Los Angeles Angels Announce Opening Day 26-Man Roster

Originally posted on Angels Nation | By Ron Gutterman | Last updated Mar 28, 2024 11:34 AM ET

Opening Day for the 2024 season has finally arrived, and the Los Angeles Angels are on the east coast to take on the Baltimore Orioles. The Angels were not a major player in the offseason, losing two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani to the L.A. Dodgers and not making any major agreements with free agents despite rumors aplenty.

That is in part because owner Arte Moreno wanted to use Ohtani’s departure as a chance to reset the salary table and decrease spending this season. But it is also because the Angels have a host of exciting young players that could take leaps in 2024. That is the impetus for the makeup of the 2024 Opening Day roster, which was announced by the Angels on Thursday morning.

There are very few surprises on this 26-man roster, largely because the Angels have made it known what their plans are at each position in the days prior to Spring Training concluding. They are carrying five outfielders, as announced by manager Ron Washington. Non-roster invite Miguel Sanó is on the roster, as he announced on Tuesday.

Around Mike Trout is an offense that has the potential to dazzle if some of the young pieces hit. Integral to this puzzle are Zach Neto, Logan O’Hoppe and Nolan Schanuel. Also integral is the healthy of Anthony Rendon — and to a lesser extent, Trout — as both have dealt with significant injuries over the last three seasons. If those two remain healthy, that could take the Angels a long way.

And in their effort to keep those two healthy, the Angels did not sign a permanent designated hitter this season and will instead DH by committee. Trout, Rendon, Sanó, Jo Adell and others all figure to see time in that spot.

The Angels five-man starting pitching rotation was also set weeks before Thursday, making the only toss-up the bullpen. The Angels added several new faces this offseason in the bullpen, but their biggest signing — Robert Stephenson — is beginning the year on the 15-day IL with right shoulder inflammation, retro to March 25. In his place is 2023 breakout pitcher Jose Soriano, who was stretched out as a starter in Spring Training and will likely return to Triple-A to continue that process when Stephenson is healthy.