Well-Rounded Logan O’Hoppe Nears Anaheim

The Angels are convinced Logan O’Hoppe has the physical and mental tools behind the plate and a productive enough bat to be an everyday catcher. In their eyes, there is just one thing separating the 23-year-old from that role in Anaheim.

“Reps,” Angels general manager Perry Minasian said. “I just think it’s playing time, getting used to the speed and intensity of the game, the third deck, more than one specific tool.”

O’Hoppe, whom the Angels acquired from the Phillies for outfielder Brandon Marsh at last summer’s trade deadline, will be given every opportunity to establish a footprint in the big leagues this spring.

He will compete with Matt Thaiss for the backup catcher job, and if he makes the Opening Day roster, O’Hoppe should get plenty of work spelling starter Max Stassi.

O’Hoppe got a taste of the big leagues in the final week of 2022, when he started four games and had four singles and two RBIs in 14 at-bats.

“That was important,” Minasian said. “Just to see it, feel it and understand it, to be in the box and to catch in the stadium . . . there is a mental reps component to this, too. There’s less unknown.

“You’ve met the staff, the manager . . . and there’s a little more comfort when you walk into spring training for the first time.”

The 6-foot-2, 185-pound O’Hoppe hit a combined .283/.416/.544 with 26 home runs in 104 Double-A games last season. He had 74 strikeouts and 70 walks. After the trade, he put up a 1.146 OPS with 11 homers in 29 games at Rocket City.

O’Hoppe is an above-average receiver with soft hands, good agility and flexibility, a strong, accurate arm with a quick release, and he is quickly gaining reputation as an adept game-caller and handler of pitchers.

“He checks a lot of boxes from a physical standpoint, on the offensive and defensive ends, on the mental side, for work ethic and leadership,” Minasian said. “Players who do that have significant ceilings.”