Examining who will earn the Angels' final bench spots

TEMPE, Ariz. -- After taking a look at the competition for the Angels¡¯ final spot in the rotation, it¡¯s now time to take a deeper dive into how the battle for the club¡¯s bench spots is going this spring.

There are essentially two open spots and possibly three, depending on whether Luis Rengifo is ready for Opening Day. Rengifo missed time early in camp due to illness and is currently dealing with left hamstring tightness. Manager Ron Washington said Sunday it¡¯s too early to know whether Rengifo will have enough time to get ready for Opening Day on March 27.

Otherwise, catcher Travis d'Arnaud is a lock as well as their fourth outfielder, whether it¡¯s Jo Adell or Mickey Moniak, who will both be on the roster. It leaves the Angels with several options on how they want to address the infield, especially with Zach Neto slated to miss the start of the season after undergoing shoulder surgery in November. Kevin Newman is also a lock to make the team, but it¡¯s unclear if he¡¯ll start at shortstop or be in a bench role to open the year.

Here¡¯s a look at their options for the bench, including how they¡¯re faring this spring:

INF/CF Tim Anderson

Anderson, an All-Star at shortstop with the White Sox in 2021 and ¡¯22, was signed to a Minor League deal this offseason after struggling offensively over the last two seasons. But Anderson, 31, dealt with injuries and personal issues off the field and has enjoyed a fresh start with the Angels and working with infield guru Washington. He¡¯s seen action at short, second and center field this spring to increase his versatility, and Washington has liked what he¡¯s seen. Offensively, Anderson has been heating up after a slow start, going 5-for-15 with a homer over his last five games entering Sunday.

INF J.D. Davis

Like Anderson, Davis has a solid track record over eight seasons in the Majors, but he signed a Minor League deal after a rough year at the plate with the A's and Yankees in 46 total games last season. He¡¯s worked mostly at third base and first base this spring, with Washington helping him to take better angles to grounders. The 31-year-old also made some mechanical tweaks to his swing under the tutelage of coaches Johnny Washington and Tim Laker and Davis was rewarded with his first homer of the spring on Saturday. As a right-handed hitter, it could make some sense for him to be the backup corner infielder and play some first when Nolan Schanuel needs rest.

INF/OF Scott Kingery

The Angels acquired Kingery in an offseason trade with the Phillies, but the former top prospect hasn¡¯t played in the Majors since 2022. He had a strong year at Philadelphia's Triple-A affiliate last season, with 25 homers and 25 stolen bases while playing solid defense at shortstop. The 29-year-old has spent time at short, second and left field this spring and the Angels like his defense. Kingery, though, hasn¡¯t done much with the bat in camp but is on the 40-man roster, which could give him a leg up.

INF Christian Moore

Moore, ranked as the club¡¯s top prospect and No. 67 overall by MLB Pipeline, has been as advertised in his first Spring Training after being the No. 8 overall selection in last year¡¯s Draft. He¡¯s only seen game action at second base this spring, but he has also been getting some work at third. Moore has held his own offensively, although he hasn¡¯t flashed the power he displayed in the Minors last year. If Rengifo isn¡¯t ready, there¡¯s a chance Moore could be the Opening Day second baseman at just 22 years old.

INF/OF Ryan Noda

Noda, 28, was claimed on waivers from the A¡¯s in the offseason and had a strong rookie year in ¡¯23 before a bit of a sophomore slump last season. But he has impressive plate discipline and enough power for a first baseman/corner outfielder, especially after reverting back to the swing he used two years ago. He leads the team in walks this spring and is competing with Davis to be Schanuel¡¯s backup. Unlike Davis, the lefty-hitting Noda doesn't offer a change of pace from the lefty Schanuel, but he is on the 40-man roster.

INF/CF Kyren Paris

Paris, the club¡¯s second-round pick in 2019, had a difficult ¡¯24, but he worked with Aaron Judge¡¯s private hitting coach to revamp his swing. It¡¯s led to a noticeable difference in the power department, and Paris has found himself back on the radar. The 23-year-old has seen time at short, second and center this spring and could play his way onto the roster.