With a record of 41-35, the Angels are currently only six games out of first place and a half a game out of a wild card spot currently chasing down the first-place Texas Rangers.
The Angels came into 2023 with big expectations to make a postseason run, with Shohei Ohtani playing possibly the best baseball the game has ever seen by leading the Angels in nearly all hitting and pitching statistics it would have been too easy to choose him for this.
Here are some other Angels that are trending up and down in 2023.
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Mickey Moniak, outfielder: The former first-overall pick in the 2016 MLB Draft, Moniak looked like he had bust written all over him after only playing in 47 games across three seasons for the Philadelphia Phillies. In those 47 games, Moniak would fail to impress with a batting average of .129 to go with one home run and five RBIs he looked lost in the majors.
Dealt by the Phillies to the Angels at last season’s trade deadline for pitcher Noah Syndergaard, Moniak has looked more like a player worthy of being drafted number one overall. In his 19 games for the Angels in 2022 he only managed a .200 average, but had three home runs and six RBIs both more than he had in his career with the Phillies.
Moniak is using 2023 as a breakout season, with a .298/.322/.619 slash line, to go with six home runs and 15 RBIs while playing stellar defense for the Angels he is quickly becoming a fan favorite in Los Angeles.
Having just turned 25, Moniak still has a very bright future ahead of him after a rough start to his professional career.