Angels’ Soler Struggles in Cleanup Spot Amid Offense Woes

ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Los Angeles Angels‘ offense suffered through a dismal 2024 season, finishing with a franchise-worst 63-99 record and ranking 25th in the league with a 90 weighted runs created plus (wRC+). A significant factor in this decline was the performance at designated hitter, which posted a disappointing 11 home runs and an alarming wRC+ of 80.

General Manager Perry Minasian acknowledged the need for improvement in this position. On Halloween, he traded struggling starter Griffin Canning to acquire power hitter Jorge Soler in hopes of injecting life into the lineup. Expected to play a key role as the team’s cleanup hitter, Soler has started the season slowly. In his first six games, he holds a .200 batting average with a .292 on-base percentage and .250 slugging percentage, highlighted by a concerning strikeout rate of 33.3%.

Of particular worry is Soler’s performance with runners in scoring position. In four at-bats during such situations, he has gone 0-for-4 and struck out three times, twice in critical two-out scenarios. Despite his track record as a three-true-outcome player—capable of a high strikeout rate alongside substantial power and walks—this early struggle has raised questions about his placement in the batting order.

Historically, Soler has excelled as a leadoff hitter, posting a career line of .258/.368/.494 when leading off an inning. In contrast, teammate Taylor Ward shines in the cleanup slot, boasting a .293/.366/.520 career mark. Anecdotal evidence from the young season suggests it might benefit the team to reconsider their batting order, with Soler performing best when leading off, going 2-for-5 in those situations.

While it’s premature to judge Soler’s impact based on just six games, management and fans alike wonder how manager Ron Washington will address the apparent misalignment of player strengths with their respective positions. Washington has faced scrutiny for questionable decisions throughout the season, with the latest incident costing the Angels a victory against the St. Louis Cardinals.

With the season still in its infancy, Soler’s long-term performance remains uncertain if he continues to be utilized in the cleanup role against his statistical strengths. Fans and analysts will be watching closely to see if Washington adapts his strategies to maximize the potential of a player with Soler’s capabilities.