Today marks 83 games into the 2023 season for the Los Angeles Angels. The Angels first half brought a lot of high points, frustration, and many moments that prove Shohei Ohtani might not be human. As the season shifts into its second half, who excelled for the Angels in the first half of the season? From MVP to Rookie of the Year, it’s time to take a look back at all the top performances from the first 81 games. Here are the midseason awards for the 2o23 Angels.
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2023 Angels Midseason Awards
Rookie of the Year and Most Improved Player
Getting your footing and putting things together takes a lot of work for many players. Trying to make the adjustments when you’re already a big leaguer can be tougher still. Nevertheless, these guys have set themselves apart in the first part of this season.
Starting with the two guys that have made their mark as young players, the Angels’ top rookie of the first half is Zach Neto. Neto had an OPS of .338, a slugging percentage of .431, and a WAR of 1.3 in 55 games before landing on the IL with an oblique strain. This young rookie filled a significant hole the Angels had at shortstop after going into the year without a solid option. Neto’s biggest asset is his defense. So far he has three defensive runs saved while making some stellar plays in the field. He is on top of the handful of rookies that debuted this year.
Mickey Moniak was a bust when he was with the Philadelphia Phillies as a former number-one overall pick back in 2016. He could never get it going in Philly for whatever reason; after the trade to the Angels last year, some spots showed he had something there. This year, he has finally put it all together at last. Even with his limited games, the 25-year-old has made the most of it. His line of .313/.346/.647 with an OPS of .933 may be slightly inflated relative to his ultimate potential, but it’s way better than all of his numbers up to this point. After so many years of promise, he has figured it out, giving him the Most Improved Player award.
One of the great stories flying under the radar this season is what Mickey Moniak has done with the Angels!
He launches his 8th home run on the 2nd pitch of this game to tie it up! pic.twitter.com/8oPTbWuUDN
— Just Baseball (@JustBB_Media) June 29, 2023
Cy Young Award and Reliever of the First Half
The Angels pitching staff could have been better for the past few seasons now. Lousy signings, underperforming players, and injuries have plagued the team for years. This year, the rotation has been adequate so far. The bullpen has also significantly improved in 2023 with young flame throwers and other guys stepping up.
Carlos Estévez, who has been perfect in converting saves this season, has turned into a different pitcher after being set free from the high altitude of Coors Field. His ERA sits at 1.91, with a WHIP of 1.273 and 20 saves in 20 opportunities. Going into this season, the Angels didn’t have a set closer; it seemed like they would do a closer-by-committee situation for the first part of the year. Fortunately, Estévez stepped up and won himself the closer role. He has been the Angels’ best reliever in the first half.
Some guys are good all-around players, others are five-tool players, and then there is the unicorn, Shohei Ohtani. Every year he has stepped in some way that makes you think, how does he keep doing this? This year, he is pitching to a 7-3 record, an ERA of 3.02, and a WHIP of just over 1. Nothing can describe what he does every time he is on the mound. While also hitting, he is an ace and a middle-of-the-order hitter. Ohtani is bound to win many awards this year; why not give him the Angels’ midseason Cy Young Award for his first-half numbers?
MVP
Most Valuable Player is something that has many definitions for people. He can be the best player in the league, the most valuable player to his team, or the best player on a playoff team. The debates can be never-ending at times. At least for the Angels, though, it’s incredibly cut and dry.
Shohei Ohtani is incredible, genuinely incredible. On the offensive side of the ball, he leads the league in home runs with 28, hitting .309 with an OPS of 1.048. That is only half of what he does on the field. When he pitches, he just adds to his incredible numbers and performances. Earlier in the week, he struck out 10 batters and added two home runs on top of it. It’s unreal what he can do day in and day out. He isn’t just the team’s MVP but the league’s MVP. The second half of the season for him should be magical.
There is still a lot of baseball left to be played; things can and will change. It has been an excellent first half of the season for the Angels. They now sit in the middle of the postseason race, in a spot to make more moves to help this team for the stretch run to get into the postseason. With the returns of Neto and others coming in the next few weeks, the team will be getting better anyway. If the guys listed above can continue playing at a high level, the good times in Anaheim will continue.
Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Players Mentioned: Shohei Ohtani, Zach Neto, Mickey Moniak, Carlos Estevez
