ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Jared Walsh said his hitting issues have boiled down to one simple problem.
“I haven’t been on time with the bat this year,” Walsh said, “and I think the results show that.”
The timing problem has caused Walsh to endure a nightmare season on the heels of being an All-Star in 2021. Last year, he hit 29 homers with an .850 OPS. This year he’s got 15 homers with a .644 OPS, including a .421 OPS over his last 49 games. Walsh had just five hits in his last 47 at-bats heading into Wednesday’s game, in which he was out of the lineup against Tampa Bay ace left-hander Shane McClanahan.
“It’s been a struggle for me all year, but I feel like I’m putting in the work and hoping I’ll see a benefit,” Walsh said.
Walsh said he’s tried to work on the timing issue by facing a high-velocity pitching machine and also by taking batting practice thrown from close range. He’s also looked at plenty of video.
“I’ve watched a lot of video the last two seasons, to figure out what the missing link is,” Walsh said, “but for me, it’s more trying to slow it down and be controlled and early. It seems like a lot of times if I get a good pitch over the plate, I’m catching it a tick late and I’m fouling it off.”
Walsh said the hitting coaches and analytics staff have not been a part of the problem.
“I haven’t received anything that would have changed what I did last year,” Walsh said. “They were happy with how I performed. It’s just been tougher for me to repeat.”
There are moments when he seems to be turning a corner. He had a 7-for-17 stretch, with five doubles, just after the All-Star break. Walsh hit a homer on Friday night in Detroit. On Tuesday night in Tampa, Walsh hit two balls to the warning track.
“He’s going through some things,” Manager Phil Nevin said. “It’s a frustrating time for him and it’s kind of snowballed a little bit. … He’s grinding through this. He’s never once complained. He’s never once asked for a day off. He wants to be out there for his teammates. He does a lot for us defensively at first base. He’s doing a great job around the bag especially.”
PREPARING FOR CANADA
The Angels will have at least two new players in the clubhouse on Thursday, as they prepare to replace the players who won’t be able to play in Toronto because they are not vaccinated.
Outfielder Ryan Aguilar and right-hander José Marte will join the Angels, a source confirmed. The Angels might add other players, depending on how many members of their current roster are prohibited from traveling to Canada because of their vaccination status.
The Angels have not revealed which players will not be traveling to Toronto for the three-game series that begins on Friday.
Aguilar will be making his major league debut. The 27-year-old is a product of Esperanza High in Anaheim and the University of Arizona. He spent six seasons in the Milwaukee Brewers system, never reaching the majors.
The Angels picked him up over the winter, and he’s spent the entire season at Double-A. Aguilar has hit .280 with 15 homers and a .944 OPS. He has played 69 games in the outfield and 11 at first base.
Marte, 26, is back for his third stint in the majors this season. He has allowed three earned runs in five innings, with seven walks and seven strikeouts. Marte has a 5.79 ERA at Triple-A.
NOTES
Infielder Phil Gosselin said his inning on the mound late in the Angels’ 11-1 loss to the Rays on Tuesday night made “something good out of a bad situation with a loss.” Gosselin retired three hitters on five pitches, all of them slower than 50 mph. “I was just happy I didn’t walk anybody,” Gosselin said. “I just wanted to throw it over the plate. I know it’s like almost impossible to hit when guys throw that slow. I’ve seen it on the other side when I’m hitting. I figured that was my best chance.” Gosselin said he hadn’t pitched since he was 15 years old, and he’s not eager to do it again. “I’d like to sit on my numbers.” …
Matt Duffy (back) has passed all the physical tests during his rehab assignment at Triple-A, so he can be activated as soon as the Angels deem he’s ready from a baseball perspective, head athletic trainer Mike Frostad said on Wednesday. Duffy is 2 for 23 in seven games with Triple-A Salt Lake. …
Michael Lorenzen (shoulder strain) came through his first rehab outing with no issues, Frostad said. Lorenzen is scheduled to pitch again on Saturday. Lorenzen is eligible to come off the 60-day injured list on Sept. 2, which would be six days after his upcoming minor league start.
UP NEXT
Angels (LHP Patrick Sandoval, 4-8, 3.14) at Rays (RHP Drew Rasmussen, 8-4, 2.82), Thursday, 10:10 a.m., Bally Sports West, 830 AM
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