In a social media driven age humans find themselves devoting more time to the screens of their phones more than ever. That human nature itch doesn’t exclude professional baseball athletes. Yes, often times players in a locker room are posting to their Instagram’s, Tweeting out replies to each other, and playing along with the latest Tik Tok trends.
However, this season former Braves third base coach and current Los Angeles Angels manager Ron Washington is turning back the clock on the Angels locker room. The organization that often partners with Atlanta in trades is now set to go full phones away at the dinner table thanks to Ron Washington.
Yesterday afternoon, Angels beat reporter Rhett Bollinger shared that LAA have instituted a new rule this season where players are not allowed to be on their cell phones at their lockers.
The #Angels instituted a new rule this season with players not allowed to be on their cell phones at their lockers. Ron Washington said he did it so the players would interact with each other more and bond. Mike Trout and Zach Neto both said it’s worked out great so far.
— Rhett Bollinger (@RhettBollinger) March 19, 2025
Ron Washington attempting to change the culture in the Angels clubhouse
The locker room phone ban has been well received thus far by Angels like Mike Trout and Zach Neto who backed the rule with a vote of confidence. Manager Ron Washington expressed in his introductory press conference last year how he intended to establish a winning culture in Los Angeles. The no nonsense, work hard attitude is what garnered so much respect from his players when he was in Atlanta.
He seems to be doing the same in Los Angeles. While Washington tries to lift L.A. out of their rebuilding phase, he is faced with some less than ideal roster construction questions. It’s obvious the Angels lack the talent and depth to compete like the 2025 Braves do, but the former ultra aggressive third base coach is doing his best to ensure the Angels develop the right habits going forward.
It may seem like a insignificant locker room rule, but it is one that is designed to promote team comradery. Of course because of the rules old school nature, not everyone will take to it kindly. Many players with Angels are still learning how to go about everyday MLB life, but when the manager and team leaders seem eager to work hard it’s got to be viewed a victorious moment. The theme for Washington is displaying the type of effort and sacrifice it requires to be a successful big leaguer.
