The Angels have appointed Brady Anderson as their new hitting coach and John Mabry as assistant hitting coach. Anderson’s unconventional hire raises eyebrows due to his lack of formal coaching experience, although he has worked in various roles with the Orioles. In contrast, Mabry brings extensive coaching experience from previous roles with several MLB teams, including the Cardinals and Marlins. Both coaches are aimed at improving the Angels’ contact hitting after a season riddled with strikeouts and inconsistent offensive performance.
By the NumbersThe Angels struck out the second-most times in Major League history last season.Despite ranking fourth in MLB with 226 home runs, they finished with the sixth-fewest runs scored.They traded Taylor Ward, who hit a career-high 36 homers last season, impacting their offensive capabilities. State of PlayThe Angels recently traded Taylor Ward, creating a gap in their power hitting.Center field is now a priority for recruitment as they seek to bolster their outfield.Remaining coaching staff includes notable figures such as Mike Maddux and John Gibbons, with an assistant pitching coach yet to be hired. What’s Next
With the new appointments, the Angels will likely focus on developing strategies to enhance contact hitting before the upcoming season. Additionally, the team is expected to pursue an outfielder to fill the recent vacancy left by Ward’s trade.
Bottom Line
The hiring of Anderson and Mabry symbolizes a shift in the Angels’ coaching strategy, focusing on reducing strikeouts and improving overall offensive consistency. As they navigate roster changes, their success will depend on effective coaching and player adaptation.