ANAHEIM, CA – While many are paying attention to Shohei Ohtani’s massive home runs that can clear the 5 Freeway or keeping track of Mike Trout’s injury progress, there’s another name that should start getting more attention for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
First baseman Jared Walsh may not be a household name in baseball or even in Orange County yet, but he has put together a very strong start to the 2021 season. The 27-year-old has a .297 batting average with 13 home runs, 40 RBIs, and a .917 OPS through 59 games this season while playing solid defense at first base.
With his quiet confidence, Walsh has shown he’s up to the task. He’s been a steady presence in the Angels’ lineup with his power and versatile hitting. Not only is he getting better everyday but some would even deem his season All-Star worthy.
His 13 dingers are third in the American League among all first basemen and his .917 OPS is fifth.
While he may not be tearing up the MLB headlines, Walsh’s impressive offensive production isn’t going unnoticed throughout the league.
“I think he’s one of the best young hitters around, and so did [the Angels],” Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker told MLB.com last month. “The reason why they let Albert [Pujols] go was so he could play first base every day. I know a lot of people were getting on me last time, because I walked Walsh with first base open to pitch to Albert, and that’s why. He hits the ball all over the field. He hits balls to left, the changeup to center, hit a cutter to right field. This young man, he can hit.”
That’s some high praise from Baker, who has been in this game for over 50 years and managed some of the game’s best talent.
The question becomes will Walsh’s quiet All-Star caliber season go unnoticed by the voters considering how popular Ohtani and Trout are throughout the league, because this young man is starting to establish himself as a rising star in this game.
Hopefully, there are enough people who will acknowledge Walsh’s ability to impact the game at the plate and on the diamond and send this former 39th round draft pick to Colorado for the All-Star game in July.
