TEMPE, Ariz. — With a week to go before the Angels leave Arizona, they still aren’t sure who their everyday center fielder is going to be.
At this rate, they may not have an everyday center fielder.
“I want somebody to take over,” manager Ron Washington said. “I really do.”
After the Angels said they were moving Mike Trout to right, center field became a competition between Jo Adell and Mickey Moniak.
As of Saturday morning, Adell was 6 for 39 (.154) with a .498 OPS this spring and Moniak was 8 for 36 (.222) with a .728 OPS. Adell has played 66 innings in center and Moniak has played 47.
Washington said the two have been “inconsistent” so far.
Washington acknowledged that if neither player establishes himself in the position, they will have to decide on the starter on a game-by-game basis. If they use a standard platoon, Moniak would face the right-handed pitchers, so he’d get most of the time.
As for Moniak, Washington said they’d like to see him improve his approach at the plate.
“We would like to see him get more consistent with using the opposite field,” Washington said. “Not that we want him to become an opposite-field hitter, but if they decide they’re not going to keep the ball close to him, he’s got to be able to use the other part to get the ball where he likes it.”
In Adell’s case, Washington wants to see him focus less on power. Adell has two homers this spring, but only four other hits.
“We know he got the potential to pop the ball out the ballpark, but he’s also got the potential to get base hits, and I want him to understand that his sole purpose is not to try to hit home runs,” Washington said. “His sole purpose is to try to have good at-bats, and with his ability, the home runs will happen. His purpose is to learn how to be the best center fielder he possibly can be, like he did in right field last year.”
RENGIFO UPDATE
A day after his first Cactus League game since developing hamstring tightness, Luis Rengifo was scheduled to again get some at-bats in a minor-league game.
Washington said Rengifo would lead off each inning and get as many at-bats as he wants. Although he won’t play the field, he will run the bases.
If that goes well, he would play in Cactus League games Sunday and Monday.
Rengifo said Saturday that he expects to be ready for Opening Day on March 27. The Angels’ current plan is for Rengifo to be the primary second baseman, although they can also move him to third or even the outfield if the need arises.
BACHMAN BETTER
Right-hander Sam Bachman resumed throwing this week, after missing much of spring training with what he described vaguely as “a little bit of stuff.”
Bachman underwent tests and the Angels apparently heard what they needed to hear to begin building him back up to return to action.
“It feels excellent,” Bachman said. “I got some answers and I’m feeling good.”
Bachman has missed significant time since the Angels took him in the first round of the 2021 draft, with shoulder and back problems. At this point, the latest issue doesn’t appear to be as serious.
“Definitely nothing severe,” Bachman said. “Coming to spring training, my goal was to be as healthy as possible. I hit a bump but it was nothing more than that.”
NOTES
Left-hander Reid Detmers is scheduled to follow right-hander Kyle Hendricks to the mound Sunday. The other two candidates for the No. 5 starter job are starting games this week, with Jack Kochanowicz pitching Saturday and Chase Silseth on Monday. Washington said nothing should be read into the fact that Detmers is working in relief. He’s still scheduled to work at least four innings. …
Yoán Moncada said his sore thumb was feeling better Saturday, and he could be back in the lineup as soon as Monday. Moncada jammed his thumb in Wednesday’s game, and he was scratched from the lineup Friday. …
Closer Kenley Jansen has been away from the team because his mother died.