A 10th-round pick in 2002, Howie Kendrick was a contact-first specialist whose minor league averages were so high they bordered on the mythical. After destroying Triple-A pitching, he debuted in 2006 and immediately demonstrated the smooth, line-drive swing that would define his decade-long stay in Anaheim.
During the 2011 campaign, he recorded a career-high 18 home runs and earned his lone All-Star selection while maintaining a .285 batting average. He showed the organization he was a foundational star by providing versatile defense across the diamond, appearing at first base and in the outfield as needed, though he remained the primary fixture at second base.
Between 2012 and 2014, Kendrick demonstrated a specialized ability to drive the ball into the gaps, recording at least 30 doubles in back-to-back seasons. He became a statistical outlier in 2014, recording a career-high 181 hits and batting .293, helping lead the club to a league-best 98 wins. While he never captured a Gold Glove, he provided the tactical flexibility the club required,
In December 2014, a move driven by the Angels' desire to acquire young pitching in Andrew Heaney led to Kendrick being traded to the crosstown Dodgers. Kendrick compiled 1,204 hits and a .292 average with the Halos.
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