Halos reflect on growth to close curtain on '24: 'Learning how to win'

ANAHEIM -- It was a difficult year for the Angels in 2024, as they set the franchise record for losses in a season with 99, topping their previous worst of 95 losses set in both 1968 and ’80.

They scuffled down the stretch, dropping their final six games, including an 8-0 defeat to the Rangers in the season finale on Sunday afternoon at Angel Stadium. But manager Ron Washington was still pleased with the growth of his young squad and believes things will only get better going forward.

One of those bright spots was on display in the final game, as rookie right-hander Jack Kochanowicz finished the season strong with yet another solid showing. He went seven innings, allowing three runs on six hits and a walk but was saddled with the loss.

Kochanowicz, though, posted a 2.78 ERA over his last nine starts, including registering eight quality starts over that stretch. It came after struggling in his first two career outings to conclude his season with a 3.99 ERA in 11 starts in his first taste of the Majors.

“My reflection is it was a year of growth and it was also a year of experience,” Washington said. “We're looking for consistency and sustainability. If we can stay healthy with players that we expect to be in the mix, we wouldn’t have to be looking at 162 as a dire situation. I’m not used to losing but I’m trying to instill in these kids to look at in a different way. Yes, we are losing but we’re really learning how to win.”

Kochanowicz, 23, is part of that young core the Angels are trying to develop that also includes shortstop Zach Neto, catcher Logan O’Hoppe, first baseman Nolan Schanuel and injured right-handers José Soriano and Ben Joyce. He said he’s excited to be part of that group and wants to help turn around the fortunes of an Angels franchise that hasn’t been to the postseason since 2014, which is the longest active drought in the Majors, with the Tigers making the playoffs this year. They also haven’t had a winning record since ’15.

“I’m definitely proud of what I’ve been able to do but I want to improve and bring that into next season,” Kochanowicz said. “It’s super exciting having those guys around me. It’s a lot to look forward to.”

Washington said he often didn’t know what to expect from his club on a day-to-day basis because of their inexperience but that he believes that will change next year. He knows they’ll have to continue to add depth via free agency and trades this offseason, but they will also have to hope for better health in 2025 after injuries to key veterans such as Mike Trout, Anthony Rendon, Luis Rengifo, Brandon Drury and Patrick Sandoval.

“The growth year was this year, next year is about accountability,” Washington said. “I think next year we’re going to know what to expect every time we go out there. I think next year you’ll see a difference. Just in how we lost ballgames this year, and how we will win ballgames next year. I think we’ll have an identity and some consistency in what we are about. I thought in the middle of the year the kids were showing what we were all about but we ran out of gas.”

As Washington noted, the Angels did play much better in June and July, going a combined 26-25 over those two months. But they had trouble the rest of the way, going 16-38 over their final 54 games. Their lineups in September were mostly filled with players who started the year at Double-A or Triple-A.

Washington, though, said it was important not to change the message from him and his coaching staff. That entire staff is expected to return in 2025 and Washington’s expectation is for a much better season from the Angels.

“I'm driving home [to New Orleans] so it'll take me two and a half days, and I'll do a lot of thinking,” Washington said. “We’ve already planned on what we need to do and then we’ll go to work. It didn’t turn out the way we wanted to, losing 99 games. But there was a lot of fun and growth that happened. Some guys realized they can and some guys realized they have a long way to go. But there's going to be some progress moving forward into ’25, I have no doubt about it.”