Los Angeles Angels offensive slump raises concerns about 2025 competitiveness

Angels GM Perry Minasian defends coaching staff as team endures prolonged offensive woes amid Mike Trout injury.

Taylor Ward (3), left fielder for the Los Angeles Angels, catches a fly ball during an MLB game against the Detroit Tigers at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California, on May 2, 2025. Photo by John Cordes/Icon Sportswire

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

The Los Angeles Angels offensive slump has extended far beyond a typical cold stretch. After dropping 14 of their last 18 games, the club finds itself at the bottom of Major League Baseball’s statistical barrel—last in on-base percentage, second-worst in strikeout rate, and producing some of the most anemic offensive numbers in the league. Through the first 30 games of the 2025 season, the Angels' lack of production has become a glaring problem.

General manager Perry Minasian addressed reporters Friday to discuss the state of the team’s dismal offense, saying, “Teams go through stretches where they don’t swing the bat well. You can pick a six-game or ten-game sample from anyone where they’ve struggled.”

But this isn’t a typical slump. This Angels poor offense has now persisted for three full weeks, affecting nearly every hitter in the lineup.

Troubling stats define roster-wide regression

Veteran outfielder Taylor Ward is hitting just .183 with a .602 OPS. Jo Adell, another outfielder, is batting .184 and has hit both of his home runs in the same inning. Rookie infielder Kyren Paris is in a deep slump, going 1-for-his-last-35 with 20 strikeouts. Luis Rengifo holds a .570 OPS, and even the franchise's cornerstone, Mike Trout, has been struggling and is now on the injured list.

Minasian acknowledged the lack of offensive execution. “We haven’t gotten on base, and we’ve struck out,” he said. “I’m hoping we can revert back to what we did earlier in the season. The work and coaching have been good—it’s just about execution.”

Despite the poor numbers, Minasian expressed confidence in his coaching staff, particularly hitting coach Johnny Washington and offensive coordinator Tim Laker. Both are in their second season, and according to the GM, they’re not on the hot seat.

Young players outperform veterans

Interestingly, Minasian said the younger players on the roster have statistically outperformed their veteran teammates. He emphasized that coaching tends to have a more significant impact on younger players and reiterated that there are no imminent staff changes planned.

“Now, if we had a group of young guys that were all struggling, it’d be different,” he said. “But our young guys have actually played better to a certain extent.”

Still, Minasian's comments came amid fan frustration and increasing scrutiny of the front office’s offseason strategy, which promised a more competitive roster in 2025. Following a disastrous 63–99 season in 2024, the club vowed improvement. But one month into the new campaign, results suggest otherwise.

No plans for immediate roster changes

Another major concern involves the outfield depth, especially with Mike Trout sidelined and others like Ward and Adell struggling. When asked whether he plans to pursue external help, Minasian was firm.

“I’m not going off a month,” he said. “We’re going to roll with what we have and see where it goes.”

This response does little to quell the disappointment among fans, especially given that the Angels currently sit last in their division, six games back of first. Though the season is still young, the sample size is no longer small enough to dismiss.

The Angels struggles have been compounded by inconsistency at the plate and a glaring inability to manufacture runs, leading to concerns that their 2025 postseason ambitions may already be in jeopardy.

Trout’s injury adds to uncertainty

Amid the broader concerns about the Angels 2025 hopes, the team received a mixed update on Mike Trout’s injury. Trout, who suffered a bone bruise in his left knee while attempting to beat out an infield single Wednesday, expressed cautious optimism on Friday.

“I feel a lot better,” Trout told reporters. “(Thursday) I was pretty sore. But today, a lot, lot better.”

The injury did not show any structural damage on MRI, which Trout and the team viewed as a positive sign. The 33-year-old star hopes to return after the minimum 10-day injured list stint, though that timeline remains tentative.

Trout has a well-documented history of long injury recoveries, including a calf strain in 2021 that sidelined him for nearly five months. His past also includes extended absences due to a hamate bone fracture and two separate meniscus surgeries on the same left knee.

But Trout appeared upbeat this time.

“No structural damage, and the progress from yesterday to today,” he said. “The doc says don’t do anything for a couple days and then back.”

Minasian tempers optimism

Despite Trout’s hopeful tone, Minasian took a more measured approach when asked for a timeline.

“No idea,” he said. “Hopefully, it’s better sooner than later. But timeframe-wise, I have no clue. Until he can start running, that’s probably the first threshold.”

The Angels' front office faces pressure not only to manage Trout’s return effectively but also to stabilize a roster plagued by offensive ineffectiveness. With Trout under contract for five more years, his long-term health remains a top priority—not just for 2025 but beyond.

Can the Angels salvage the season?

The larger question hanging over the organization is whether it still believes it can be competitive this year. Minasian has dodged that question several times, and Friday’s press conference was no different.

“You ask this question every time,” he told a reporter. “We take it day by day. We’ll try to win today’s game. We play 162 and see where we’re at in the end.”

That kind of answer may sound pragmatic, but for a fan base tired of disappointment, it offers little reassurance. The Angels offensive slump, coupled with injury issues and a weak start to the season, points to a team that may already be losing ground in a competitive division.

While it’s still early, the problems are undeniable. The team has struggled to hit, get on base, and avoid strikeouts. Its veterans are underperforming. The coaching staff appears safe—for now. But unless the offense turns things around quickly, the Angels 2025 hopes could fade as rapidly as they began.