Top Bounce-Back Candidate For 2023: Los Angeles Angels

We continue our series looking at the top bounce-back candidates around baseball, turning our attention now to the Los Angeles Angels. 

In 2020, Jared Walsh had a breakthrough rookie season, posting a .971 OPS, and followed that up with an All-Star year in 2021, in which he blasted 29 homers with 98 RBIs, batting .277 with an .850 OPS. 

2022, however, saw him drop off a cliff, with a .215 average and .642 OPS with only 15 dingers in 118 games. But here's the thing: Walsh suffered from severe symptoms of thoracic outlet syndrome the worsened as the year wore on —tightness in his neck and left shoulder, as well as tingling in his fingertips. He was actually shut down due to the issue in late August. 

2021 All-Star Jared Walsh talks through his offseason injury rehab process, a few @Angels teammates that deserve more recognition and what it feels like to witness Shohei Ohtani's greatness up close everyday.#MLBNHotStove | #GoHalos pic.twitter.com/AeUxVuYHNR

— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) January 10, 2023

Walsh, 29, has since had corrective surgery, which he is now six months removed from, and says he is feeling "close to 100%" now. “I feel like I keep getting stronger," he said earlier this spring. "I feel great right now, so no complaints. Full go. I can make throws, hit on the field, everything.” 

The left-handed hitting Walsh has always had his greatest success against right-handed pitching, and with the likes of Gio Urshela and Brandon Drury around to face tough lefties, that's another reason that Walsh's numbers are bound to see a big rebound in 2023.

And that bounce-back would be a big boon to the Angels' offense. 

Photo: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports