Angels parting ways with hitting coaches Reed, Mallee 

The Angels are parting ways with hitting coach Jeremy Reed and assistant hitting coach John Mallee, the club confirmed on Wednesday.

General manager Perry Minasian said after the season that he planned to take his time with decisions about the coaching staff, and that he would work with manager Phil Nevin to decide who would return to the staff. The status of the other coaches, including assistant hitting coach Paul Sorrento, is unclear.

Reed, 41, was the club’s hitting coach for four seasons and its Minor League hitting coordinator for two seasons before that. Mallee, 53, joined the Angels as an assistant hitting coach prior to the 2020 season.

The offense unexpectedly struggled in 2022 as the Angels finished 25th in the Majors in runs, and their .687 OPS was tied for eighth worst. That was despite big years offensively from superstars Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani, as well as breakout performances from Luis Rengifo and Taylor Ward.

The Angels’ biggest issue was putting the ball in play, as they led the Majors in strikeouts by a wide margin with 1,539, the 13th most in Major League history. They also weren't a patient offense, as they drew the sixth-fewest walks in the Majors as well.

Youngsters such as Jo Adell and Brandon Marsh struggled to make contact, while catcher Max Stassi and first baseman Jared Walsh both had down years offensively after breakout seasons in 2021. Marsh, who was one of the club's biggest prospects in recent years, was traded to the Phillies on Aug. 2 for top catching prospect Logan O'Hoppe.

Reed, a local product who attended Bonita High School in La Verne and Cal State Long Beach, played eight seasons in the Majors with the Mariners, Mets, Brewers and Blue Jays. He also previously coached in the Brewers’ Minor League system.

Mallee played two seasons in the Minor Leagues and he previously served as hitting coach for the Astros, Cubs and Phillies.