Surprise Angels Starter Could Hit Leadoff This Season

Angels manager Ron Washington is trying something new on Wednesday.

He decided to insert Anthony Rendon into the lineup at the leadoff spot, rather than the cleanup spot he's been manning thus far in spring.

Why?

“Just trying to find some things with the lineup,” Washington said. “I stayed status quo with the lineup throughout the spring and, to be honest with you, I wasn’t impressed with the top of it, the way it was working, so I wanted to try something else.”

Via Orange County Register

Earlier in spring training, Washington revealed a potential lineup he was going to go with this season, which had Luis Rengifo or Mickey Moniak leading off, and Nolan Schanuel batting in the two-hole.

Then, Mike Trout and Anthony Rendon were in the three and four spots, respectively.

Clearly, Washington doesn't like what he's seeing from the top of the lineup, and wants to try something new late in spring. Washington has alluded to the fact that he wants to see his leadoff hitter see multiple pitches and take long at-bats, and thus far, he hasn't seen that.

So, Washington is having the former All-Star Rendon hit at the top of the lineup in Wednesday's Cactus League game.

Rendon has hit leadoff just 36 times in his career, and never since 2015.

In the leadoff spot, Rendon is slashing .260/.323/.384 with three home runs and 14 runs batted in.

“Our leadoff hitters are not prototypical leadoff hitters,” Washington said. “I need someone up there that I think will make that pitcher earn his first four or five pitches, instead of the first one being put in play.”

Via Orange County Register

So if Rendon isn't the leadoff hitter, who would be?

“If Rendon is not in there, it would most likely be Hicks,” Washington said. “But Hicks can swing the bat. Hicks has been in situations where he can drive in runs.”

Via Orange County Register

Hicks is off to a scorching hot start this spring, slashing .394/.535/.727 with two home runs, six RBIs and an OPS of 1.262. That's including his single in Wednesday's spring training game in his first at-bat.

As for Rendon, he's hitting .227 this spring, but drew a walk and scored a run in the first inning of Wednesday's game out of the leadoff spot.