Logan O’Hoppe is focusing on simplifying his approach at the plate as he aims to improve his performance during the ongoing season. The young catcher shared his insights about swinging less aggressively, which he believes enhances his ability to contact the ball effectively. “Looking at video when I’m going good and realizing that I don’t have to swing hard to hit the ball far,” O’Hoppe explained. By consciously telling himself to swing at 50% capacity during games, O’Hoppe is noticing better ball recognition and decision-making.
His recent performance has been encouraging, particularly after he had a solid game where he recorded a single, a triple off the fence, and a deep fly ball to the warning track, all aimed towards center field. O’Hoppe expressed that he feels more confident at the plate now than he has in quite some time. “Even dating back to the past three or four games, it’s the best I’ve felt at the plate in a long time,” he said.
Despite an earlier slump that saw him hitting .121 with a .311 OPS for a month, O’Hoppe has managed to raise his average to .246 with a .721 OPS over the past month, contributing to a season average of .703 OPS, which is competitive against major league benchmarks for catchers.
This series against the Philadelphia Phillies is particularly meaningful for O’Hoppe, as he was drafted by the team in 2018 and has fond memories playing alongside the players he once looked up to, including their star catcher J.T. Realmuto. “It’s always pretty surreal coming back here and playing against the guys over there,” O’Hoppe reflected.
Looking forward, the Angels are also navigating a pitching reshuffle, as they search for a new starter after Jack Kochanowicz’s recent demotion. Conversations around whether to utilize a bullpen game or pull from Triple-A hint at the team’s strategy leading into their upcoming match against the New York Mets.
In player updates, Mike Trout is gradually returning to field drills, expressing optimism about his return to right field soon, while right-hander Robert Stephenson continues his rehab process.
O’Hoppe’s evolving mindset and recent progress could be pivotal for the Angels as they seek to string together wins in this competitive season. His determination, coupled with the returning strength of the roster, brings a hopeful outlook for the second half of the season.