Los Angeles Angels: Three players who could be first-time All-Stars
By Eric Treuden
We’re two months into the 2022 season and the Los Angeles Angels are still in the thick of things in the AL West. Who could be some first-time All-Stars for the club?
Los Angeles Angels superstars Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani are both going to be front and center at this year’s All-Star Game, that much is pretty much guaranteed. However, this Angels club has had some more surprise producers than the usual suspects and it currently consists of some intriguing ASG options.
Heading into this season, utilityman David Fletcher would’ve been a great choice for a piece like this as he possesses the ability to get on base consistently and plays above-average defense at multiple positions. Unfortunately for player, fan base, and front office, he has struggled with injuries to begin the year.
Who could be some intriguing choices to make their first All-Star Game?
#3 – RHP Raisel Iglesias (Closer)
I can’t be the only person out there that’s surprised Raisel Iglesias has never made an All-Star Game before, can I?
The 32-year-old righty was the closer for the Cincinnati Reds from 2016-2020 and has always been a high-strikeout, low-walk pitcher. Home runs have been a bit of an issue for him throughout his career and I’m not sure that at this stage in his career he can turn that specific flaw around, but the positive marks on his player profile make him an easy option for this list.
Iglesias, in his second season as an Angel, played for the club last year and was one of the more dominant closers in the entire game. He appeared in 65 contests for the Halos, posting a 2.57 ERA with a 2.83 FIP and 172 ERA+. He struck out 103 batters in just 70 innings and shockingly walked only 12 batters all season. He earned a career-high 34 saves along the way and also miraculously won seven games too, a stat that is rarely seen from a pitcher who is solely a closer.
His 2021 showing and 11th place finish in the AL Cy Young voting earned him a contract extension in Anaheim, locking him up for four more seasons.
When Iglesias is on, he can be a scary pitcher to face. It won’t be surprising in any way to see him representing this Angels club alongside Trout and Ohtani in this year’s All-Star Game.