization. Before that, he was a Triple-A manager of the Toledo Mud Hens--the Detroit Tigers Triple-A affiliate.

It was not his first rodeo with Detroit's minor league system. He was actually the AA manager for that franchise's AA team; the Erie SeaWolves. He was their manager for the season before he managed the Mud Hens.

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.