OC Register: Angels still focused on offensive improvement from young players

[AngelsWin.com]

CARLSBAD — A month into the offseason, and with the player movement season just beginning, Billy Eppler is still hoping for big things from a five-player core of young players.

On the first day of the GM Meetings on Monday, Eppler said he is focusing on pitching – starting and relief – and a catcher, from outside the organization.

As for the rest of the offensive issues, Eppler reiterated his faith in the group of David Fletcher, Taylor Ward, Luis Rengifo, Matt Thaiss and Jared Walsh.

In the infield, the Angels appear to be set with Andrelton Simmons at shortstop and Zack Cozart at second or third. First base will be Albert Pujols, as much as he can handle after having knee surgery in August. The final spot – second or third – appears to be up for grabs.

That’s perhaps one and a half open jobs: the complement to Pujols and the starting second or third baseman.

Eppler likes the chances of his young players grabbing those spots.

“While I’d love to sit here and tell you all five will hit projections, they could, but it could be three, could be four, could be two,” Eppler said. “But generally when you have youth, you have upside. And they’re all young.”

Rengifo, an infielder the Angels got last year in the C.J. Cron trade, is the youngest, at 21. He went through three levels of the Angels’ farm system, with a .399 on-base percentage and an .851 OPS.

Thaiss, the Angels’ first-round pick in 2016, is 23, coming off a season in which he peaked at Triple-A, hitting .280 with an .802 OPS.

Fletcher and Ward, who both saw major league action last year, are both 24. Fletcher had a .678 OPS and was the everyday second baseman for much of the second half. Ward got a six-week trial as the everyday third baseman, and he hit .178 with a .578 OPS.

Walsh, a power-hitting outfielder/first baseman, is 25. He hit 29 homers and had an .895 OPS last season, finishing at Triple-A.

Fletcher, Ward and Rengifo could all have a shot at winning the everyday job in spring training, while Thaiss and Walsh are more likely to compete to share time with Pujols.

Last season Pujols hit .245 with a .700 OPS and 19 homers in 117 games. He went on the disabled list with knee issues twice, the second time resulting in season-ending surgery.

If the injury came from playing more than twice as many games at first as he did in the previous two years, Pujols could be vulnerable to getting hurt – or at least requiring more time off – again. He will be 39 next season.

Eppler said Pujols is working out in Southern California, and so far everything seems fine.

“Everything there has been OK from the feedback I’ve gotten,” Eppler said. “We’ll just see how his health is in spring training. If that’s good, and I don’t have any reason to believe it won’t be, we’ll take things as they come with him.”

ALSO

Ohtani last week had a follow-up, four weeks after his Tommy John surgery, and Eppler said “everything was great.” Eppler said Ohtani has nearly full range of extension now in his elbow. Eppler said the Angels won’t have a firm idea of how soon Ohtani will be able to hit until January. …

Eppler said the Angels are “open” to re-signing Garrett Richards, who will miss 2019 while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. …

Alex Meyer, who missed the entire 2018 season rehabbing from shoulder surgery, had a setback about 10 days ago, Eppler said. Meyer will not throw for about four to six weeks, Eppler said. …

Michael Hermosillo had to end his winter ball season early after suffering a “core muscle injury,” Eppler said. Eppler said it won’t jeopardize him being ready for spring training. …

The Angels have one coach left to hire before announcing the entire major league staff under new manager Brad Ausmus, Eppler said. So far, hitting coach Jeremy Reed and pitching coach Doug White are the only coaches whose roles are confirmed.

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