The Los Angeles Angels haven’t had a playoff team since 2014. Many baseball fans are mad at the organization because it seemed to be wasting the career of Mike Trout, who is widely considered to be one of the best players of all time. Now, the Angels have another player who is even more amazing than Trout. Shohei Ohtani is a two-way player and reigning A.L. MVP. Ohtani proved that he can be the most productive player in MLB because of his ability to pitch and hit. The 2021 Angels were missing Trout, but were still expected to make the playoffs. Now, in 2022, the Angels are looking like real contenders for a World Series.

So far in the 2022 season, the Angels are 2nd in the NL West. They are 24 and 16, and only a game back from the top spot in their division. Most would expect that the Angels best performer this season would be Trout or Ohtani. Well, those people would be wrong. Trout and Ohtani are doing great, but they aren’t playing like Taylor Ward. Ward is hitting an absurd .375, with a near .500 on base, and a 1.200 ops. Ward has tagged nine homers, two triples and five doubles on the season. Ward’s video game numbers are helping out the Angels immensely.

The thing that will make or break the Angels this season will be injuries. Can Syndegard, Trout and Ohtani stay healthy? If they do, the Angels have a real shot at a World Series, their first since 2002.