I posted recently about the Angels' window of contention opening in 2029, but thought I would go a little deeper into the pitching side of things now that we're all hyped up after Klassen's pitching masterKlass last night.

What does the near future of Angels pitching look like? Based purely off of our current players and guys in our top 30, this is how available arms shake out in 2029:

#Starting Pitchers

Active Roster

• Grayson Rodriguez (ARB 3)
• Walbert Ureña (ARB 1)
• George Klassen (ARB 1)
• Ryan Johnson (ARB 1)

40-Man

• Mitch Farris (ARB 1/Rookie Contract)
• Caden Dana (ARB 1/Rookie Contract)
• Sam Aldegheri (ARB 1/Rookie Contract)
• Jack Kochanowicz Injured, Tommy John (ARB 1/Rookie Contract)
• Brett Kerry (ARB 1/Rookie Contract)

Thoughts: This list looks a lot better if Detmers gets extended, but there are good arguments for trading him and good arguments for keeping him. We won't really know what we have in G-Rod until next season - he's looked pretty bad this season, but the velo is still up and down years are common after Tommy John. A good example is Sandy Alcantara - he was brutal the year after his surgery, but has been great again this year, and I'm hoping for a similar arc for G-Rod. Kikuchi is absolutely gone at the deadline next year if the Halos can get anything at all for him, which will be great for shedding payroll and opening up roster space for another starter.

Top 30

• Joel Hurtado (2026 ETA)
• Tyler Bremner (2027 ETA)
• Chase Shores (2027 ETA)
• Dylan Jordan (2028 ETA)
• Nate Snead (2028 ETA)
• Mason McGwire (2028 ETA)
• Barrett Kent (2028 ETA)
• Trey Gregory-Alford (2029 ETA)
• Johnny Slawinski (2029 ETA)
• Talon Haley (2029 ETA)
• CJ Gray (2029 ETA)

Thoughts: This is where things get really interesting. All of these guys give the Angels pitching depth and flexibility, which has been sorely lacking for a long time. Not all of these guys are going to make it, but there are enough impressive arms here to imagine that at least a few of them will become impact players.

Fringe Top 30

• Austin Gordon (2028 ETA)
• Eybersson Polanco (2028 ERA)
• Peyton Olejnik (2029 ETA)

Thoughts: It's nice to have some solid pitchers outside the Top 30. Gordon has been on fire lately and may pitch his way back onto that list. I see Polanco as more of a spot starter/depth guy, but that still has value. Olejnik still has some things to work on, but has shown good overall improvement at High-A this year.

#Relievers

Active Roster

• Samy Natera Jr. (ARB 1)
• Luke Murphy (ARB 1)
• José Fermin (ARB 1)
• Sam Bachman (ARB 1)
• Ben Joyce (ARB 3)

Thoughts: After months of dealing with an absolutely brutal bullpen, the Angels have found relief success with a good group of home-grown guys. Joyce is an obvious difference maker, but Natera has definitely been the breakout pitcher of the group. Murphy, Bachman, and Fermin are solid middle relief options, especially if that can benefit from the new focus on pitching analytics.

Reliever Prospects

• Najer Victor (2027 ETA)
• Nicolo Pinazzi (2027 ETA)
• Camden Minacci (2027 ETA)
• Chris Cortez (2028 ETA)

Thoughts: There are some really good relief arms in the system. Victor, Pinazzi, and Minacci are strong candidates to break camp with the team out of Spring Training next season, and will likely be called up during the season if they don't quite make the cut. Cortez has a tremendous arm, but struggled as a starter - he'll most likely find success as a back-of-the-pen type of guy, but needs to nail down the control.

All this to say, and we still have two more years worth of amateur and international drafts, not to mention trade options. Organizational pitching depth hasn't looked this good in a long time, and I'm excited to see how things develop over the next couple of years, especially with the young guys being able to take advantage of the new pitching facilities in Arizona.

Gordon had a so-so first half of the season, but he's been an absolute machine for the Trash Pandas in the second half. Great to see from a guy who recently got bumped from our top 30!

Would not be at all surprised to see him play his way onto the major league roster next year. Guy is just in control at the plate.

Edit: and he also just hit a bomb lol

Was taking a look at our top prospect ETAs and where the current group of guys are in terms of contract years, and it looks like 2029 will be the potential first year of a resurgence. Of course, this is assuming that nobody gets traded or extended, and we're also missing two years' worth of amateur & international drafts:

#Starting Pitchers

• Grayson Rodriguez (ARB 3)

• Walbert Ureña (ARB 1)

• George Klassen (ARB 1)

• Ryan Johnson (ARB 1)

• Joel Hurtado (2026 ETA)

• Tyler Bremner (2027 ETA)

• Chase Shores (2027 ETA)

• Dylan Jordan (2028 ETA)

• Nate Snead (2028 ETA)

• Mason McGwire (2028 ETA)

• Barrett Kent (2028 ETA)

• Trey Gregory-Alford (2029 ETA)

• Johnny Slawinski (2029 ETA)

• Talon Haley (2029 ETA)

• CJ Gray (2029 ETA)

#Relief Pitchers

• Samy Natera Jr. (ARB 1)
• Luke Murphy (ARB 1)
• José Fermin (ARB 1)
• Ben Joyce (ARB 3)

#Catchers

• Moisés Ballesteros (ARB 1)

• Juan Flores (2028 ETA)

• Jacob Cozart (2027 ETA)

• Marlon Quintero (2029 ETA)

#Infielders

• SS Zach Neto (ARB 4)

• SS/3B Denzer Guzman (ARB 1)

• 2B/3B Vaughn Grissom (ARB 2)

• UTL Oswald Peraza (ARB 3)

• 1B Nolan Schanuel (ARB 3)

• SS Arjun Nimmala (2028 ETA)

• 3B Jake Munroe (2028 ETA)

• 2B Jarren Advincula (2029 ETA)

• SS Joswa Lugo (2029 ETA)

• 3B Gavin Grahovac (2029 ETA)

• SS Jaxon Willits (2029 ETA)

#Outfielders

• Mike Trout (year 11/12)

• Wade Meckler (ARB 1)

• Nelson Rada (2026 ETA)

• Raudi Rodriguez (2027 ETA)

• Hayden Alvarez (2029 ETA)

• Rylan Lujo (2029 ETA)

---

With the amount of players that will either be arbitration eligible or on Rookie contracts in 2029, it really does seem like that's the year to start being aggressive. Unless Detmers or Neto get extended (my money is on Detmers getting extended and Neto getting traded, but who the hell knows at this point), the only big contract on the book is Trout, and the Angels will have a very low payroll with the ability to make some free agent splash signings. Pitching looks like it's actually going to be a strength, which feels very weird to say. The outfield is looking pretty thin, especially with Trout continuing to age. I imagine that outfielders will continue to be a target in upcoming drafts. In any case, it's fun to speculate and it's nice to have something to look forward to.

Dude is on fire right now. Fun performance from a guy outside the Angels' top 30!

Hello all,

Super exciting update now that the trade deadline has passed! The farm system has seen a sharp rise in overall quality due to smart trades, a very good draft, and internal development of existing prospects. Going from #28 to #14 in one season is no joke!

#DSL Angels (30-20)

The DSL season wraps up in a couple of weeks, and our Angels are still looking very strong.

Previous Players: OF Juan Cespedes, SS Luis Bruno, RHP Kendri Fana

OF Juan Cespedes (17, unranked) continues to be terrific, posting a .324/.468/.380 slash line (good for a .848) while continuing to take his walks and torture opposing teams on the basepaths. He’s within striking distance of the all-time DSL record - he currently has 64 stolen bags. I can’t currently find the record, but he’s awfully close! We’re almost guaranteed to see Cespedes in the ACL next season. He had a brief stint in the Angels’ top 30 prospects, but the inclusion of our trade additions and 2026 draftees bumped him to the fringes.

SS Jeyson Horton (17, #26 prospect) is currently working on a nice little 6-game hitting streak. He’s slashing an impressive .286/.460/.376 on the season, and, like Cespedes, walks more than he strikes out. He’s shown small flashes of power with 2 home runs, but will likely always have below-average pop. Thankfully, he seems to be embracing his strengths as a batter and really leveraging his ability to get on base. Horton is also a strong candidate for promotion to the ACL next season.

RHP Kendi Faña (17, #29 ranked prospect) has just been nasty. He’s posted two more solid starts since my last update, with his most recent being a dominant 7-inning, 1 earned run performance. Fana’s stuff has seen huge improvements this year - he’s added significant zip to his fastball, and his secondaries are effective in generating weak contact. His 2.74 ERA is no glitch, and he’s another guy we’ll see in the ACL next year. His inclusion in the Angels’ top 30 is well-earned.

#ACL Angels (35-25)

The Arizona Complex League has concluded for the season.

#Low-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (54-56)

The Quakes have been struggling a little bit, but that tends to happen when all of your best players get promoted to High-A. Most of these guys have been replaced by ACL promotions and recent draftees - I’m sorry to bring the bummer news, but most of those guys (TJ Ford, Joswa Lugo Jaxon Willits, and Gavin Grahovac) have scuffled after their recent callups. That said, it’s important to keep in mind that the jumps from Rookie ball to Low-A and from Low-A to High-A are significant, and it’s normal for players to struggle when they first get promoted.

Previous players: 2B John Wimmer, OF Hayden Alvarez, SS Kendrey Maduro, RHP Dylan Jordan, OF Kevyn Castillo, & RHP Fulton Lockhart

2B John Wimmer (21, unranked) hasn’t slowed down at all since he caught fire in late June. He’s maintaining an excellent .301/.411/.569 slash line (.980 OPS), and his walk rate has improved significantly. I expect him to spend the rest of the season in Low-A, and to see him given a shot at High-A to start the 2027 season. If he replicates this year’s performance at High-A next season, he’s an easy lock for the Angels’ top 30.

LHP Talon Haley (20, #15 ranked prospect) has struggled to find consistency on the mound this year, but has shown clear signs of improvement throughout the season. His most recent start was the first quality start of his young career, and he threw 6 innings of scoreless ball. He’s posting terrific strikeout numbers (12.24 K/9), but also struggle with walks. Once he’s able to improve the free passes, he’s going to see a massive improvement in his numbers. He has an above-average H/9, and and elite HR/9, so living in the zone more is unlikely to hurt him. Great pitcher to keep an eye on!

RHP Trey Gregory-Alford (20, #11 prospect) has a stellar start to the season, and then entered a bit of a slump as he tinkered with his pitches in the middle of the season. He seems to be emerging from his rut, however - his last two starts have been solid 5-inning outings, and he’s thrown more strikes and walked fewer batters. He’s been giving up a lot of hits this season, but that’s likely to improve as he continues to refine his arsenal. He’ll likely start 2027 in Low-A again, but we’ll probably see him in Tri-City at some point.

3B Angel Arredondo (19, unranked) has made a nice first impression with the Quakes, slashing .235/.381/.412 (.793 OPS) in ten games with his new team. His profile lines up with the walks + hits over power philosophy that the front office seems to be taking with new players. The sample size is limited, but this is a nice start for a very young player in Low-A.

#High-A Tri-City Dust Devils (55-55)

Previous players: RHP Peyton Olejnik, RHP Sam Tookoian

OF Hayden Alvarez (19, #3 ranked prospect) has been holding his own in the 5 games he’s played in High-A so far. He’s taking his walks, hitting the ball into the gap, and refusing to strike out. His .235/.409/.353 (.762 OPS) is a fine start, especially for a teenager in High-A. We’ll have a better sense of how he’s adapting in a couple of weeks, but for now, all is well.

#AA Rocket City Trash Pandas (57-52)

Previous players: 3B Jake Munroe, RHP Austin Gordon, RHP Luke Murphy, RHP Camden Minacci

3B Jake Munroe (22, #20 ranked prospect) just can’t stop hitting - his on-base streak has reached 26 games, and he’s been incredibly consistent in both High-A and AA. His .312/.405/.463 slash line is a thing of beauty, and he’s providing some sorely needed organizational depth at third base. I think he maybe plays one more season in the minors - if he maintains his performance at the plate, I think he could see an early call-up, especially if Guzman struggles.

C Jacob Cozart (23, #22 ranked prospect) is off to an impressive start at the plate in his 6 games played - he’s slashing .333/.391/.476, good for an .867 OPS. Cozart is an excellent defender, and anything he can do with the bat is bonus material, so this is a nice performance to see early. It wouldn’t surprise me to see him as the other half of a tandem with Ballesteros on the major league club next year - the glove is considered Show-ready, but there are still questions about the bat that Cozart will hopefully answer through the end of the season.

RHP Austin Gordon (23, #23 ranked prospect) has been slowly heating up since the start of July, a run that’s been epitomized by his two latest appearances, both of which were quality starts. He’s racked up 18 strikeouts in 12 innings of work while only surrendering 3 earned runs - a performance that any pitcher in the minors would be envious of. The underlying stats all look solid - I wouldn’t be surprised if Gordon ends up on the 40-man next year alongside Joel Hurtado.

#AAA Salt Lake Bees (51-64)

Previous players: 2B/3B Christian Moore, UTL Kyren Paris, & RHP George Klassen

IF/OF Kyren Paris (24, graduated prospect) is still killing it, and is slashing .290/.419/.568 on the season (.987 OPS). He’s likely to get a shot at the roster next season, likely in a super utility role. Strikeouts are still a big issue for him, but his increased walk rate makes the 29% K rate much more palatable. Even is his role is to be a bench player with sneaky pop, there’s still a path forward for him to be a productive major leaguer.

2B Christian Moore (24, graduated prospect) has been remarkably consistent in AAA this year, maintaining a terrific .309.,436/.518 slash line for nearly the entire season. He’s taking his walks, slugging the ball into the gaps, and showing overall strength as a player. All that’s left is for him to get a long runway at the major league level, which is most likely to happen next season once Frazier is off the roster.

The final Perry draft... let's see how everyone is looking!

1. RHP Tyler Bremner

Bremner looked fantastic to start the season in High-A, then fell off a bit before stabilizing and receiving a promotion to AA. He's no Kade Anderson or Seth Hernandez, but he's probably going to end up being a solid pitcher. He's slowly improving his breaking stuff - if you watch some video, you can see that it's clearly gotten better throughout the season. If we were still rushing prospects to the majors I'd be worried, but he has plenty of time to marinate in the minors.

02. RHP Chase Shores

Shores has posted a 4.88 ERA in High-A this year, but it's an inflated number due to two rough starts and he's been quite good otherwise. His walk rate and K rate have improved over his last year at LSU, and he has some really nice stuff.

03. LHP Johnny Slawinski

Slawinski just killed it in the ACL this year, posting a 3.33 ERA and eye-popping strikeout numbers. He'll almost certainly start next season in Low-A, and has cemented himself as the Angels' #5 prospect.

03. (Comp) RHP Nate Snead

Snead started the year in High-A, where he posted an excellent 2.80 ERA and an elite 6.5 K/BB ratio over 35.1 innings pitched. This earned him a promotion to AA, where he scuffled at first but has shown improvement over the latter half of the season. He has a pretty wide repertoire, and could be an absolute monster if he can turn a few of his offerings into plus pitches.

04. 3B Jake Munroe

Munroe has been excellent this year at both High-A and AA, mashing his way onto the Angels' top 30 with consistently solid offense at both levels. He's shown good gap power with more pop than anticipated, and can also take his walks. As a 22 year-old with an OPS hovering just under .900 in his first year of pro ball, Munroe is one of the prospects that can expect to move quickly through the system.

05. RHP CJ Gray

This guy is fun to watch - he has a huge arm and posted a 12.99 K/9 in the ACL this year. He has some control issues, but they aren't as bad as advertised and, as a prep arm, he's already considered a long-term project. Very high ceiling arm, and his performance this year is encouraging.

06. RHP Luke Lacourse

Lacourse had a rough first season of pro ball, posting a 7.24 ERA in 41 innings of work in Rookie ball this season. The strikeout rate isn't bad, but he gives up a massive amount of hits, indicating a lack of swing-and-miss in the zone. He's another young prep arm and will get another shot at the ACL next season, but it's been a tough start for him.

07. RHP Lucas Mahlstedt

Mahlstedt (please don't ask me to pronounce that) has had a good, under-the-radar season as a reliever in AA this season. He's posted a 3.40 ERA in 42.1 innings of work this season with an above-average walk rate and a very good K%. Overall, a solid start!

08. OF Isaiah Jackson

Jackson is no longer with the Angels - he was traded to Boston at the end of last year for Vaughn Grissom. At the time, Jackson was the Angels' #25 prospect and not playing particularly well. He's been decent in Boston, with very good power and a weak hit tool. Given his similarity to Raudi Rodriguez and Randy de Jesus, this wasn't a blow to the system.

09. 3B Slate Alford

Alford hit the shit out of the ball in the ACL, posting a 1.197 OPS, but has been an average hitter after his promotion to Low-A, taking massive steps back offensively in just about every metric. Unless he has a renaissance soon, he'll profile as an infield org guy.

10. 2B Nick Rodriguez

Rodriguez has been okay in the minors so far - not great, not terrible. He's slashing .265/.340/.364 (.703 OPS) at AA Rocket City this year, which is fine but won't exactly put him on track to get promoted. He does a good job at getting the ball into the gaps, but unless he does it with more consistency there's not a ton to be excited about here.

11. LHP Alton Davis II

I've seen Alton Davis pitch a few times at Low-A Rancho Cucamonga - he has some flashes of dominance, but he's been hit incredibly hard this season, posting a 9.27 ERA in 66 innings of work. It's not what you want to see from a college arm, but it's not unexpected - his ERA as a reliever at Alabama was over 5.00, and at Georgia was over 8.00(!)

He'll get another season, but it's not looking good.

12. LHP Talon Haley

Haley has an incredible story and it's impossible not to root for him. He had a rough start to the season in Low-A, but has steadily improved over the course of the season, recently throwing his first double-digit strikeout game. He has a solid pitch mix and is slowly beginning to use it more effectively, which can be seen in his improvements throughout the season.

13. LHP Xavier Mitchell

Mitchell has just been destroyed as a starter in Rookie ball this year, posting a 9.99 ERA over 9 starts and 24.1 innings pitched. The strikeout stuff is stellar - he's rocking a 14.79 K/9, but the walks and hits are just killing him. It's a bad first season, but Mitchell is still a teenager and is going to get a lot of developmental runway. Writing off a guy with that insane of a K/9 is foolish, so hopefully he's able to get his control and command to a workable spot.

14. OF TJ Ford

Ford, like Munroe, has hit his way into the Angels' Top 30. I love seeing surprising performances from late-round draft picks, and Ford was stellar in Rookie ball this season. He slashed .346/.488/.429, walked more than he struck out, and stole 32 bases while only getting caught 3 times. He has little to no pop, but that's not his game. His performance was rewarded with a second-half promotion to Low-A, where's he's struggled in his first 5 games.

15. RHP Mikey Cascino

Cascino started the year in the ACL, where he struggled in 11 starts, posting a 7.63 ERA. He struck out a ton of batters (10.99 K/9), but was extremely hittable. He was recently promoted to Low-A Rancho, where he threw a scoreless 3.1 inning start, striking out 6 and only giving up 2 hits.

16. OF Gage Harrelson

Harrelson has been underwhelming in High-A this year, slashing .216/.343/.307, good for a .650 OPS. He was a terrific contact and on-base guy when he was drafted out of Florida State, but so far those skills haven't translated to pro ball.

17. RHP Cole Raymond

Don't laugh, but Raymond has a 20.65 ERA in 5.2 innings of relief in the ACL, mostly due to giving up 7 runs in 1/3 of an inning early on in the season. He's extremely young but has an above average strikeout rate - he's a guy that will spend some time in the pitching lab before getting another shot at Rookie ball.

18. RHP Angelo Smith

Smith has had a pretty uninspiring year in relief for Low-A Rancho, posting a 4.72 ERA in 34.1 innings of work. The underlying stats are all pretty pedestrian, barring a decent strikeout rate. Smith profiles as an org arm.

19. SS Ivan Tatis

Tatis only had 9 at-bats in the ACL this season, so it's pretty much impossible to evaluate him. He only had one hit, but drew three walks. We'll have no idea how he's doing until he gets some more playing time next season.

20. RHP Sam Tookoian

We love a sneaky 20th-round pick. Tookoian has been solid in relief for High-A Tri-City this year, posting a 3.60 ERA in 35 innings of work. The K rate is good and he doesn't allow too many hits, but the 7.46 BB/9 is an issue. If he can get the walks under control, we could see him in Rocket City fairly soon.

For those without a BA subscription:

1. Arjun Nimmala

2. Tyler Bremner

3. Hayden Alvarez

4. Johnny Slawinski

5. Jared Grindlinger

6. Dylan Jordan

7. George Klassen

8. Trey Gregory-Alford

9. Talon Haley

10. Gavin Grahovac

11. Jarren Advincula

12. Nelson Rada

13. Joswa Lugo

14. Gabriel Davalillo

15. Chase Shores

16. Nate Snead

17. CJ Gray

18. Raudi Rodriguez

19. Jacob Cozart

20. Juan Flores

21. Jaxon Willits

22. Garrett Wright

23. Rylan Lujo

24. Mason McGwire

25. Jeyson Horson

26. Barrett Kent

27. Jake Munroe

28. Peyton Olejnik

29. Kendri Fana

30. Yilver de Paula

The new top 30 includes both our 2026 draftees and our new trade deadline acquisitions - the farm is looking significantly better!

Thoughts:

• The farm system is now considerably more well-rounded. We went into 2026 extremely pitcher heavy. That's not the worst thing in the world because teams always need more pitching, but there weren't many bats to look forward to. Adding Nimmala, Grindlinger, Grahovac, Advincula, Lujo, and Willits has helped tremendously, and those additions have been buoyed by strong performances from rising prospects like Hayden Alvarez and Jake Munroe.

• Nelson Rada has fallen farther in the rankings than I would expect, but he's had a ho-hum season in AAA offensively. That said, he's still very, very young and will likely continue to improve.

• Love seeing Gavin Grahovac in the top 10. I'm high on his bat, and I think he could end up being an impact player for us. He'll mostly likely end up at first base, but that's fine by me.

• Nice to see Kendi Fana make the list. He's been pitching extremely well in the DSL, and his velo + stuff has shown big improvements this season. Always great to see a 17 year old dominate!

• I might put Joel Hurtado and TJ Ford on here over some other guys, but that's a quibble.

Getting the "There's not gonna be a season next year, huehuehue" out of the way...

The Angels saw a lot of relievers cycle through the bullpen this year, and three of them were traded at the deadline (Zeferjahn, Yates, and Silseth). Believe it or not, those guys combined for 2.0 bWAR! Though it'll be a mishmash of young talent and warm bodies (looking at you, Shaun Anderson) through the end of the season, next year's bullpen is going to revolve around a pretty good group of home-grown pitchers.

#LRP Brett Kerry Mitch Farris

#MRP Luke Murphy Samy Natera Sam Bachman José Fermín

#SU Robert Stephenson

#CP Ben Joyce

I personally prefer Kerry over Farris in the long relief/mop-up role - I just like his stuff a lot more (and Ferris' baseball savant page is rough). I could also see Joel Hurtado getting slotted into a long relief role if he doesn't make the rotation out of Spring Training.

The middle relief guys are a pretty solid bunch. Fermín has shown some clear improvements over his last year in the majors, and could be really great with some tweaks to his pitch mix. Natera has been a pleasant surprise, and has been absolutely nasty in his rookie showing. Murphy has been good in limited appearances so far, with high expectations after his dominant year in AA. Bachman has also been good, and is underperforming his xERA. The biggest issue with all of these guys are their walk rates, which is hopefully something they can work on for next season.

I know people will roll their eyes at the Robert Stephenson inclusion, but the Angels have a $2.5 million club option on him for next season, and I'd be amazed if they didn't take it. No idea if he'll be healthy or not, but if he is, his presence would be massively helpful in a bullpen full of young pitchers.

Ben Joyce is Ben Joyce. The guy is going to put up stupid WAR if he can keep his arm attached to his body for an entire season.

I could see the Angels adding a veteran arm in there somewhere, but I wouldn't be surprised if we don't see any offseason additions to the bullpen, unless it's a veteran reliever brought in to help mentor the younger guys.

ay lmao

Tyler Bremner (#1): High-A to AA

Kevyn Castillo, Ryland Zaborowski, & Kendrey Maduro: Low-A to High-A

Joswa Lugo (#7), CJ Gray (#13), Mikey Cascino: Rookie Ball to Low-A

Recent draftees Gavin Grahovac and Jaxon Willits have also been assigned to Low-A.

The most exciting trade deadline in recent memory! Here’s how all of our new acquisitions fit into our existing depth (trade additions are bolded, 2026 draftees are bolded and marked with asterisks).

#Catchers

Moisés Ballesteros (graduated prospect)

Juan Flores (#17 ranked prospect)

Jacob Cozart (#18 ranked prospect)

Garrett Wright**

Marlon Quintero (#26 ranked prospect)

For those of you curious about the lack of Davalillo here, he’s been primarily playing third and first in the minors this year, so it appears he’s been shifted off of the position. Mozeliak has been crystal clear that strength at the catching position is an organizational must - his first move was an addition-by-subtraction maneuver by trading away O’Hoppe, who has been an offensive and defensive liability for an extended period of time. We had two great defensive catching prospects coming into the season with Flores and Quintero (and Flores has shown significant development at the plate this year), but we were quite thin otherwise. Ballesteros is very young and absolutely mashes the ball, but is considered a weak defender, and many seem to think that he’ll end up as a DH. In any case, a left-handed power bat is a huge addition to a struggling position in the Angels org. Cozart is one of the best defensive catchers in the minor leagues, and is in good company with Flores and Quintero, though Cozart is currently a more promising hitter. Garrett Wright is an all-around solid catcher, and was a wise draft pick. The Angels’ catching depth in the minors has undergone a radical transformation through the draft and the trade deadline this year.

#3B

Gavin Grahovac**

Gabriel Davalillo (#6 ranked prospect)

Jake Munroe (#20 ranked prospect)

Angel Arredondo (#28 ranked prospect)

My two cents is that the O’Hoppe/Silseth deal for Arredondo was a slight overpay, but I don’t think the trade is likely to be very impactful for either the Angels or the Rangers. I’m excited to get out to Rancho Cucamonga to see him play, but there are stronger organizational options at third base: Guzman in the majors, the newly-drafted Grahovac (who’s my personal favorite of our options), Davalillo (he hits the absolute shit out of the ball, but is still looking to find his home at a defensive position), and Jake Munroe, who’s been an absolute machine at the plate and is showing a ton of maturity in his first year of pro ball. Arredondo could end up being somebody, but for now he’s nice depth in the lower levels of the minors.

#SS

Arjun Nimmala (#2 ranked prospect)

Joswa Lugo (#6 ranked prospect)

Jaxon Willits**

Jeyson Horton (#18 ranked prospect)

Yilver de Paula (#22 ranked prospect)

Nacho Alvarez Jr.

Nimmala is the obvious big fish of the trade deadline. He has a high ceiling, and has above average power to all fields. He’s a good (not great) defender, and reportedly has strong baseball IQ. Keeping Neto will allow him to continue to develop in the minors - I think he’s going to end up being a very solid player for us in the future. I consider Alvarez Jr. to be org depth.

#OF

Hayden Alvarez (#3 ranked prospect)

Jared Grindlinger**

Nelson Rada (#4 ranked prospect)

Raudi Rodriguez (#14 ranked prospect)

Rylan Lujo**

TJ Ford (#29 ranked prospect)

Juan Cespedes (#30 ranked prospect)

Randy de Jesus (unranked)

Eddie Micheletti Jr.

Another org guy in Micheletti Jr. He’s 24 and still in AA - though he’s shown some promising pop with 14 home runs this season, he’s not quite as exciting as other, younger outfield prospects. That said, he could always be a late bloomer, and those 14 homers (and 20 doubles) are nothing to scoff at.

#Pitchers

RHP Tyler Bremner (#1 ranked prospect)

LHP Johnny Slawinski (#5 ranked prospect)

RHP Dylan Jordan (#8 ranked prospect)

RHP Trey Gregory-Alford (#9 ranked prospect)

RHP George Klassen (#10 ranked prospect)

RHP Chase Shores (#11 ranked prospect)

LHP Talon Haley (#12 ranked prospect)

RHP CJ Gray (#13 ranked prospect)

RHP Mason McGwire

RHP Barrett Kent (#15 ranked prospect)

RHP Nate Snead (#16 ranked prospect)

RHP Joel Hurtado (#21 ranked prospect)

LHP Xavier Mitchell (#23 ranked prospect)

RHP Ubaldo Soto (#24 ranked prospect)

RHP Austin Gordon (#25 ranked prospect)

RHP Angel Rivero

RHP Chris Cortez (#27 ranked prospect)

RHP Kyle Robinson

McGwire got touched up in High-A this season, but has been excellent at Low-A, rocking a 13.5 K/9 and a 2.40 ERA in 30 innings of work. Low-A to High-A is a pretty big jump, and I think that his stuff will play if he’s given some time to work things out.

Angel Rivero is an interesting arm with a terrific slider - he’s managed a 2.36 ERA vs a 1.381 WHIP in the FCL this season, so he’s either getting lucky or he’s an absolute stud with runners on base. Definitely a guy to keep an eye on - he’s fringe top 30, but could easily move up in the future.

Kyle Robinson is a depth piece, but that’s the most you could ask for in a trade for Kirby Yates.

Jake Munroe was the Angels' 4th-round draft pick in 2025. After a mediocre 12-game showing at Low-A last year, he's been on an absolute tear for all of 2026. He played 56 games at High-A Tri City to start the year, slashing .258/.391/.505 before earning a promotion to AA Rocket City, where he's currently slashing .330/.412/.482 and, as of 10 minutes ago, is rocking a 21-game hitting streak.

Munroe started the season outside of the Angels' top 30 prospects, but has battled his way up to #18 with his outstanding play this season. This is exactly what you want to see when you draft a college player - swift movement through the system with consistency at multiple levels. He hits for impact, but also takes a healthy amount of walks. He's a good example of what the Angels seem to be eyeing for a future offense.

I wouldn't be surprised if we see him get a cup of coffee some time next year. If Neto doesn't get traded this season and instead at the 2027 deadline, I imagine that Guzman would shift to his primary position at short and Munroe would slot into third. He's also only 22 (like Guzman), and has a lot of runway in front of him.

Hello all!

This update features some relief pitchers, who I generally don't focus on because it take a while to get a sense of their seasons given their limited innings. Cool things are still happening down on the farm.

#DSL Angels (25-16)

The DSL Angels are still looking good, and featuring some really nice high performers!

Previous Players: OF Juan Cespedes, SS/2B Jeyson Horton

OF Juan Cespedes (17, #30 prospect) is still absolutely killing it. He’s rocking an .895 OPS over 37 games and slashing .342/.490/.405. He’s swiped another 10 bags since my last update, giving him 53 so far on the season. Cespedes is an absolute menace on the basepaths, and he’s able to be a constant annoyance due to his .490 OBP. He’ll likely start next season in Rookie ball - I’m curious to see if he can maintain his ability to get on base when he’s facing more seasoned pitching.

SS Luis Bruno (18, unranked) has had a sneaky good year for the DSL Angels. His .289/.453/.378 slash line is good for an .833 OPS, and he walks significantly more than he strikes out - his 20% walk rate is elite, and indicates an advanced approach at the plate. He’s not as flashy as Cespedes, but he’s an on-base merchant in the making.

RHP Kendi Fana (17, unranked) has been a solid contributor in his first season of pro ball. He’s posted a 3.34 ERA in 8 starts, and his underlying metrics are impressive: he has a 1.06 WHIP and a 3.11 K/BB ratio. His ability to limit walks and avoid getting crushed in the zone is impressive, considering that his fastball was only sitting 88-91 mph when he was drafted in January. He allegedly is Ureña-like in his composure, which can only be a good thing - keep and eye on this kid! There’s an outside chance that he’ll start in the ACL next year, but I think it’s more likely that he begins the season in the DSL again given his age.

#ACL Angels (35-25)

After losing a heartbreaker in the beginning of the ACL playoffs, this team’s season is done - but it’s been a good one! Lots of players showed strong development at this level this year. Most of our 2026 draft picks have been assigned to this team, which is ostensibly an assignment to the training facilities.

Previous players: OF TJ Ford, SS/3B Joswa Lugo, RHP CJ Gray

OF TJ Ford (20, #29 prospect) had a terrific season. He slashed .346/.488/.429, stole 32 bases, and bullied his way onto the Angels’ top 30 list with a .917 OPS. He does a great job hitting for average, and walks slightly more than he strikes out. He’s another great on-base guy that terrorizes teams on the basepaths, which seems to be a major strength of the Angels’ farm system. I expect to see him start 2026 in Low-A Rancho Cucamonga.

SS/3B Joswa Lugo (19, #6 prospect) had a bit of a slump recently, but finished the season very strong, slashing .281/.415/.495 with a .912 OPS. He’s had a breakout year in every way offensively - his batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and K/BB ratio have all seen huge leaps forward, and he’s finally accessing his plus power in games. Strikeouts are still an issue, but he’s clearly made great strides forward at the plate. It’s a coin toss as to whether or not he gets a third season of Rookie Ball - he’s likely ready for Low-A, but there’s also an argument to be made for letting him continue to work on the strikeouts at this level for a little while.

LHP Johnny Slawinski (19, #4 prospect) has blasted up the Angels’ prospect lists to #4 thanks to his terrific first season of pro ball. He posted a 3.33 ERA over 54 innings in 12 starts. He absolutely dominated hitters, maintaining an absurd 13.67 K/9 while keeping the walks in check and avoiding being hit hard. Slawinski has huge upside, and he’s right on track to realizing that potential. He’ll likely start next season in the ACL again, but I imagine that he’ll be promoted fairly quicky.

RHP CJ Gray (19, #12 prospect) is definitely a long-term project, but his truncated season in the ACL gives us a lot to be excited about. He posted a 4.44 ERA over 26.1 innings, with his nasty stuff netting him a K/9 just under 13.00. On the other side of the coin, he threw 9 wild pitches and hit 5 batters - that works out to a wild pitch or a hit batsman every other inning. Control will be the name of the game with his development, but he’s certainly shown enough for us to believe that he can be the real deal if he’s given time to hone himself.

LHP Sebastian Caseres (18, unranked) really flew under the radar this year. He had an excellent first year of pro ball as a reliever in the DSL last season, posting a 2.67 ERA in 33.2 innings of work at the ripe old age of 17. He built upon that season in the ACL this year, throwing to a 1.56 ERA over 17.1 innings of work to go along with an 11.42 K/9. Those numbers are eye-popping given his age. As a reliever, he likely won’t crack the Angels’ top 30 at any point, but he’s an impressive, surprising arm that we should keep an eye on.

#Low-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (50-49)

Previous players: RHP Dylan Jordan, OF Hayden Alvarez, & SS Kendrey Maduro

2B John Wimmer (21, unranked) has been on a monster tear since late June. Wimmer was an 11th round overslot signing back in 2023, and is an excellent example of how finnicky prospect development can be, especially with prep players. After several years of unimpressive numbers at the plate in Rookie and Low-A ball, he’s become a commanding presence in the box. His .298/.411/.564 slash line (.975 OPS) is fantastic, and he’s hit more home runs (6) this season than he did in the last three years. His plate breakout started at the end of June when he had a four hit game that included a grand slam - I’m happy to say that I was actually in attendance at that game, and had a major “who the hell is this kid?” moment. Wimmer still has strikeout issues, but he’s improved significantly after striking out 130 times last season.

OF Hayden Alvarez (19, #2 ranked prospect) - yes, shocker, he’s back on the list. It’s great to see Alvarez get some notice from the wider baseball community, and his #2 spot on the Angels’ top 30 is well-deserved. What’s to say? He’s hitting for average, he’s hitting for power, he’s swiping bags, and he’s been solid in the field. His two homer performance last night took him to 11 on the season, and he’s looking like an extremely well-rounded player. He’ll likely be a part of the outfield of the future alongside Nelson Rada and Raudi Rodriguez. Alvarez doesn’t have much left to prove at this level, and we’ll likely see him start the season at High-A next year.

RHP Dylan Jordan (21, #7 ranked prospect) has just been great this year. He’s mowing down batters with his dominant stuff, posting a 12.71 K/9 and a 3.71 ERA over 17 starts and 80 innings pitched. He has great maturity on the mound as well, and had three starts where he’s racked up double-digit strikeouts. This was his second season in Low-A, and he’s primed for a promotion to Tri-City.

OF Kevyn Castillo (21, unranked) has been in the Angels’ system for five years now, and I’ve never heard anyone talk about him. He absolutely rolled up and smoked the DSL in 2023, posting a 1.026 OPS there over 55 games. His ’24-’25 seasons in Low-A were decent - he hit for a high average, but the OPS stayed under .800. He seems to have figured some things out at the plate this season - he’s slashing .287/.396/.473 (.869 OPS) and has crushed a career-best 12 homers while maintaining a solid K rate (~17%). The farm system is light on lefty power bats, so Castillo’s step forward this season is encouraging. He’s another candidate for promotion to High-A in 2027.

SS Kendrey Maduro (22, unranked) has been such an awesome UDFA signing. His hot bat has been consistent throughout the season - he now has a .291/.369/.525 slash line, good for an .894 OPS. He’s crushed 17 home runs and 24 doubles, and is an intimidating presence at the plate. The strikeout rate is high and the walk rate is low (24% and 7%, respectively), but that’s not unusual for a power-first hitter. The real trick will be to see if he can maintain his excellent batting average in High-A. If he can’t, walking more is going to be crucial for him to have a shot at moving through the system.

RHP Fulton Lockhart (23, unranked) is another reliever who has been absolute nails this year. He’s posted a 1.69 ERA over 42.2 innings of work, and a 14.98 (!!) K/9, which is absolutely nuts with that sample size. Lockhart had an ERA over 9.00 last year - he has a 15.68 K/9, but also a 13.06 BB/9. He’s obviously figured out something this year, because he’s been absolutely monstrous. The walks are still an issue (6.96 BB/9 this season), but he’s managed to be highly effective in spite of them. I’m curious to see how he performs at higher levels - he could be a huge hit as a 13th-round draft pick.

#High-A Tri-City Dust Devils (49-50)

The Dust Devils have finally dropped under .500 for the first time this season! But that tends to happen when all of your best players get promoted to AA. Unfortunately, there’s not much to be excited about in this update - the first time this has happened this season. We’ll check in again in two weeks and see how things are going.

Previous players: RHP Peyton Olejnik, RHP Sam Tookoian

#AA Rocket City Trash Pandas (49-49)

The Trash Pandas are cruising right along at a respectable .500 clip.

Previous players: OF Raudi Rodriguez, RHP Nate Snead, & RHP Luke Murphy

3B Jake Munroe (22, #18 ranked prospect) has been a wonderful surprise this season, and has seen himself go from and unranked prospect to #18 in the Angels’ system. His bat has played well in both High-A and AA - he struggled when first called up to the Trash Pandas, but since then has been working on a 19-game on-base streak. His .315/.397/.435 slash line (.832 OPS) fits neatly with what seems to be a goal for the Angels - hitting for average, getting on base, and letting the opposing team die from a thousand cuts. The K/BB ratio could use some work, but that’s a nitpick for a guy who’s shown that he’s a strong player in his first season of pro ball.

RHP Austin Gordon (23, #23 ranked prospect) hasn’t done anything particularly eye-popping this season, but one has to admire his grit. He’s made 20 starts this season, and has reliably taken the ball and gone relatively deep into his starts. He’s gone at least 5 innings in 13 of his 20 starts, and typically does quite well in his extended outings. His 4.86 ERA continues to suffer from an atrocious 2-inning, 8 earned-run appearance back in May, but overall it’s not a bad first season in AA. When Gordon keeps the ball in the zone, he’s quite successful - I think he profiles as a Chad Innings-Eater and swing-man type, and could definitely be valuable if he’s able to be consistent.

RHP Luke Murphy (27, unranked) is rumored to be getting a call-up soon, and it’s well deserved. A 0.71 ERA and a 0.82 WHIP is the kind of stuff that at least earns you a shot at the majors - only time will tell if Murphy’s stuff will play at the highest level. He’ll (hopefully) soon be joining a significantly improved Angels bullpen that includes home-grown arms Sam Bachman, José Fermin, and Samy Natera Jr.

RHP Camden Minacci (23, unranked) was the Angels’ 6th round pick in the 2023 draft, and has been quietly solid in the minor league since then. Like Luke Murphy, he has an effective fastball/slider combo that generates good swing and miss. This is Minacci’s second year in AA - he posted an unremarkable 4.60 ERA last season over 60 innings of work, but he’s looking like a whole new pitcher this season. In 27.2 innings, he’s maintained a 2.60 ERA, a 1.12 WHIP, and all of his under-the-hood stats have shown noticeable improvements. His H/9 is down to 6.83 from 10.09, he’s cut down the walks some, and his K/9 has leapt from 8.75/9 to 10.41/9.

#AAA Salt Lake Bees (46-46)

Previous players: 2B/3B Christian Moore, UTL Kyren Paris

IF/OF Kyren Paris (24, graduated prospect) just keeps getting better and better at AAA this season. He’s slashing .303/.448/.576 (1.024 OPS), and he’s managed to improve his strikeout rate from atrocious to slightly below average while posting an elite 20% walk rate, which is a new addition to his game. Swing and miss is always going to be an issue with a guy rocking a .576 slugging percentage, but it’s the walks that are the key to a complete hitter with this profile. It’s easy to forget that Paris is only 24 and has seen some of his skills translate at the Major-League level. There’s a bit of a logjam in the field at the moment, and a callup for Paris would mean that one of Grissom, Guzman, Neto, Peraza, Schanuel, Adell, Lowe, Meckler, or Siri would need to be cleared from the roster to make space. My money is on Siri getting traded to open up a spot for Paris, if things go that way.

RHP George Klassen (24, #4 prospect) - his bounceback seems to be the real deal, posting two more quality starts since my last update. He struck out 11 batters against the Reno Aces on July 19th, and struck out another 7 on the 25th while shoving for 6.2 innings and allowing 2 earned runs. He’s continuing to throw more and more strikes and be effective in the zone, and his ERA is reflecting that. A 4.13 ERA in the PCL is nothing to scoff at, and he’ll likely be called up after the trade deadline once Soriano and/or Detmers have been traded. Walks are still an issue for him - 4.87 BB/9 is terrible at any level, but Klassen is going to be an absolute monster if he can get the free passes under control.

2B Christian Moore (24, graduated prospect) is just one of those guys that needs to be given a longer leash at the major league level. He’s absolutely torn up the PCL this year, slashing .308/.429/.530 while posting a career-low K% and a career high BB%. His stint in the majors this season went poorly, but was given inconsistent playing time and only saw action in 6 games. It’s difficult to build consistency at that level without a lot of AB’s - I’m hoping that he gets some more playing time in the future so we can see how his improved underlying stats impact his Major League play. Someone in the infield will have to go to make room for Moore, and the issue is compounded by Adam Frazier’s imminent return from the injured list. I think Neto is unlikely to be traded, and Grissom has been hitting to well to sideline - it may be a while before we see Moore back in the Majors.

Validated.

Edit: MLB.com now lists Alvarez as our #2 prospect, behind Bremner and ahead of Rada.

Hello all!

#DSL Angels (21-9)

The DSL Angels have cooled off slightly after a blistering start to the season, but they’re still looking like an excellent team.

Previous Players: 3B Cesar Paredes, OF Juan Cespedes, OF Andofar Reyes

OF Juan Cespedes (17, #30 prospect) is an absolute menace, and his recent addition to the Angels’ top 30 is well-deserved. He’s maintained an OPS over .900 despite having almost no power (see the .070 ISO), thanks to his terrific ability to get on base via both hits and walks. His .349/.496/.419 slash line enables his favorite past time: stealing bases. He’s swiped 43 bags so far this season and has only been caught 5 times. Better pitchers and catchers will slow down his running game somewhat at higher levels, but so far he’s been an 80-grade base stealer.

SS/2B Jeyson Horton (17, #18 prospect) started off the season slowly, but has surged forward in recent weeks. Our top international signing this last offseason, Horton is a speedy infielder with an above-average hit tool. His ceiling is going to be limited by his power, which, given his smaller size, is most likely to top out around average. He’s having a nice debut in his first season of pro ball - Horton is slashing .295/.451/.386, good for an .838 OPS. He’s also walking more than he strikes out. Good plate discipline and making good contact can take a player far, and so far he’s been doing well.

#ACL Angels (32-22)

The ACL Angels just keep winning, even after losing a group of their best players to Low-A Rancho. You can safely assume that Johnny Slawinski is still pitching well, so I'm leaving him out this week to focus on other players.

Previous players: OF TJ Ford, SS/3B Joswa Lugo, LHP Johnny Slawinski

OF TJ Ford (20, #29 prospect) has continued his excellent play, cementing his place in the Angels’ top 30. He’s hitting, he’s walking, and he’s stealing - a .379/.517/.477 slash line is pretty fun, especially when it’s done over a long period of time (45 games, in this case). Ford doesn’t have much left to prove at this level - some time in Low-A will give better insight into how his hit tool will play against some tougher pitching.

SS/3B Joswa Lugo (19, #6 prospect) hasn’t been quite as hot lately, but his .276/.394/.470 slash line is still quite impressive. It’s been great to see him get to his power this season - his next challenge will be to try to cut down on his strikeouts. He definitely has the ability to draw walks, but pitch selection will be crucial for him to become a true on-base threat. He’ll likely see a promotion relatively soon.

RHP CJ Gray (19, #13 prospect) is a bit of a wildcard add this time around. His had a shaky first few appearances that ballooned his ERA north of 8.00, but his last two starts have given a better indication of who he can be as a pitcher. He threw 5 scoreless innings on July 4th, striking out 10 in a dominant one-hit performance. He threw 5 innings in his next start on July 11th, this time giving up 2 earned runs. Gray was drafted as a prep-arm lotto ticket, and these last two starts have given us a good look at his potential. It’ll be a long while before he’s ready, but I think he may end up being a sneakily powerful pitcher down the line.

#Low-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (45-42)

Previous players: 3B Victor Rodriguez, 1B Gabriel Davalillo, OF Hayden Alvarez, & SS Kendrey Maduro

RHP Dylan Jordan (21, #9 ranked prospect) is looking great - he’s maintained a 12.50 K/9 throughout 72 innings of work this season while also keeping his WHIP down. He had a terrific start on July 2nd, throwing 6 scoreless and allowing just one hit and one walk while striking out 7. His next start was also good, allowing 2 earned runs in 5.1 innings and striking out 9. His key to making the jump to the next level is to control the game when he gives up walks. Many of his walked runners end up scoring, resulting in his less impressive starts. If he can continue to show improvement on that front, we’ll see him in High-A late this year or early next year.

OF Hayden Alvarez (19, #11 ranked prospect) - I’m still irritated that Alvarez was excluded from Top-100 lists, but at this point I just consider it ammunition for a nice “I told you so”. Alvarez has been consistently great this year. The .303/.402/.480 slash line is exactly what you want to see, and he’s one of the youngest guys in the league. He strikes out a lot, but also works his walks and has swiped 39 bags. Promote the man.

SS Kendrey Maduro (22, unranked) I’ll be honest, I have a soft spot for undrafted free agents. Maduro just slugs all day, and has excellent pop off the bat. His future is as a first baseman or DH, in my opinion - the farm system is littered with better defenders in the middle infield. He’s slashing .288/.402/.480, and I’m curious to see if his bat will play in High-A. In any case, he’s been a very pleasant surprise this season, and I hope he continues to blast his way though the minors.

#High-A Tri-City Dust Devils (44-43)

The Dust Devils’ lineup was recently gutted, with most of their top bats promoted to AA Rocket City - and good for them! That really just leaves Randy de Jesus as the bat of interest at Tri-City, but he’s been mired in a slump lately.

Previous players: OF Randy de Jesus, OF Anthony Scull, RHO Peyton Olejnik

RHP Peyton Olejnik (23, #25 prospect) is doing his best to prove that his resurgence starting in late May is the real deal - his last two starts were really interesting. His start on July 4th was the image of grit. He went 5.1 innings, surrendered 10 hits and 3 earned runs, but walked none and struck out 9. His following start was excellent, going 5 scoreless innings, striking out 10 batters, and again allowing no walks. He’s doing a terrific job staying in the zone, but will need to miss more bats going forward to continue through the system.

RHP Sam Tookoian (23, unranked) has been a pleasant surprise as 2025’s 20th-round draft pick. He’s been a significantly better pitcher in professional baseball than he ever was in college. He threw 8.2 scoreless innings for the Dust Devils last year, and so far has picked up right where he left off. He’s posted a 2.22 ERA in 28.1 innings of relief, maintaining a 10.80 K/9 while only giving up one home run. Tookoian can join the list of sneaky-good org reliever we’ve seen lately - he’s in good company with Samy Natera Jr., Jose Fermain, and Najer Victor.

#AA Rocket City Trash Pandas (44-42)

The Trash Pandas have been the weakest of the Angels’ farm teams this year, but have recently received some reinforcements from High-A.

Previous players: OF Raudi Rodriguez & RHP Joel Hurtado

RHP Nate Snead (22, #16 prospect) - after a rough late-June start that nuked his ERA, Snead has turned in three solid performances on the mound, allowing just 3 earned runs over 15 innings. His big challenge in AA will be to miss bats in the zone - he’s keeping the walks down like he did in High-A, but his strikes are getting punished more heavily so far (he’s given up 6 home runs vs 1 at Tri-City). Given some time to adapt to AA, I think he’ll end up doing quite well.

OF Raudi Rodriguez (22, #15 prospect) is still looking great, carrying a .288/.405/.469 slash line, with his OPS holding steady at .873. He’s repeated his excellent offensive performance from High-A with Rocket City this year, while also cutting back on the strikeouts and earning more walks. He’ll likely earn a promotion to AAA sooner or later, and it wouldn’t surprise me to see him competing for a spot in the outfield for 2027, especially if Adell ends up getting traded.

RHP Luke Murphy (27, unranked) has been something else this season! He leads all of AA in saves, and his 0.55 ERA looks like the real deal. The walks are down (2.73 BB/9), the strikeouts are up (11.73 K/9), and he’s managed to be incredibly consistent over 33 innings of work. It wouldn’t surprise me to see him replace Saucedo on the 40-man roster fairly soon.

#AAA Salt Lake Bees (46-46)

Previous players: 2B/3B Christian Moore

IF/OF Kyren Paris (24, graduated prospect) has had a bit of a resurgence in AAA lately. Fans will remember his Linsanity run at the beginning of last season, but Paris was forgotten quickly once he fell off after the first few weeks of 2025. He’s still just 24, and has been mashing the ball at Salt Lake, posting a .283/.434/.525 slash line. The potential at the plate is obvious, but he has struggled mightily with strikeouts - his K% peaked at 42% in the majors last season. It appears as though he’s done some work on that front - his K% is down to 27% in AAA this year. That’s still tough, but his walk rate is over 20%, the best it’s been since he was in Rookie ball. He’s also playing all over the field for the Bees this season, seeing time at short, second, and all three outfield positions. I don’t think Paris will live up to the Aaron Judge comparison memes, but he could certainly end up being a solid super utility guy with some sneaky pop.

RHP George Klassen (24, #4 prospect) has bounced back after a rough start to the season at AAA. Some tweaks to his pitch mix seem to have worked well - he put together a run on 4 very good starts before scuffling in his most recent outing. Looking at his numbers, it seems as though he’s done some good work on his control. For most of the season, his strike % hung around 55%, but after making those changes, he’s been living at 60% strikes and above. Command was always his Achilles’ Heel, so seeing him make improvements in that department should be cause for optimism.

Overall, I think this has been a very solid draft, with our higher picks adding some needed position player depth to our farm system. Here’s how some of the new guys fit in with our existing top 30 prospects (recently drafted players are marked with asterisks):

Catchers

Juan Flores (#17 ranked prospect)

Garrett Wright**

Marlon Quintero (#24 ranked prospect)

Wright was a good pick here. He’s athletic and well-rounded, though he lacks power. A fast, good-hitting catcher is a solid addition to Flores, a glove-first backstop who is currently breaking out at the plate, and Quintero, a defensive wizard who isn’t expected to hit much.

2B

Christian Moore^ (graduated prospect)

Jarren Advincula**

I really like the Advincula pick here, given how thin the organizational depth is at second - particularly with Christian Moore’s positional assignments in flux. Advincula is a much more classic second baseman - great hit tool, solid defender with a weaker arm, fast, and minimal power. Your dad’s favorite player.

3B

Gavin Grahovac**

Gabriel Davalillo (#5 ranked prospect)

Jake Munroe (#28 ranked prospect)

Another great add - by my reckoning, Grahovac becomes our top prospect at the hot corner. He has really good power and can mash the ball - his bat is a great addition to a farm suffering from a dearth of position players. He played first base this past season, but was drafted as a third baseman. In either case, he’ll be the top organizational prospect at both positions. I imagine he’ll end up at first base given how good third base is organizationally lower in the minors (keep an eye on Victor Rodriguez). Smart pick.

SS

Joswa Lugo (#6 ranked prospect)

Jaxon Willits**

Jeyson Horton (#18 ranked prospect)

Willits is widely considered to be a guy who does everything pretty well, and ends up being a much better player because of it. I think his floor is quite high, but his ceiling won’t reach the heights of Lugo’s or Horton’s. In any case, there’s every indication that he could turn into a solid big leaguer.

OF

Jared Grindlinger**

Hayden Alvarez (#10 ranked prospect)

Nelson Rada (#2 ranked prospect)

Raudi Rodriguez (#14 ranked prospect)

Rylan Lujo**

Randy de Jesus (#26 ranked prospect)

TJ Ford (#29 ranked prospect)

Juan Cespedes (#30 ranked prospect)

Two more solid picks here. Grindlinger (only listed as an outfielder, as he was drafted) has a really high ceiling, and after watching some of his game footage I’m really impressed. He’ll be a long-term project, but hopefully worth the wait. The org is is desperate need of solid lefty bats, and he fills that role wonderfully. Lujo fits nicely into a group of other outfield prospects with similar tools - good bat-to-ball skills, unremarkable power, solid gloves, and plus speed. He doesn’t wow me like Raudi or Alvarez, but he’s still a good pick.

I know you’re all noticing a conspicuous lack of pitchers in this write-up, but that’s not because the pitchers we drafted are bad - it’s because our existing pitching depth is so good. Grindlinger the pitcher would certainly be one of our top arms, with Justin Byrd and Ryan Hertzler (our #6 and #7 picks, respectively) falling outside the top 30.

Hello all!

#DSL Angels (17-5)

The DSL Angels continue to kick ass and take names with an absolutely terrific offense. Everyone’s bloated numbers have normalized with a larger sample size, but there are plenty of performances to be excited about.

Previous Players: 2B/3B Cesar Paredes, OF Juan Cespedes, 3B David Manzueta

OF Juan Cespedes (17, unranked) is just an incredibly fun player. He’s already swiped 29 bags in 20 games, and is carrying a .936 OPS due to his excellent ability to get on base via both hits and walks. It’s hard not to like scrappy players with a higher OBP than SLG. If Cespedes can maintain his ability to get on base and take his walks (his .27 K/BB ratio is stellar), his game could certainly play - even with a .082 ISO.

OF Adonafar Reyes (17, unranked) is another player that relies heavy on his ability to reach base to be effective. His .927 OPS is due in large part to his .518 OBP. Reyes takes his walks and doesn’t seem to be afraid of the ball at all - he’s already been plunked 6 times this season. His BABIP is pretty high and we’ll see his .308 average regress a bit, but he’s a patient hitter with room to grow his power in the future.

3B Cesar Paredes (18, unranked) reminds me of a few of the older position player prospects in the system that had good power but struggled to access it until recently (see Denzer Guzman and Raudi Rodriguez). Paredes is only hitting .228, but is slugging .491 with a .263 ISO, good for an .875 OPS. With both Guzman and Rodriguez seeing impressive improvements to their hit tools recently, I have some faith that Paredes will be able to develop that part of his game in the lower levels of the minors.

#ACL Angels (26-19)

The ACL Angels are cruising right along, even after losing some of their better players to Low-A Promotions.

Previous players: SS Yilver de Paula, 3B Victor Rodriguez, OF TJ Ford, SS/3B Joswa Lugo, & LHP Johnny Slawinski

OF TJ Ford (20, #30 prospect) has cracked the Angels’ Top 30 list thanks to his strong performance this season! He lacks power so far (.089 ISO), but has terrific bat-to-ball skills and walks more than he strikes out, giving him a .376/.511/.465 slash line. The average is inflated due to some BABIP magic, but the hit tool is clearly there. He’s 5-9 and 154 pounds, so the power is unlikely to be even average, but even some minor improvements allowing him to smoke doubles in the gap would make him a much more dangerous hitter.

SS/3B Joswa Lugo (19, #6 prospect) just continues to impress in the ACL. He’s improved his slash line to .286/.407/.497, and continues to maintained his improved plate discipline. He’s very deserving of a promotion at this point, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him at Low-A if Victor Rodriguez mashes his way to Tri-City.

LHP Johnny Slawinski (19, #3 prospect) rebounded nicely from a rough start a couple of weeks ago and put up two solid performances. He’s up to 60 strikeouts across his 9 starts, and will mostly likely replace Derek Clark or Alton Davis in the Low-A rotation soon. I’d love to see him start going longer in some of his starts - he’s maxed out at 5 innings so far, and it’d be interesting to see how he handles deeper starts.

#Low-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (41-35)

I’ve been a long-time fan of the Angels’ Low-A teams since I was a kid, and recently got to see the Quakes play their 17-4 smackdown of the Stockton Ports - and I managed to catch my first-ever foul ball! The team in general seems to have a very mature approach at the plate - hitters rarely attacked early in the count, and forced the opposing pitchers to throw some desperate pitches right down broadway, where they got badly punished.

Previous players: RHP Dylan Jordan, OF Hayden Alvarez, & SS Kendrey Maduro

3B Victor Rodriguez (20, unranked) is certainly enjoying his well-earned promotion! Only only played 5 games in Low-A, but has already made a difference, slashing .350/.381/.550, good for a .931 OPS. I think Rodriguez will break into the top 30 soon, especially if Jake Munroe continues to struggle at AA.

OF Hayden Alvarez (19, #11 ranked prospect) should be considered a top-100 prospect, and the fact that he isn’t is silly. He’s maintained an excellent .302/.408/.488 slash line, shows great maturity at the plate, and is more than capable in the outfield. I expect him to be promoted to High-A fairly soon, with Raudi Rodriguez likely moving up to AA.

SS Kendrey Maduro (22, unranked) really just hits the shit out of the ball. He has excellent pop off of the bat, and his significantly improved his hit tool throughout the season, posting a /292/.369/.525 slash line. He strikes out a ton (3.25 K/BB ratio, oof) and is a poor fielder, but it’s impossible to ignore 14 homers and 52 RBIs.

1B Gabriel Davalillo (18, #5 ranked prospect) had a rough start to the season, but has begun a recent resurgence that validates his position in the Angels’ top 30. He spent most of the early season playing third and DH-ing, but the Quakes have recently shifted him over to first, and that most has seemed prudent. He’s a big dude, and while he’s more explosive and atheletic than you would expect from someone of that size, his range at third is limited. I saw him absolutely smoke two home runs, and he really didn’t look like he was swinging all that hard. The raw tools are definitely there, but he’ll likely need to play out the full season in Low-A before moving up to Tri-City.

#High-A Tri-City Dust Devils (39-37)

The Dust Devils have recently seen a good number of players promoted to Rocket City, but there are still some players worth highlighting!

Previous players: 3B Jake Munroe, OF Anthony Scull, & RHP Tyler Bremner

OF Randy de Jesus (21, #27 ranked prospect) continues to enjoy a breakout season in High-A, with vast improvements across the board in the hitting department. His .265/.351/.502 slash line is promising (along with the 15 home runs), and I’m optimistic about his development. Scouts highlighted his hit tool as his Achilles’ Heel, but, as I mentioned earlier, the farm system has seen great results in improving that facet of the game with Denzer Guzman and Raudi Rodriguez. de Jesus still has a strikeout issue (3.03 K/BB), but it is slowly improving as he works his way through the system.

OF Anthony Scull (22, unranked) is a power-over-hit player that’s found success at the plate this season, and it earned him a recent promotion to the AA Trash Pandas. His .272/.329/.524 slash line and power heavy hit line (almost 50% of his hits have gone for extra bases) show you exactly the kind of player he his - swing big, hit big. His next challenge will be to draw more walks to help out his OBP and make him a more well-rounded presence at the plate.

RHP Peyton Olejnik (23, #26 prospect) - I’l admit it, I was worried about Olejnik after his rocky start to the season. Through May 21st and 7 starts, he was rocking an ERA just south of 8.0, but he’s locked things down since then. He’s gone at least 5 innings in 5 of his last 6 starts, and pitched a strong 7 inning, 2 run game in his most recent start. Olejnik’s 6-11 frame makes consistency in delivery quite difficult, but if he can manage to make things repeatable, he could end up being quite good.

#AA Rocket City Trash Pandas (38-37)

The Trash Pandas have been the weakest of the Angels’ farm teams this year, but have recently received some reinforcements from High-A.

Previous players: OF Raudi Rodriguez & RHP Joel Hurtado

OF Raudi Rodriguez (22, #15 prospect) continues to improve on an already solid season, boasting a .298/.418/.488 slash line through 71 games. He walks almost as much as he strikes out, is a consistent RBI guy, and has demonstrated consistentcy at the plate. His hit tool improvement seems to be the real deal, and he’s run out of things to prove at this level. AAA awaits.

C Juan Flores (20, #18 prospect) was a pleasant surprise at the plate in High-A this year, posting an .880 OPS over 46 games with the Dust Devils. Flores is off to a hot start in his first 5 games at Rocket City, smoking two home runs and putting up an early 1.034 OPS. Flores’ ceiling was always limited by his bat, which he appears to have found. If he continues his offensive success, we’ll see him knocking on the door to the big leagues soon - he’s already a plus defender behind the plate.

RHP Joel Hurtado (25, #21 prospect) will almost certainly see some big-league time next season. If the Angels complete unlikely trades for Detmers and Soriano, I imagine he would be called up this season. Hurtado has been rock solid in two seasons with the Trash Pandas, and is forcing the issue with the 40-man. He certainly won’t survive another Rule-5 draft, so we’ll see him soon on the Major League roster one way or another.

RHP Luke Murphy (27, unranked) has oscillated between good and terrible seasons in the minor leagues, but he’s been absolutely stellar this year. 27 innings pitched, a .33 ERA, an 11.00 K/9, and no home runs allowed are pretty loud numbers, even in AA - not counting the fact that he currently leads all of minor league baseball in saves. I could see him replacing Taylor Saucedo on the 40-man roster and getting a taste of the majors this season. I imagine that either Murphy or Najer Victor (AAA) will be the next relievers up this season.

#AAA Salt Lake Bees (42-39)

Previous players: 2B/3B Christian Moore & SS/3B Denzer Guzman

2B/3B Christian Moore (23, graduated prospect) had a tough go of things in his second MLB stint, though one could argue (correctly, in my opinion) that he wasn’t given a reasonable chance to succeed. Being shoehorned into a brand-new position (LF) and then being given inconsistent at-bats is not a recipe for success. Moore is going to need at-bats at the major league level to see if he can stick around - we may see him again later in the season depending on what happens at the trade deadline. In any case, he’s still a machine at AAA, but if his slow start to the season at Salt Lake is any indication, he needs some time to get comfortable at every level.

Bro how