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The start of the MLB 2025 season was roller coaster for many teams, but few started their campaign like the Los Angeles Angels. In the latest episode of “Baseball Bar-B-Cast”, host Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman plunging into the way Angels have managed to draw the attention of the world of baseball.
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Angels are the only team to lose a series this season.
“I don't believe in this franchise,” said Mintz. “And yet, so far this season, this team, at the very least, has provided reasons of optimism.”
“Let us remember that this season started for the Angels with Nicky Lopez by launching the day of opening against the White Sox,” noted Shusterman. “And we were like, okay, we started again. We are on the way for 100 losses. This is the most embarrassing franchise in baseball.”
And yet, for two weeks, the angels stand out with their surprising realization: they won the four series they played, but without sweeping none of them. Despite their success, the 8-4 Angels find themselves following 9-4 Texas Rangers by half a game in the Al West.
A story off competition for angels is the unexpected rise of Kyren Pariswhich has an impressive 1.485 Ops, a percentage of 1000 slugging, five circuits and four interceptions so far. Paris, 23, was drafted by the Angels of Secondary School in the second round of the 2019 MLB draft.
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As Mintz noted, “none of this is all lasting even for the most female men, but there seems to be something interesting that is preparing here with Kyren Paris.”
The trip from Paris through the minors has been accelerated, as the Angels like to do so, then he fought massively when he arrived in the big leagues in 2023.
“And then last year, it's even worse,” said Shusterman. “He struck. 167 in 60 minor league games. He had some injuries. They still put him in the big leagues for a game. He struck. 18 in 21 big league games.
“He was 22 years old, so it's not like you did it forever. But it seemed to be a case of” Oh, the Angels. They have become too aggressive with one of their players who seemed to be on a decent track, and now he pays the price. “”
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But from this spring, Paris looked like another player. As the hosts noted, Paris worked during the offseason with Aaron Judge's personal strike coach, Richard Schenck, and has brought apparent adjustments to his position in the hitting box, which clearly bear fruit.
“What is most convincing because Kyren Paris is not a big guy, you know?” Said Shusterman. “To see a kind of application of some of the same methodologies, the same physical movements that helped Aaron to judge – it is not a perfect replica, but that maximization and benefits from the athletics that Kyren Paris has always had.”
Paris Slug 1,000 for the rest of the season? Almost not, but as the hosts have pointed out, it also brings a defensive versatility which will continue to benefit the angels.
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What's going well in Anaheim? The hosts took a look at the rest of the programming, highlighted by the new right -wing defender Mike Trout, who also reached five circuits. And the angels have experienced improvements in their starting pitch, thanks to Kyle Hendricks and Jose Soriano to go up at the start of the season. Finally, the Angels have Kenley Jansen anchoring the enclosure of the lifts and closing matches.
Shusterman summed up well: “We are talking about 12 games, and when you have some good starters and an offense that strikes a lot of circuits, you will win a decent number of matches.”
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It is important to note that the angels played the rays, the white sox, the guards and the cardinals – not exactly the most intimidating slate of the opponents. In addition, the angels have started strong until April on recent years in recent years, but they have always fallen before the second half.
As such, hosts do not yet buy this Angels team.
“I'm glad they're playing well right now,” said Shusterman. “I love Kyren Paris's breakout. I love Mike Trout. But they just need to do it longer and so many other ways for me to believe.”
To listen to the full episode and more, listen to “on”Baseball-bar-B-CAST” on Apple,, Spotify Or YouTube.
