After a forgettable 2022 season, there is optimism surrounding the Los Angeles Angels as they get set for an Opening Day matchup against the Oakland Athletics on Thursday night.
The Angels spent most of the offseason improving their roster, adding valuable depth to complement superstars Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout, along with veterans David Fletcher, Anthony Rendon and Taylor Ward.
Rendon is looking to bounce back from an injury-plagued year in which he was only able to play in 47 games. In addition to his personal goals, the 32-year-old has big aspirations for the Angels as a whole.
Rendon not only wants to help the Angels return to the postseason for the first time since 2014, he has his sights on winning the World Series, per Sarah Valenzuela of the L.A. Times:
“To be the last team standing,” the third baseman said before opening day. “That needs to be a goal for every major league team for this league to be competitive. If you’re not playing this game to be the last team standing, then you shouldn’t be playing at all.
“That should be our goal every single year.”
Even with their new-look roster, the Angels are projected by ZiPS to win only 85 games and finish in a second-place tie with the Seattle Mariners in the American League West.
Rendon doesn’t mind that as he likes the Angels being considered underdogs:
“I love the fact that we’re just flying under the radar,” Rendon said, “that we’re just going to do our thing and we want to be on top at the end of the year.
“We want to surprise a lot of people.”
If Spring Training was any indication, the Angels could very well be a sneaky good team this season. They finished with the best record in Cactus League play for a second consecutive year, and Rendon was a big part of that success.
The third baseman collected 17 hits, including four doubles, two home runs and eight RBI, in 34 at-bats across 14 games.
Griffin Canning among Angels beginning 2023 season on injured list
Griffin Canning had an impressive showing in Spring Training but unfortunately will begin the 2023 season on the injured list due to a groin issue. Jared Walsh and Max Stassi also will open the year on the IL.
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