Day one started off with a bang when the consensus "draft day" first overall pick, SS Marcelo Mayer was passed over for Louisville C, Henry Davis.  So, was it really a surprise when the Angels' pick came up at number 9 and the consensus "pre-season" first overall pick was still on the board?  Yup!  The miraculous actually happened, Kumar Rocker was available!

 

Angel fans everywhere rejoiced at what they believed was an easy choice, a no brainer ... right?  WRONG!  The Halos brain-trust sent the fanbase into a complete tailspin by selecting Miami of Ohio RHP Sam Bachman. While people everywhere lost their collective minds, the Angels remained resolute that they made the right choice.  Angels farm director Matt Swanson was quick to praise Bachman for his work ethic, elite GB tendencies, and plus/plus two pitch combo that includes a FB that's been clocked as high as 101 MPH and a wipeout slider that scouts have given a 65 or 70 grade depending on the sources. Bachman joins the Angels with some risks, he's had shoulder and hip issues that limited him to 59 innings, but it's what he's done when he's pitched that drove the Angels decision -- 93 Ks, only 17 BBs and 1 HR allowed over 59.2 innings..  When it's all said and done Bachman is exactly the sort of pitcher the Angels needed, a college arm full of upside who at worst profiles as an elite back end RP.  Be happy.

 

Bachman and Rocker's careers will no doubt he compared to each other if for no other reason because Rocker was a known guy with an impressive resume who pitched for one of college baseball's powerhouses, but if you scratch beneath the surface you'll find plenty of similarities both on the good and bad side. Both guys have performed when they have been on the mound, both guys have lingering questions... But the Angels are banking on Bachman continuing to develop. They are betting the work ethic and dedication to his craft that has transformed him from an undrafted HS pitcher who worked in the upper 80s to lower 90s into the 101 MPH fireballer who was taken 9th in the first round -- he just needs to stay healthy and do exactly what he's shown he can do .. work.

But wait, there's more... pitchers....

With their 2nd pick the Angels selected college LHP Ky Bush out of St Mary's College in Moraga CA.  Bush is a giant of a man, 6'6 240lbs. In 14 starts he went 7-5 with a 2.99 ERA and 112 Ks over 78.1 IP,   Bush's FB goes 90-96 typically sitting at 94 MPH and a hard top to bottom breaking slider as well as a curve and the early makings of a change up.  Scouts have been talking up Bush's deception and ability to keep the ball in the park (only 3 HRs allowed in 2021).  There is some projection left in him still.

The third round was more of the same and yet very different.  With their third pick the Angels selected LSU RHP Landon Marceaux.  The soon to be former LSU Tiger went 7-7 with a 2.54 ERA over 102.2 innings and 116Ks.  Marceaux is less of a power pitcher than either of the Angels first two selections with a FB that routinely sits 90-92, but he makes up for that lack of brute power with 55 grades on his curveball, changeup, and slider.  The curve has been his best pitch since HS,a top down breaker that he can throw for strikes.  He's likely the Angels "safest" pick so far in 2021.

 

With their fourth pick (#110 overall), the Angels targeted Vanderbilt University RHP Luke Murphy.  Murphy was a 3rd year freshman coming out of the Vandy pen.  Another big bodied pitcher (6'5), Murphy works a 93-96 and can hit 99 with his FB.  He's got a power curve he throws in the mid 80s and a change also in the mid 80s.   Murphy threw 41.1 innings of 2,40 ERA ball with 9 saves, 61Ks .vs 15 BB.  He needs to work on control but he's got high leverage RP ability.

 

In the 5th (171st overall), the Angels selected RHP Brett Kerry out of South Carolina.  Mostly a RP, the Angels are looking at him as a SP.  Despite being on the smaller side 6'0 213 lbs, Kerry can hit 96 with his FB.  He went 5-1 with a 2.15 ERA and 84 Ks 10 BB over 54.1 innings.  Maybe more importantly, he was at his absolute best when facing the best.  Kerry pitched 11.2 innings of 7 hit, 1 run ball with 16 Ks in the CWS Championship Series.

In the 6th the took yet another college SP, RHer Jake Smith from the University of Miami.  Smith started the year in the Hurricane's pen then moved into the rotation. He's got a nice three pitch mix, FB that he works in the mid 90s that can touch 98 a mid 80s slider and a changeup with some late movement.  On the season he went 3-1 over 47 IP with 63 Ks.

In the 7th round the Angels again went after an arm, Arkansas Razorback Ryan Costeiu.  A RP, he sits 93-94 with his FB with a plus change.  There isn't a lot of projection here, but he was seemingly becoming one of the Razorback's go to guys out of the pen as the season wore on.

Next up...  LHP Nick Jones from Georgia Southern University.  Jones tied the school record with 17 saves, going 1-0 with a 1.48 ERA and 67 Ks in 44.2 innings.  He's a bean pole at 6'6 and only 210 pounds, so there may yet be some projection there.

 

With their 9th pick the Angels selected RHP Braden Olthoff from Tulane.  6'4'' 248 he's got a workhorse's body.  In 13 starts he went 6-3 with a 3.62 ERA over 78.2 innings with 91 Ks .vs 11 BB.  He doesn't throw hard at all -- topping out at 92 maybe, but he's got great control a really good slider and a change up that darts all over the place.   He's a fun pitcher to watch. 

With their final selection of day 2 the Angels took Andrew Peters our of the University of South Carolina.  Peters worked exclusively from the pen in 2021 -- he struggles with the command of a FB that can get as high as 97-98 and slider and changeup.   There isn't much in the way of projection left but plenty of room for refinement.

 

It was a bit of a departure from what we had grown accustomed to in recent years.  No toolsy HS position players.. actually no HS players period.   Perhaps we see that with the 11th pick and in day three but when when everything is said and done the Angels seemingly went about what may have been a difficult draft by making the simplest of choices -- they targeted arms for a farm system that really needs to add depth on the pitching side.