The Angels have had a number of health woes throughout the spring, with among the most recent being concern that a nagging hamstring issue could keep infielder Luis Rengifo off the club’s Opening Day roster. Fortunately for the club and Rengifo, however, things appear to be trending in the right direction with less than two weeks remaining until the Angels begin their season in Chicago against the White Sox. As noted by Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register, Rengifo started the club’s spring game yesterday at third base and declared to reporters (including Fletcher) that he would be ready for Opening Day. Manager Ron Washington was more reserved, but acknowledged that Rengifo does have enough time to be ready for the start of the season so long as he avoids any further setbacks.
That Rengifo figures to be ready for the start of the season is surely a huge relief for the Angels. After all, the switch hitter was the club’s top offensive performer last year aside from Mike Trout, who was limited to just 29 games due to injuries last year. Rengifo was not healthy in 2024 himself, playing in only 79 games with 304 trips to the plate, but in those limited appearances he hit a solid .300/.347/.417 with a wRC+ of 117. Rengifo is currently penciled in as the club’s starting second baseman, though he has the versatility to handle third base, shortstop, and the outfield corners as well. With second baseman and 2024 first-rounder Christian Moore seemingly already knocking on the door of the major leagues with a phenomenal spring, it’s easy to imagine that versatility being key to Angels’ plans for Rengifo in the near future.
In other positive injury news, Fletcher relays that shortstop Zach Neto has been making progress as he works his way back from offseason shoulder surgery. Neto has already been ruled out for Opening Day, but isn’t expected to miss much of the regular season as he’s already ahead of his expected schedule. The 24-year-old has yet to progress to facing live pitching, but is preparing for game action by standing in the box for the bullpen sessions of his teammates and is currently throwing from 105 feet, nearly the full length from shortstop to first base. The Halos’ top hitter by both bWAR and fWAR last year, Neto figures to slide back into his job as the club’s everyday shortstop sometime in April as things stand.
Not all of the latest news out of Angels camp is positive, however. As noted by MLB.com’s Rhett Bollinger, third baseman Yoan Moncada was scratched from yesterday’s lineup due to thumb soreness. He remained out of the lineup today, and while there’s been no indication of the severity of the issue to this point, it’s at least somewhat concerning given the veteran’s lengthy injury history and the issue’s proximity to Opening Day. If Moncada’s thumb issue were to prove more serious, non-roster invitee J.D. Davis may be best positioned to take advantage of the vacant job at third base although fellow non-roster invitees Tim Anderson and Carter Kieboom could also theoretically be in the mix.
Kieboom, such a waste of an epic baseball name
He’d be a great relief pitcher who gives up walkoffs
Rengifo and Neto are good players.
Part of me would like to extend Rengifo but the injury thing is a real concern.
Hopefully he has a blistering May/June and we get a great return for him.
If this Spring is any indication, we will be sellers for sure. I predict we finally get our first 100 loss season this year.
Your so wrong. We will never lose 100 games. Plz get that out of your end. We will win 90 to 100 games.
Will Anderson and Moncada make the club?
Of course moncada is our starting 3rd baseman.
Moncada is a lock. Anderson probably will, that moves to definitely will if Rengifo is hurt.
Rengifo well be ready for opening day. Anderson will be here too
As a White Sox fan I hope they do well and bring joy to your club
Glad to hear Rengifo and Neto are close. Hopefully Moncada’s thumb injury is minor.
Prov 356: I hope you’re doing well sir; God Bless.
I don’t know anything about Christian Moore except he has all of 98 plate appearances in AA where he whiffed almost 30% of the time. What is with their constant rushing of prospects to the majors?
Poorly run franchise with no depth that is very shortsighted.
Ha! I guess that sums it up.
I think the Angels best lineup has Rengifo in the outfield and Tim Anderson at SS. That moves Neto to second and gives the Angels the option to DH Trout exclusively, that’s what I’d do with Trout at this point.
I liked the possibility of Sheets getting some ABs this season too.
Anderson’s bat has been nonexistent the past two seasons and the Angels traded for Jorge Soler to be the DH. I agree that Trout should become a full time DH at this point in his career, to keep him healthy, but that, unfortunately, probably won’t happen until 2026 or 2027. Too bad, because that may be too late to keep his potent bat in the lineup regularly.
Is this Gavin Sheets?
Maybe Larry Sheets is making a comeback?
He seems to have some strange amalgamation mashup of the Angels/White Sox circa 2021
Trout barely conceded CF, he’s not likely to give up playing the OF just yet. Also, if Trout is the DH than Soler is in the OF and thats not good either.
Anderson is 31, his bat is nonexistent and his defense isn’t what it was, Neto is arguably the Angels best player right now so why move him off of his position for an aging veteran whose range is diminishing and has gone 400 AB’s since his last Home Run
Andersons legs may be shot as he was unfortunately felled by an injury during a rundown w the Sox, but he’ll give 100% when on the field. Ironically both TA and Moncada had exceptional runs in the World Baseball Classic for teams USA and Cuba before getting felled in the snake bit ’23 season
Angels are honestly a house of cards. Time to burn the whole thing down and start fresh.
Nothing to burn down. They have a lot of rookies and young players in starting roles as it is.
I suspect Yoan Moncada has posters of Anthony Rendon on his wall. He came west to join his idol on the IL.
Every Angels update is depressing.
Moncada’s injured. What a surprise!
Just hope that Kyren Paris and Matthew Lugo make the team. They both have looked good in spring and certainly deserve it.
Arte and Wash will take the veterans to Anaheim and when the team is in last place by Memorial Day and Trout goes home for the rest of the season they’ll cut them and bring up the kids
Anticipating big step forward for Jo Adell this year. (Trying to send good vibes.)
moncada again
Moore in having a phenomenal Spring? Have they seen him try to play second?
Hopefully it’s nothing serious with Moncada and looking forward to seeing Neto play again. That said, “thumb…soreness?” Goodness, how times have changed.