Hank Conger, JB Shuck, Colin Cowgill, and Ian Stewart are working hard to contribute to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim this season. All four players are to due to be on the 25-man roster by Opening Day and can provided different skill-sets to their respective positions.
If there is one thing that is clear about the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the 2014 season, it is the fact that they have depth. After visiting their squad during spring training in Tempe, Arizona, I was able to see how strong their bench could be this season.
The backups for the Angels are excited to have the opportunity to not only be on the 25-man roster but contribute more to the team. Catcher Hank Conger acknowledged the pitching staff is moving toward a more positive direction and that acquisitions Tyler Skaggs and Hector Santiago will make a difference in the back of the Angels rotation.
Conger is also trying to improve as a player and become more consistent. The Huntington Beach native appeared in 92 games for the Halos last season and hit seven home runs with 21 RBIs while batting a respectable .249 with a .403 slugging percentage.
It is unknown whether manager Mike Scioscia will expand Conger’s role this year and give him more starts behind the plate. Conger has struggled this spring to change his manager’s mind with only a .139 batting average (5 for 36) and just three RBIs (via MLB.com). Chris Iannetta, the team’s number one catcher, figures to take the majority of the starts once again in 2014.
Outfielders JB Shuck and Collin Cowgill could have the opportunity to start more games for the Angels. With the departures of Mark Trumbo and Peter Bourjos, the once-crowded outfield has now subsided allowing these youngsters along with Kole Calhoun to make a bigger impact on the team.
Shuck was a pleasant surprise for the Halos last season. He appeared in 129 games and had a .293 batting average with 60 RBIs. Shuck has followed that production with a solid spring in the Cactus League. He is batting .256 with five RBIs and a team-high five triples with a .488 slugging percentage.
Shuck believed some of his success could have come from the Mike Trout T-Shirt he was wearing during the interview. He said he wanted to be “Like Mike.” Shuck will likely be Josh Hamilton’s backup in left field and start when Hamilton has the day off or is assigned to be the designated hitter.
Cowgill is also battling for a more prominent backup role for the Angels. The Kentucky native has bounced around the league playing for four teams in his first four seasons. Like Shuck, Cowgill has had an impressive spring batting .275 with two home runs, eight RBIs and a .550 slugging percentage. His ability to play all three outfield positions and speed are great assets for the team.
The 28-year-old wants to improve on his consistency as a hitter and focus more on getting on base (being a “table-setter”). This would provide RBI opportunities to the big bats in the heart of the lineup.
Veteran third baseman Ian Stewart is vying for a backup infielder position. The Garden Grove product, who grew up an Angels fan, had some great years with the Colorado Rockies before his struggles led him to the minor leagues during the 2013 season.
Stewart has posted decent numbers for the Angels in the Cactus League batting .257 but just one home run and two RBIs. He has also struck out 12 times which is the second-highest on the team. He will likely be battling Luis Jimenez for backup third baseman duties behind David Freese.
Stewart has shown he has power and displayed it in 2009 when he hit a career-high 25 home runs and drove in 70 runs in 147 games for the Rockies. If he can reestablish that kind of power and swagger at the plate, Stewart can give the Angels a serviceable left-handed bat off their bench and more infield options.
Conger, Shuck, Cowgill, and Stewart are all anxious to contribute to this 2014 Angels team. Although they won’t start many games, all four players’ production and impact will be needed if the Halos want to get back to the top of the AL West.
Copyright 2013 SportSpeak LLC, all rights reserved. For more coverage, follow @SportSpeakLA and @SportSpeakOC on Twitter.