2021 Los Angeles Angels Opening Day Outfield

We know Mike Trout will be in centerfield but who else will be in left and right field when the Angels play their first regular season game on April 1, 2021 against the Chicago White Sox. 

It looks as though Jo Adell, Justin Upton, Taylor Ward and Dexter Fowler are all going to see time.

Mike Trout is the 2021 Los Angeles Angels Great Hope

It seems funny to say this but having Mike Trout is what will really keep the 2021 Los Angeles Angels relevant in the eyes of baseball fans.

Sure they added Anthony Rendon via free agency last year and have some interesting young players like David Fletcher, but it’s Trout that really stirs this team’s drink.

2020 could be seen as an off season by Trout but given that he played 53 of 60 games and had a .993 OPS and hit 17 home runs, it was still a great season for the average player. He also hit the 300th home run of his career to become the Angels’ all-time leader. 

He fell to fifth in the AL MVP voting, which is the lowest he has ever finished. He has won the American League MVP three times since his rookie year in 2012.

He is an eight time All Star, two time All-MLB first teamer in 2019 and 2020, and an eight time Silver Slugger Award winner.

Trout surpassed Barry Bonds to become the youngest player to join the 200 home run, 200 stolen base club when he stole his 200th career base in August of 2019. 

If there is one thing that seems to be dragging his career down is that he has yet to win a World Series. Trout has literally done everything in his power to help move this Angels team forward to the postseason. It’s the team’s turn now if it ever was to help him out. 

Jo Adell and Justin Upton Figure To Be Part of Angels Outfield

The remaining positions of the 2021 Los Angeles Angels outfield is a mishmash of question marks, castoffs, and veterans.

Justin Upton is the high-priced veteran who began last year marred in a big slump. He hit .099 through the first 20 games of the season. He struck out in nearly 40 percent of his at-bats and had a measly seven hits. That"s not good for a player who has a 21 million dollar price tag for 2021.

He rebounded as 2020 wore on though and had a slash line of .315/.412/.630/1.042 from late August through the end of September. He also hit six home runs and drove in 15.

Jo Adell came up last season in part due to Upton"s struggles and posted a sub .500 OPS in his rookie debut. He finished his rookie season batting .161/.212/.266 with three home runs and seven RBIs in 38 games.

Angels G.M. Perry Minasian picked up Dexter Fowler, a deal which some questioned, in the off-season to help flesh out at least the position behind Adell.

Fowler is a great backup and insurance plan for the Angels for many reasons. He has a World Series ring which he won with the Chicago Cubs and Joe Maddon in 2016 and has shown throughout his career that he can very consistent and add power.

Adell was was drafted by the Los Angeles Angels with the 10th overall selection in the 2017 draft. There is a lot of potential with Adell to be sure but Minasian is smart to in some other options as most MLB general managers would.

Taylor Ward and Scott Schebler are other outfield options for the 2021 Los Angeles Angels. Schebler hit 30 homers with the Cincinnati Reds in 2017, hasn’t produce anything significant since. Schebler has bounced around too from the Reds to last year seeing time with the Atlanta Braves before they released him and he signed a minor league deal with the Angels last November.

Taylor Ward should also get outfield time but has been catching at Angels Training Camp. Ward had a solid .277 in the 34 games he played for the Angels in 2020.

Drafted as a catcher in 2015, he has seen some time at third base too. The Angels did sign Kurt Suzuki in the off-season and are well stocked at catcher but versatility should help Ward see time in the Angels lineup.

Angels’ top prospect Brandon Marsh could be ready to play in 2021. Marsh still hasn’t had any games at Triple-A though and he lost time with no minor league games in 2020.

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