ANAHEIM — The Dodgers won the World Series in 2024, the Angels finished in last place in the American League West and there still will be an area where each will be on equal footing early in the season.
Both teams will be getting their shortstop position in order when the regular season kicks into high gear on Thursday.
The Angels will be without one of their top players in shortstop Zach Neto as he misses the early portion of the season following shoulder surgery in November. The Dodgers still are trying to get a line on their infield situation as All-Star Mookie Betts deals with an illness that is now going on two weeks.
At a position where quality depth is rare, the Dodgers and Angels both have options at shortstop. They were putting the final touches on their secondary options against each other on Monday when the Angels rallied for a 5-4 exhibition victory with three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Taylor Ward not only hit a first-inning home run for the Angels, he had the game-winning single in the ninth off of Dodgers minor leaguer Jose Rodriguez. Mike Trout also hit a home run for the Angels, while Teoscar Hernandez went deep for the Dodgers.
When the regular season resumes Thursday against the Detroit Tigers, the Dodgers will lean on Miguel Rojas at shortstop early in the season, whether or not Betts is able to play by the time the home opener arrives.
Even if Betts avoids a stint on the injured list, his early-season playing time could be sporadic. Betts’ illness dropped him from 175 pounds to 157 as of Sunday. He finally was able to eat solid foods and went through a workout at Dodger Stadium on Monday.
In Monday’s Freeway Series game, Rojas was back at shortstop for the Dodgers after going through his own recent health issues. He was slowed by an injury in the playoffs, had hernia surgery when the season ended, then overcame an infection following the procedure.
Tommy Edman was solid at shortstop in the playoffs for the Dodgers, and the duo gives Manager Dave Roberts options behind Betts.
“It’s great. There’s not many teams that can afford to lose a guy like Mookie Betts at a premium position and really not lose anything on the defensive side,” Roberts said. “We’re better (overall) with Mookie, but it’s a team that certainly can keep moving forward.”
With Neto out, the Angels appear prepared to have Kevin Newman start the season as the shortstop, although Manager Ron Washington still hasn’t made his final decision known. Newman was signed in November shortly after Neto had surgery.
A promising shortstop with the Pittsburgh Pirates when he made his debut in 2018, Newman had something of a career revival last season with the Arizona Diamondbacks when he played in 111 games.
Another shortstop option for the Angels is Tim Anderson, who was brought in on a minor-league contract and appears to have made the team to start the season. Anderson is being targeted for second base as the Angels tap into his versatility.
Anderson was an All-Star shortstop in his time with the Chicago White Sox but his production declined at the same time he was going through personal family issues. He appears ready to return to a higher level of play at age 31.
“I’ve learned it’s still in him. I’ve learned he still has drive, still believes in Tim Anderson,” Washington said. “Now he’s going to get an opportunity to bring that belief to fruition. I certainly like where he is and what he’s done to this point, but it’s only been spring training. Now that it’s getting real, we are going to see.”
The Angels will still need to open a spot on the 40-man roster for Anderson, who last played in a major league game on June 30 of last season with the Miami Marlins before he was released.
The importance of a dependable shortstop is not lost on any pitcher, like the Dodgers’ Tyler Glasnow, who gave up one run on two hits over five innings with nine strikeouts on Monday. It was Glasnow’s final outing before he makes his 2025 debut next Monday against the Atlanta Braves.
“Defense is a pitcher’s best friend and I think the confidence with everything rises knowing that offensively they’ve got your back, defensively they’ve got your back, everyone’s just in it together,” Glasnow said. “It’s a great feeling.”
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