Travis d’Arnaud clearly understands exactly what his role is with his new team.
The veteran catcher said he contacted Angels starting catcher Logan O’Hoppe even before his signing was announced so he could immediately establish their relationship.
“I want him to be the greatest Angels catcher of all time,” d’Arnaud said on Wednesday, a day after the Angels announced his two-year, $12 million deal. “I reached out to him moments before it was released to the press, because I want him to know that I’m here for him. I don’t want anything to get possibly stirred up from outside sources. I made sure I reached out to him to let him know I’m always here for him and anything he ever needs or wants.
“I’m always open ears. I’ll always tell him exactly what I think and not try to say the wrong thing to make him feel good. I want him to learn the right way and to grow and become a great player. I’m grateful and thankful that I get to work with such a stud.”
O’Hoppe, 24, is one of the cornerstones of the Angels’ rebuild. He’s shown flashes of his potential at the plate and behind the plate. In his two major league seasons, O’Hoppe has not been able to work alongside a catcher with d’Arnaud’s experience.
The Angels signed d’Arnaud because they believe the 35-year-old can still be productive – his .739 OPS last season was above average for a major league catcher – but also because of how they believe he can impact O’Hoppe and the young pitchers.
As for the latter, d’Arnaud said he was impressed with what he saw from the Angels during an August series with the Braves at Angel Stadium. Although the Angels lost two of the three games, they got quality starts in the series from right-handers José Soriano and Jack Kochanowicz.
“Two of their starters were high velocity with nasty sinkers that none of us could hit,” d’Arnaud said. “And that was a good, good Braves lineup, and they shut us down pretty good.”
D’Arnaud also remembered seeing right-hander Ben Joyce, who closed out the Angels’ only victory in the series with a five-out save.
“Anytime there’s a lead and you’ve got Joyce in the bullpen who’s ready to come in and throw fuel, I know the other team is scared,” d’Arnaud said. “I’ve been a part of that.”
For all of that optimism, d’Arnaud is nonetheless coming to a team that lost 99 games last season. He had been with an Atlanta Braves team that went to the playoffs in all five of his seasons, winning a World Series in 2021. He also played in the postseason with the New York Mets in 2015 and the Tampa Bay Rays in 2019.
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One of the reasons he was willing to come to a rebuilding team is that he’s a local product. D’Arnaud went to Lakewood High and he still lives in Southern California with his wife and three children – whose ages range from 6 years old to two months. His parents, in-laws and siblings all live in the area too.
“Family is the most important thing,” d’Arnaud said, adding that geography was a “huge” reason for signing with the Angels.
D’Arnaud, who was 13 in 2002, also still remembers what it was like when the Angels won the World Series.
“I know how big of an impact the Angels have on the culture of baseball, especially in Orange County,” he said. “I know the fan base is good.”
He is also familiar with Angels manager Ron Washington, third base coach Eric Young Sr. and new assistant pitching coach Sal Fasano because all were on the staff in Atlanta.
“I’m very excited to be here and to be surrounded by those people,” he said.