Rengifo feeling 'good and ready to go' for whatever Angels need

TEMPE, Ariz. -- The 2024 season was a bittersweet one for Luis Rengifo, who had a breakout year offensively only to see it marred by a right wrist injury in July that ultimately required season-ending surgery in early August.

But Rengifo said he was able to have a normal offseason and is fully healthy this spring without any limitations. He¡¯s competing for the starting second-base job, but will also see time at third base and in the outfield. Rengifo said his biggest focus is staying healthy and that he just wants to be on the field wherever manager Ron Washington puts him. The impending free agent also added he¡¯s yet to have any extension talks with the club.

¡°I feel good and ready to go,¡± Rengifo said. ¡°I was able to have my normal offseason. For me, I just want to be on the field every day.¡±

Rengifo, 27, was an All-Star candidate last year, hitting .300/.347/.417 with six homers, 13 doubles, 24 stolen bases and 30 RBIs in 78 games. But he injured his wrist in early July and missed nearly three weeks before returning to play in nine games, only to shut it down for the season to undergo surgery. It was the second straight year that ended via injury, as he also suffered a ruptured left bicep tendon in early September 2023 that also required surgery.

Rengifo, though, believes he has a plan in place to stay healthy, and he says he learned a lot from fellow Venezuelan Luis Arr¨¢ez, who taught him a lot during the World Baseball Classic in 2023 and has helped him formulate a better routine.

¡°For me, last year is in the past and this year is a different year and I have my goals,¡± Rengifo said. ¡°I want to be healthy every day throughout the season. And I just want to be in the lineup every day.¡±

Rengifo figures to get plenty of playing time -- but the question is where he¡¯ll play defensively this season. The Angels brought in veteran Yo¨¢n Moncada to be their regular third baseman with Anthony Rendon set to undergo left hip surgery that¡¯s likely to keep him out for the year. Moncada, though, has had injury issues of his own in recent years.

Rengifo is more likely to be the club¡¯s primary second baseman, but he is competing for that role with top hitting prospect Christian Moore, who was the No. 8 selection in the 2024 MLB Draft. It¡¯s a reason why Rengifo will also see some action in the outfield this spring, including center field with Mike Trout moving over to right. Rengifo, however, won¡¯t see any time at short, as the Angels believe they are covered there even with Zach Neto expected to miss the start of the season after right shoulder surgery. The Halos brought in Kevin Newman, Scott Kingery and non-roster invitee Tim Anderson to shore up shortstop.

¡°We¡¯re going to work him at second and third. And once we get his legs under him on the infield, we're gonna push him out there and see what he can do in the outfield,¡± Washington said. ¡°But he was having a tremendous year last year, and even his defense picked up. He turned up his aggressiveness on the basepaths and was more consistent. And then he got hurt. So he's in good spirits right now, and we just got to make sure that he stays in the process.¡±

Washington said he prefers Rengifo at third, but he believes he can handle second, if needed, especially if Moncada stays healthy and locks down third base.

¡°Third base is a reaction type position,¡± Washington said. ¡°In the middle, you got to do a little thinking, and you got to know exactly what's going on. And he showed that when he has to just react, he's better. But we¡¯re certainly not against him being at second base.¡±

Angels tidbits

• Neto has been cleared to play catch from 45 feet and has been participating in infield drills, but he isn¡¯t ready to throw across the diamond just yet. General manager Perry Minasian indicated Neto is ahead of schedule, but there¡¯s still no timeline for his return.

• Offensive coordinator Tim Laker is away from camp for personal reasons, Minasian said. The Angels are hopeful he¡¯ll be able to return before the end of spring.
• Right-hander Jack Kochanowicz will start the Cactus League opener on Saturday against the Mariners. He¡¯ll be followed in the rotation by Reid Detmers, Kyle Hendricks, Jos¨¦ Soriano and Chase Silseth. Yusei Kikuchi has his own routine and will pitch a week later.