A former first-round pick clashes with new infielders for the Angels' critical second base opening this spring. Who will emerge?
The 2026 season is beginning to get underway, with pitchers and catchers from all over the league already reporting to camp. The Los Angeles Angels are no exception, but that doesn’t quite mean they have it all figured out heading into spring training.
There’s a big question to be asked about who will fill the hole at second base for the Halos in 2026, especially after the confirmation of former second baseman Luis Rengifo signing a one-year deal with the Milwaukee Brewers.
First-year manager Kurt Suzuki made it clear that his goal this spring is to foster intense competition for various roles on the roster, second base certainly being one of them. Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter also noted in a recent article that the second base role will be the biggest positional battle of the spring for the Halos, and he predicted the young guy would ultimately claim the position.
The Angels traded for infielder Vaughn Grissom earlier in the winter from the Boston Red Sox, but he was never a certain everyday player. At 25 years old, he’s played just under 100 games in the majors but hasn’t done enough to solidify his spot in the bigs.
He did have an impressive season in Triple-A last season, however, posting a .783 OPS in 96 games. Grissom provides the Halos with a solid depth piece, but his past couple of stints in the majors have seen less and less production. Unless he has an outstanding spring, he’s unlikely to overtake the other options at second base.
The Halos also signed Nick Madrigal to a minor league contract with an invite to spring training, but he hasn't been able to produce nearly as much as he did in his first couple of years in the majors. With a career OPS+ of 86, which has only gotten worse, and coming off a dislocated shoulder that kept him out for all of 2025, Madrigal is a long shot to win the battle at second.
The favorite is 23-year-old Christian Moore, a former first-round draft pick by the Angels in 2024. Unsurprisingly, he didn’t last long in the minors before getting his first taste in the majors, as has been the case for top Halos draft picks in recent years.
Moore played 53 games in Anaheim in 2025, struggling to cement himself as a major leaguer. He batted just .198 with a .655 OPS, but there were real moments of promise that he displayed. Heading into 2026, Moore remains the favorite to land the everyday spot at second despite his struggles at the end of last season.
The choice isn’t up to Suzuki, however. Instead, it’s on Grissom, Madrigal, and Moore to fight it out and see who comes out alive. Some intense competition is desperately needed in the Angels’ clubhouse, which hasn't seen much of it in years. Hopefully, Suzuki fosters much of it in his one year under contract.