Every year, a few players perform at an All-Star level that don’t get the attention they deserve. Usually, they’re having a breakout season that is overshadowed by established stars the team has. The Los Angeles Angels are no different in that regard, with a few players under the radar.
Under The Radar Angels
Matt Thaiss
A former first-round pick out of the University of Virginia, Matt Thaiss, has been nothing more than a 4-A player. He is a player who has issues finding his swing at the Major League Level but does well at triple-A. The biggest problem Thaiss had was there we players that blocked him at both first base and catcher. However, with injuries at both spots this year, Thaiss got his shot for regular playing time.
Thaiss has had a few mishaps while catching this season early on. Getting called for multiple interference calls in the same inning. With those issues seemingly out of the way, Thaiss has become a decent catcher for the Angels this season. Digging into the more advanced numbers, Thaiss has the best offensive output of his short career. Having regular playing has paid off for him. He has the best barrel percentage of his career at 10.1%, the best max exit velocity at 110 mph, and a lower k rate at 27.3%.
Something has clicked for Thaiss this season. It could be the regular playtime instead of just getting spot starts. In that lineup, the Angels have him not having to do much is the key to his success. He has found his spot, and he has come up huge already in the first half no reason to believe he won’t continue into the second half.
Chris Deveniski
Chris Deveniski signed a minor league with the Angels and started the year in AAA Salt Lake. Before solidifying his spot in the Angels’ bullpen, Deveniski hasn’t had an entire season in the Majors since 2019 with the Astros. In limited action with a few teams since 2019, he failed to get his footing in the little action he did get.
The key to his success in the past was his change-up. The simple fastball change-up combo uses the speed change to get hitters out. With his .159 batting average against that pitch, it leads in its 38 whiff percentage and 23.3 put-away percentage. He has found his spot in the back of the Angels’ reformatted bullpen with more high-velocity guys than the finesse pitchers they had at the start of the season. Deveniski has also stranded many runners on base that he has inherited. It made him the go-to pitcher in difficult situations late in ball games. Something the bullpen failed at earlier in the season.
Finding diamonds in the rough is always the key to success, alongside making adjustments when things aren’t working out. Both have favored Denvenski getting his chance in the bullpen, He has become precious in his spot after years of up and downs. This has been a feel-good story for the Angels as they get hot at the right time and have a chance to return to the postseason for the first time in 8 years.
Carlos Estevez
A signing that was a head-scratcher was that of Carlos Estevez. He was a career Rockie until his free agency and had an ERA of 4.59 in his time there. A lot of that has to do with the high altitude of pitching in a mile-high city. The difference between Denver and Anaheim has been more significant than anyone could imagine. This a been incredibly welcomed by his new team as he became the closer they needed.
Many pitchers find success after leaving the pitching graveyard at Coors Field. The change in Estevez has been more significant than anyone could have thought. No one improves an ERA in 4s to an ERA of 1.74. He has been a completely different pitcher in Anaheim. The most significant change has been his spike in the k rate. He is jumping from 23% last year to 31% this year. On top of not blowing a save in 19 chances. Will it continue? It’s nice to know the 9th inning is locked down.
Finding players with high upside and low downside separates the good teams from the great ones. The Angels have done that so far. From giving these guys a shot, calling up young flame throwers to spell the soft tossers the Angels had early in the season. When the team returns to total health in the coming weeks, they should continue the dominance that got them to this spot in the first palace. Estevez rounds out the list of under the radar Angels.
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