Angels News: Jared Walsh Listed as a Top Bounce Back Candidate for 2023
Jared Walsh was an All-Star for the Angels in 2021. He was looking like an up-and-coming star for this team, however, last year, he struggled, both on the field and off the field with injuries.
Walsh, however, is feeling healthy heading into 2023, and should have a somewhat everyday role assuming he plays well. That's why MLB.com's Will Leitch pegged him as a potential bounce back candidate for the 2023 season.
"For years, the plan to improve the Angels -- other than getting them more pitching -- was clear: Get another star to join Mike Trout. Well, in 2021, the Angels had two: MVP Shohei Ohtani and Walsh, who built off his breakthrough 2020 with a 29-homer, 98-RBI season that sent him to his first All-Star Game. Sure, some of his 2021 first half was a little bit of an aberration -- he fell off a bit in the second half -- but no one thought he would fall of a cliff like he did in 2022, hitting only 15 homers and losing 70 points off his OBP (from .340 to .269). The issue, as tends to be the case, was injuries: He had surgery to deal with thoracic outlet syndrome on Sept. 1, so he should be close to ready by Spring Training. He doesn’t have to be the superstar he was the first half of 2021 to help his team. But the increasingly desperate Angels sure would appreciate it."
Like Leitch said, Walsh doesn't need to be a star playing alongside superstars Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani. He just has to do enough, and for him, that would be getting on base and hitting home runs.
In his All-Star season, Walsh had 29 home runs and 98 RBIs. Last year, he hit just 15 home runs, albeit in 141 fewer plate appearances.
Still, a productive season would go a long way for this Angels team, and it would keep Walsh in the lineup. With all the depth the Angels got this offseason, Walsh may need to earn his playing time in 2023 — but that should be good motivation to get him playing close to his All-Star level again.
