1 early slumper we should be concerned about, 2 who will figure it out
Six games into the Los Angeles Angels season, the team sits at 4-2. They're tied for first in the AL West and have a ton going right for them.
The starting pitching, with the exception of Jose Suarez, has looked very good. The bullpen, minus the one blunder in Oakland, has been quite good. The lineup, with the exception of the Opening Day debacle, has been solid.
Things look good but don't look perfect. Even with two early series victories, the Angels have their share of slumpers. Which ones should we be concerned about and who will figure it out?
LA Angels fans can be confident Hunter Renfroe will start producing more
Hunter Renfroe was the biggest bat the Angels brought in this offseason. He's hit fourth and fifth to begin the season and has given the Angels almost nothing offensively. His highlight so far wasn't even a throw, it was a ridiculous no-look catch that I still can't believe he made over a week later!
Renfroe has just four hits in 24 at-bats. All four of those hits are singles, and he's driven in just one run. With Ward, Trout, and Ohtani all getting on base at ridiculoud clips, having only one RBI in six games is really disappointing for the Angels right fielder. It's disappointing, but shouldn't last.
Renfroe has been a consistent bopper his entire career. He hit 29 home runs last season, and 31 in 2021. Outside of the shortened 2020 season, Renfroe has hit at least 26 home runs in every full season he's played. He hit for power this spring and at age 31 there's no reason to believe that power has just left his bat after only six games.
In fact, Renfroe started last season in Milwaukee with just seven hits in his first 37 at-bats spanning 10 games before he hit his first home run. He then wound up hitting five in his next 10 games to round up the month. The power comes in bunches, and Angels fans should be excited for when he does hit his first.
LA Angels fans can be confident Luis Rengifo will start producing more
Luis Rengifo has just three hits in his first 20 at-bats to begin 2023. For a guy who isn't the best defender that's not very encouraging, but the switch-hitter has also drawn five walks which for him is outstanding.
Rengifo drew just 17 walks in 127 games and 511 plate appearances. He walked at a 3.3% clip which is simply not good. Suddenly he's shown a new approach and has five walks in six games and 27 plate appearances. He's walked 19.2% of the time.
Rengifo is a guy who hit for power last season, clobbering 17 home runs while hitting 22 doubles and four triples as well. He has just three singles so far, but the power should come.
If Rengifo continues to walk at a high clip while also hitting for power, he might force his way into the lineup every day even when the team is fully healthy.
Angels fans should not be concerned about Rengifo's lack of power because he's still finding a way to get on base. Once the power comes, if he's still getting on base, watch out.
LA Angels fans should be concerned about the early season slump from David Fletcher
This Angels team is without a true shortstop and even with the pleasant surprise of Gio Urshela being a good enough defender at the position, David Fletcher is still the best option the Angels have at that position defensively. He's a Gold Glove-caliber second baseman but also a solid shortstop.
The issue with Fletcher has never been his glove, it's been his health and his bat. Fletcher dealt with injury last season and played in just 61 games. He hasn't performed at all at the MLB level offensively outside of the shortened 2020 season.
Fletcher is a solid utility man, but there's a very good chance the Angels will need him for more than that. He can't be a non-factor offensively if that's the case.
He has just one hit (a single) in 10 at-bats this season. He doesn't draw walks, and doesn't hit for power.
The Angels offense will hopefully stay healthy and be good enough to make Fletcher's offensive struggles a non-factor, but he looks the same as he did last season and most of his career. Fine defender who does virtually nothing offensively.