AngelsWin.com

by Ryan Falla, AngelsWin.com Staff Reporter
There are few qualities better suited for the Major League grind than the ability to overcome adversity on a daily basis. We see this time and time again as Major Leaguers regularly fall into slumps and prospects slip into doubt as the game stays unpromised to those who do not work for it. 80 grade tools suddenly become meaningless if the athlete possessing such talent does not have the fortitude to apply himself against the pressures presented by the game. Angels pitching prospect Zach Joyce is no stranger to overcoming severe adversity as his journey through baseball has seen him overcome the heaviest challenge a person can face; the battle with themselves. Now fully standing on his own two feet, Joyce aims to ensure his journey through struggle is no more than an introduction as he writes the rest of his story with the Angels in 2024.
Joyce entered his college days with a very promising future as he and his identical twin brother (Angels big leaguer) Ben Joyce attended Walters State CC for two years before their Tennessee days. Zach's freshman year saw him make short work of hitters he managed an impressive 24 Ks over 15.2 innings of work, though he would not be able to follow up in his sophomore season after an injury in spring put him on the path of Tommy John surgery. Unfortunately the 2020 pandemic would see the cancelation of the baseball season for many athletes, and by effect the shut down of many public services across the globe, including rehab clinics. This loss of opportunity would force Joyce to undergo a non-specialized rehabilitation for his elbow that would ultimately have little effect on strengthening his return from Tommy John. To make matters worse, Joyce was committed to pitch at his dream school in less than a year’s time. With everything seemingly falling apart this impending dream opportunity had transformed into a debilitating source of anxiety.
“All the physical therapy places were closed down. Going through that whole process pretty much on my own didn’t go well. Then at Tennessee I started throwing and it didn't feel great. I would keep trying to throw through it. It took a toll on me mentally because my dream basically my whole life was to play at Tennessee. When I got there I felt like I didn't have it anymore. That took a pretty bad toll mentally, I ended up having some pretty bad panic attacks basically every day [...] I put too much pressure to come back too quickly knowing that I was going to Tennessee in six months.”
A multi-year hiatus from the game (2020-2022) due to physical and mental health struggles put Joyce in a position that would snuff out the aspirations in most people, yet a strong support system from family and the Tennessee baseball program would see him re-enter the game with extreme success. His return to baseball in 2023 saw Joyce reinvent himself as he fiddled with a brand new cutter, a pitch that elevated his successes at both Tennessee and with the Angels Low A 66ers. His first 10.1 innings back in the game at Tennessee saw him strike out 17 on just two walks. This is about as good as it gets for a pitcher coming off a stretch with no live action since 2019, and clearly the Angels saw the promise in his upside as they called his name in the 2023 draft.  
“[Tennessee] wanted me to take my time coming back because they knew the whole story, they were supportive the entire time when I stepped away [...] Coming back was a slow process, working up to bullpens, working up to guys standing in the batters box. Once I got into a game I was so amped up and so ready for it that I didn't even think about it being four years since I faced a batter."
Zach Joyce comes into the Angels organization with the DNA of a high strikeout power reliever, but perhaps his most impressive stat last year was his incredible ability to limit the walks. Joyce walked hitters in just one of his eleven outings in Low A last year, all while managing at least one strikeout in seven of those eleven games. Joyce didn’t just keep hitters off the paths by limiting free passes, his ability to generate weak contact was prevalent through his debut season as hitters managed a sub. 400 SLG% through his appearances. Joyce’s repertoire screams back-end dominance as he regularly cuts through late game opposition with his aggressive power fastball/cutter combo. The Angels organization echoed this sentiment as Joyce spent eight of his eleven Low A outings pitching in the 7th inning or later. More impressive was his efficiency as he regularly managed three outs on 15 pitches or less with six of his outings coming as such. Furthermore, three of his Low A outings saw him manage an inning of work on 9 pitches or less. His pitchability and IQ are as high as it gets for someone with such limited recent exposure to the game, these two factors being key drivers in his successes next to his intense mental fortitude and extreme determination.
“In Low A [the cutter] was kind of the main pitch I threw, I threw it more than my fastball. The biggest thing for me this off season is having that cutter. It's a more of a harder slider, honestly it's more of a mental thing calling it a cutter so I think about throwing it harder. You have a pitch that comes out almost looking the same but the shape is a little different and the change in speed is a big thing too. That's the main thing I've been working on this offseason with both pitches so they don't look too alike or look too different coming out your hand.”
It is difficult to truly quantize an athlete’s intangibles when attempting to correlate short sample success across long-term development trajectories, but for Zach Joyce it is as simple as understanding the struggles of where he’s come from and realizing the challenges of baseball are slim compared to such. The biggest factor of success in baseball is often one’s ability to simplify the game, and with such experiences under ones belt it becomes easier to see the game as it truly is; a game. Perhaps this unique perspective is the biggest quality that has and will continue to take him over the top as a professional athlete.
“He who has conquered himself is a far greater hero than he who has defeated a thousand times a thousand men.”- Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha)
Zach Joyce is a man defined by overcoming challenge, and if to conquer yourself is to conquer the world (according to Buddha) for Zach Joyce to rise above himself is a testament to the qualities he brings to the daily grind. What else is there to baseball other than rising above yourself day in and day out, 162 games a year? Of course there is still a journey of professional development to be had with the Angels, and aside from any philosophical platitudes the truest factor in on-field success is the execution of quality on the field. Joyce has shown he has the quality of stuff and pitchability to fully express his aggressive approach on the mound, and though his stuff may fly under the radar his mental qualities register as an easy 80 across the board. In some baseball circles that quality is greater than any 80 grade pitch, especially in circles led by Angels manager Ron Washington.      
“I got to go out to Arizona and do that [Angels] mini-camp. [Ron Washington] was out there. He talked to us multiple times as a group, it was awesome. He's a super impressive guy. It's incredible for the organization that he's there. You could tell how much he cared about all of us at camp, about the whole organization, and building that new culture. It was honestly kind of surreal at first. You grow up hearing about how good of a coach he is and seeing it in person was pretty incredible. The biggest thing he talked about, for me, was fear of failure. Growing up that was a real thing, especially with how competitive me and my brother were. He said multiple times baseball is a game of failure, the biggest thing is having your teammates around you to keep you up. But also using that experience to keep getting better. His big thing was talking about how hard you have to work to get where you want to be, that's the culture they want around the organization.”
2024 will likely see Zach Joyce start the season between Low A or High A, although knowing GM Perry Minasian's aggressiveness he will likely edge towards High A. His success last year clearly shows he is ready and more than capable for high levels of competition with his biggest need as of now simply being getting his arm stretched out over an entire season. However, considering all factors I wouldn’t be surprised to see him pitch his way into Double A considerations through the first half of the year. Joyce comes into the organization with an experience base far exceeding that of a 23 year old, yet his arm is as fresh as it gets coming out of college. Don’t let Zach Joyce’s limited on-field experience since 2019 fool you, you’re getting a guy who is ahead on the game in more ways than one. Perhaps moreso than many of his peers. This year will be a fundamental experience for Joyce, both as a pitcher and a person, as he grows further towards his destiny as a big league reliever alongside his brother Ben, just as they have been at every level since childhood. Although 2024 may be a year of growth for Zach at the development levels that within itself is a victory as he can now make claim to the future he’s earned as a Los Angeles Angel.
“Having a twin brother that's throwing 105, you hear about that quite often [...] He is one of the top three reasons that I'm even back playing baseball, he's pushed me a lot. I didn't even watch a single game of baseball for an entire year, and then when he started playing again I wanted to go watch and support him. That was the first game I went to. I always tell people I almost had to leave because I wanted to be down there so bad [...] We played on the same team growing up every year, basically the same position. In high school we would literally alternate closing games .The biggest thing for us right now is supporting each other in whatever role we're in." 
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Angels pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report to spring training on Feb. 13. As we count down the days until camp begins, we are going through the various position groups to give a breakdown of where the roster stands. Today, we look at the catchers. Previously: outfielders.
2023 RECAP
Max Stassi’s hip injury – and subsequent time away to tend to his prematurely born son – set the stage for Logan O’Hoppe to begin the season as the starter, even though he’d played just five major league games previously. He established himself as a favorite of the pitchers and he showed some pop with his bat, but he hurt his shoulder two weeks into the season, requiring surgery that knocked him out until late August. He still hit 14 home runs in just 199 plate appearances, with a .796 OPS. While O’Hoppe was out, Matt Thaiss and Chad Wallach split the duties. They held their own offensively, although both slumped late in the season. It all added up to a .706 OPS from the catchers, which was 15th in MLB. The relative lack of major league experience behind the plate might have had a negative impact on the pitchers, though.
HOW IT LOOKS RIGHT NOW
The Angels cleared the way to go with the same cast as last season when Stassi was traded in December. O’Hoppe certainly looks like he should be a productive starting catcher, based on what he did in his rookie season. If he takes the expected steps forward offensively, defensively and in leadership, he could emerge as one of baseball’s best young catchers. Thaiss, who is out of options, is in line to be O’Hoppe’s backup.
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In addition to re-signing Wallach to a minor league deal, the Angels signed Francisco Mejia to a minor league deal in December. Mejia was once one of the top catching prospects in baseball, but lately, he’s settled into a career as a competent backup. Mejia produced a .682 OPS over the past three years with the Tampa Bay Rays.
MOVE THEY COULD MAKE
If the Angels want a veteran to help guide O’Hoppe, they could go after a free agent like Yasmani Grandal, Mike Zunino, Curt Casali or Cam Gallagher. Grandal is known as one of baseball’s best framers.
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by Ryan Falla
The Angels have found themselves well short on veritable game changers as the last decade has seen them skid through season after season with disappointing results. While most look for answers at the Major League level with free agency and the trade market the most sustainable path towards extended success, aside from ownership, rests within the talent depth at the minor league level.  Prospect talent may not be the most immediate answer to Major League woes, but for an organization like the Angels it is the most necessary. There is more opportunity for long term organizational success found within the Angels prospect depth than in what we've seen in many years with the organizations recent Top 10 Prospect rankings. One of their more exciting prospects on that Top 10 list is the naturally advanced right handed hitting OF/IN Alberto Rios. His 2023 season with Stanford saw the young star breakout with a performance that resulted in Pac 12 Player of the Year recognitions as he played his way into draft considerations with just one full season of play-time. His 1.191 OPS across the 242 AB season saw Rios slug 18 HRs and 24 doubles with 73 RBIs while aptly balancing his BB/K rate with 38 BB’s to 42 K’s. The impressive nature of his K/BB rate is further magnified when considering his lack of live experience up to his junior season. Rios set many records during his time with Stanford despite having just one full season of play, including the schools single game RBI record with an 11 RBI, 3 HR game (3/5/23) as well as a full season doubles total (24) that ranked as the third highest in school history. There is a stark maturity in the disciplined power hitter despite entering his breakout junior season with seven collective pinch hit AB's across his freshman and sophomore seasons combined. Where most would resign themselves to the bench, Rios found it necessary to force himself into the conversation, and just one season later Rios is now firmly entrenched as the Angels #4 ranked prospect heading into the 2024 season. 
“I was around a lot of really good baseball players at Stanford. I was able to stay with them on a daily basis and pick their brain. I got to see two seasons of superstars and see what works for them. How they carry themselves whether things were going good or bad. I was doing the daily work with them, in the cages and doing machine work with them. If I could do it here [behind the scenes] and match up with them it should be no different in a game as long as I'm out there competing and trying to win.”
One of Rios’ more underrated offensive qualities is his threat on the base paths, a quality which he displayed in spades at Stanford. Despite being seen as a hit over speed athlete he came around to score 69 times for the school while also stealing five bases. He logged a run in 46 of his 63 games played, a stat which immediately translated to his time in Low A as he scored runs in more than half of his games played while also stealing seven bags in half the AB’s he had with Stanford. It’s easy to look past his sneaky baserunning skills when the bat speaks as loudly as it does, but as is Rios is an elite threat to get himself on the board through any means necessary. For someone as talented with the bat as Rios is, to present yourself as a threat to break a game open on the base paths is a quality that will elevate his game to an elite level at the big leagues. Especially for a team like the Angels who have struggled with implementing impactful baserunning at the Major League level.
“As you go up you see faster speeds, the game tends to speed up. The game gets a little better. How slow can you slow your game down to match that edge? You're playing the same game you played since you were eight years old, you just learn to slow the game down. As you go into the higher levels of baseball you need to get simpler. How can I slow things down and get simple, get back to what baseball is about?”
Rios elite production is no accident; his advanced approach sees him employ a compact swing that limits his strikeout total, and when paired with an above average sense of discipline you often see Rios force pitchers into throwing his pitch. This all comes to a head in the batters box for Rios as his ability to tap into his raw power sees him barrel up favorable pitches on a regular basis. You have to wonder what a full season of professional development will do considering these elite qualities were developed over just 301 ABs across the last three years. Further considering Rios developed his qualities by observing and emulating the routines of the stars around him (a game changing quality for a prospect aiming for Major League success) a full season of absorbing the experience at the professional level will likely catapult the star to a break out sometime in 2024.  
“I practice for every situation that could happen. Once the season starts you don't really know how it's gonna work out or what's gonna happen. Seeing what guys did beforehand helped me, but actually being in there was a different story. Experiencing it myself was a very humbling and an awesome opportunity. How can I bring my skills and my personality to the game? And I think that's what it was, seeing how my personality would mix into playing the game.”
The Angels are looking to find a defensive home for Rios heading into 2024, though his experience covering multiple positions should allay concerns as to whether or not he will find a defensive footing. Although Rios spent his time as a left-fielder last season the Angels will employ him as a catcher this season, a position he had previous experience with during his time at Stanford. His 2023 season may have seen him break out as a left-fielder, but his college career started by transitioning to a catcher role as an infielder out of high school. Rios spent his freshman and sophomore seasons as the bullpen catcher for Stanford and will use that experience as a springboard to launch his 2024 season. 
"Being an infielder and then transitioning to catcher freshman year of college was definitely a transition. But as time went on I got to pick the brain of some guys at Stanford and some guys here [Low A] and see what works for them. Luckily I've been able to get behind the dish at school and over here with the Angels. My hands have always worked pretty well as a catcher. My footwork from being an infielder helps. The durability of getting your body right to play each and every day is key. How can I prepare my body the right way going into a season so I can sustain a long season? That's something I've never had to think about until now.””
The final stretch of his 2023 season ended with Rios heating up over a six game hitting streak as the young star continued his run scoring pace with four runs in those final six games. Rios would also see an extended hit streak earlier in August which saw him pick up 7 RBI’s with 2 HR’s and 4 runs scored in his first full month with the Low A 66ers. While most of his Low A season was a learning experience in finding acclimation to a professional environment there were enough flashes of his elite upside to offer confidence, and enthusiasm, in the coming developmental track for Rios. Just as he forced his bat into the conversation with Stanford it is very feasible he will do the same with the Angels sooner rather than later. His natural hitting tools are the definition of advanced beyond his years, and with legitimate development there is a real chance to tap into his elite abilities at the Major League level. There are some who believe he will have a quick rise to the Majors once his bat becomes fully accustomed to the professional speed of the game, and though it is still too early to read the tea leaves for an MLB debut date he has a legitimate chance to break in as early as 2025. All in all, what the Angels have to look forward to in Alberto Rios is an immediate game changer on the field who can use the experience of those around him to make himself better, two qualities the Angels have had in short supply this last decade. Patience will be rewarded with Rios in Anaheim, as it was in Stanford.  
“This game is very fragile, very similar to life. I had the opportunity to be on the field and live within those white lines. I felt appreciative and grateful, I had a huge sense of gratitude to be out there playing this beautiful game. You only have such a short amount of time to do it in your life. Being out there was an unbelievable experience, it made me appreciate what the game is and what it's done for me so far in my life.”
View the full article

by Ryan Falla
The Angels have found themselves well short on veritable game changers as the last decade has seen them skid through season after season with disappointing results. While most look for answers at the Major League level with free agency and the trade market the most sustainable path towards extended success, aside from ownership, rests within the talent depth at the minor league level.  Prospect talent may not be the most immediate answer to Major League woes, but for an organization like the Angels it is the most necessary. There is more opportunity for long term organizational success found within the Angels prospect depth than in what we've seen in many years with the organizations recent Top 10 Prospect rankings. One of their more exciting prospects on that Top 10 list is the naturally advanced right handed hitting OF/IN Alberto Rios. His 2023 season with Stanford saw the young star breakout with a performance that resulted in Pac 12 Player of the Year recognitions as he played his way into draft considerations with just one full season of play-time. His 1.191 OPS across the 242 AB season saw Rios slug 18 HRs and 24 doubles with 73 RBIs while aptly balancing his BB/K rate with 38 BB’s to 42 K’s. The impressive nature of his K/BB rate is further magnified when considering his lack of live experience up to his junior season. Rios set many records during his time with Stanford despite having just one full season of play, including the schools single game RBI record with an 11 RBI, 3 HR game (3/5/23) as well as a full season doubles total (24) that ranked as the third highest in school history. There is a stark maturity in the disciplined power hitter despite entering his breakout junior season with seven collective pinch hit AB's across his freshman and sophomore seasons combined. Where most would resign themselves to the bench, Rios found it necessary to force himself into the conversation, and just one season later Rios is now firmly entrenched as the Angels #4 ranked prospect heading into the 2024 season. 
“I was around a lot of really good baseball players at Stanford. I was able to stay with them on a daily basis and pick their brain. I got to see two seasons of superstars and see what works for them. How they carry themselves whether things were going good or bad. I was doing the daily work with them, in the cages and doing machine work with them. If I could do it here [behind the scenes] and match up with them it should be no different in a game as long as I'm out there competing and trying to win.”
One of Rios’ more underrated offensive qualities is his threat on the base paths, a quality which he displayed in spades at Stanford. Despite being seen as a hit over speed athlete he came around to score 69 times for the school while also stealing five bases. He logged a run in 46 of his 63 games played, a stat which immediately translated to his time in Low A as he scored runs in more than half of his games played while also stealing seven bags in half the AB’s he had with Stanford. It’s easy to look past his sneaky baserunning skills when the bat speaks as loudly as it does, but as is Rios is an elite threat to get himself on the board through any means necessary. For someone as talented with the bat as Rios is, to present yourself as a threat to break a game open on the base paths is a quality that will elevate his game to an elite level at the big leagues. Especially for a team like the Angels who have struggled with implementing impactful baserunning at the Major League level.
“As you go up you see faster speeds, the game tends to speed up. The game gets a little better. How slow can you slow your game down to match that edge? You're playing the same game you played since you were eight years old, you just learn to slow the game down. As you go into the higher levels of baseball you need to get simpler. How can I slow things down and get simple, get back to what baseball is about?”
Rios elite production is no accident; his advanced approach sees him employ a compact swing that limits his strikeout total, and when paired with an above average sense of discipline you often see Rios force pitchers into throwing his pitch. This all comes to a head in the batters box for Rios as his ability to tap into his raw power sees him barrel up favorable pitches on a regular basis. You have to wonder what a full season of professional development will do considering these elite qualities were developed over just 301 ABs across the last three years. Further considering Rios developed his qualities by observing and emulating the routines of the stars around him (a game changing quality for a prospect aiming for Major League success) a full season of absorbing the experience at the professional level will likely catapult the star to a break out sometime in 2024.  
“I practice for every situation that could happen. Once the season starts you don't really know how it's gonna work out or what's gonna happen. Seeing what guys did beforehand helped me, but actually being in there was a different story. Experiencing it myself was a very humbling and an awesome opportunity. How can I bring my skills and my personality to the game? And I think that's what it was, seeing how my personality would mix into playing the game.”
The Angels are looking to find a defensive home for Rios heading into 2024, though his experience covering multiple positions should allay concerns as to whether or not he will find a defensive footing. Although Rios spent his time as a left-fielder last season the Angels will employ him as a catcher this season, a position he had previous experience with during his time at Stanford. His 2023 season may have seen him break out as a left-fielder, but his college career started by transitioning to a catcher role as an infielder out of high school. Rios spent his freshman and sophomore seasons as the bullpen catcher for Stanford and will use that experience as a springboard to launch his 2024 season. 
"Being an infielder and then transitioning to catcher freshman year of college was definitely a transition. But as time went on I got to pick the brain of some guys at Stanford and some guys here [Low A] and see what works for them. Luckily I've been able to get behind the dish at school and over here with the Angels. My hands have always worked pretty well as a catcher. My footwork from being an infielder helps. The durability of getting your body right to play each and every day is key. How can I prepare my body the right way going into a season so I can sustain a long season? That's something I've never had to think about until now.””
The final stretch of his 2023 season ended with Rios heating up over a six game hitting streak as the young star continued his run scoring pace with four runs in those final six games. Rios would also see an extended hit streak earlier in August which saw him pick up 7 RBI’s with 2 HR’s and 4 runs scored in his first full month with the Low A 66ers. While most of his Low A season was a learning experience in finding acclimation to a professional environment there were enough flashes of his elite upside to offer confidence, and enthusiasm, in the coming developmental track for Rios. Just as he forced his bat into the conversation with Stanford it is very feasible he will do the same with the Angels sooner rather than later. His natural hitting tools are the definition of advanced beyond his years, and with legitimate development there is a real chance to tap into his elite abilities at the Major League level. There are some who believe he will have a quick rise to the Majors once his bat becomes fully accustomed to the professional speed of the game, and though it is still too early to read the tea leaves for an MLB debut date he has a legitimate chance to break in as early as 2025. All in all, what the Angels have to look forward to in Alberto Rios is an immediate game changer on the field who can use the experience of those around him to make himself better, two qualities the Angels have had in short supply this last decade. Patience will be rewarded with Rios in Anaheim, as it was in Stanford.  
“This game is very fragile, very similar to life. I had the opportunity to be on the field and live within those white lines. I felt appreciative and grateful, I had a huge sense of gratitude to be out there playing this beautiful game. You only have such a short amount of time to do it in your life. Being out there was an unbelievable experience, it made me appreciate what the game is and what it's done for me so far in my life.”
View the full article

by Ryan Falla
The Angels have found themselves well short on veritable game changers as the last decade has seen them skid through season after season with disappointing results. While most look for answers at the Major League level with free agency and the trade market the most sustainable path towards extended success, aside from ownership, rests within the talent depth at the minor league level.  Prospect talent may not be the most immediate answer to Major League woes, but for an organization like the Angels it is the most necessary. There is more opportunity for long term organizational success found within the Angels prospect depth than in what we've seen in many years with the organizations recent Top 10 Prospect rankings. One of their more exciting prospects on that Top 10 list is the naturally advanced right handed hitting OF/IN Alberto Rios. His 2023 season with Stanford saw the young star breakout with a performance that resulted in Pac 12 Player of the Year recognitions as he played his way into draft considerations with just one full season of play-time. His 1.191 OPS across the 242 AB season saw Rios slug 18 HRs and 24 doubles with 73 RBIs while aptly balancing his BB/K rate with 38 BB’s to 42 K’s. The impressive nature of his K/BB rate is further magnified when considering his lack of live experience up to his junior season. Rios set many records during his time with Stanford despite having just one full season of play, including the schools single game RBI record with an 11 RBI, 3 HR game (3/5/23) as well as a full season doubles total (24) that ranked as the third highest in school history. There is a stark maturity in the disciplined power hitter despite entering his breakout junior season with seven collective pinch hit AB's across his freshman and sophomore seasons combined. Where most would resign themselves to the bench, Rios found it necessary to force himself into the conversation, and just one season later Rios is now firmly entrenched as the Angels #4 ranked prospect heading into the 2024 season. 
“I was around a lot of really good baseball players at Stanford. I was able to stay with them on a daily basis and pick their brain. I got to see two seasons of superstars and see what works for them. How they carry themselves whether things were going good or bad. I was doing the daily work with them, in the cages and doing machine work with them. If I could do it here [behind the scenes] and match up with them it should be no different in a game as long as I'm out there competing and trying to win.”
One of Rios’ more underrated offensive qualities is his threat on the base paths, a quality which he displayed in spades at Stanford. Despite being seen as a hit over speed athlete he came around to score 69 times for the school while also stealing five bases. He logged a run in 46 of his 63 games played, a stat which immediately translated to his time in Low A as he scored runs in more than half of his games played while also stealing seven bags in half the AB’s he had with Stanford. It’s easy to look past his sneaky baserunning skills when the bat speaks as loudly as it does, but as is Rios is an elite threat to get himself on the board through any means necessary. For someone as talented with the bat as Rios is, to present yourself as a threat to break a game open on the base paths is a quality that will elevate his game to an elite level at the big leagues. Especially for a team like the Angels who have struggled with implementing impactful baserunning at the Major League level.
“As you go up you see faster speeds, the game tends to speed up. The game gets a little better. How slow can you slow your game down to match that edge? You're playing the same game you played since you were eight years old, you just learn to slow the game down. As you go into the higher levels of baseball you need to get simpler. How can I slow things down and get simple, get back to what baseball is about?”
Rios elite production is no accident; his advanced approach sees him employ a compact swing that limits his strikeout total, and when paired with an above average sense of discipline you often see Rios force pitchers into throwing his pitch. This all comes to a head in the batters box for Rios as his ability to tap into his raw power sees him barrel up favorable pitches on a regular basis. You have to wonder what a full season of professional development will do considering these elite qualities were developed over just 301 ABs across the last three years. Further considering Rios developed his qualities by observing and emulating the routines of the stars around him (a game changing quality for a prospect aiming for Major League success) a full season of absorbing the experience at the professional level will likely catapult the star to a break out sometime in 2024.  
“I practice for every situation that could happen. Once the season starts you don't really know how it's gonna work out or what's gonna happen. Seeing what guys did beforehand helped me, but actually being in there was a different story. Experiencing it myself was a very humbling and an awesome opportunity. How can I bring my skills and my personality to the game? And I think that's what it was, seeing how my personality would mix into playing the game.”
The Angels are looking to find a defensive home for Rios heading into 2024, though his experience covering multiple positions should allay concerns as to whether or not he will find a defensive footing. Although Rios spent his time as a left-fielder last season the Angels will employ him as a catcher this season, a position he had previous experience with during his time at Stanford. His 2023 season may have seen him break out as a left-fielder, but his college career started by transitioning to a catcher role as an infielder out of high school. Rios spent his freshman and sophomore seasons as the bullpen catcher for Stanford and will use that experience as a springboard to launch his 2024 season. 
"Being an infielder and then transitioning to catcher freshman year of college was definitely a transition. But as time went on I got to pick the brain of some guys at Stanford and some guys here [Low A] and see what works for them. Luckily I've been able to get behind the dish at school and over here with the Angels. My hands have always worked pretty well as a catcher. My footwork from being an infielder helps. The durability of getting your body right to play each and every day is key. How can I prepare my body the right way going into a season so I can sustain a long season? That's something I've never had to think about until now.””
The final stretch of his 2023 season ended with Rios heating up over a six game hitting streak as the young star continued his run scoring pace with four runs in those final six games. Rios would also see an extended hit streak earlier in August which saw him pick up 7 RBI’s with 2 HR’s and 4 runs scored in his first full month with the Low A 66ers. While most of his Low A season was a learning experience in finding acclimation to a professional environment there were enough flashes of his elite upside to offer confidence, and enthusiasm, in the coming developmental track for Rios. Just as he forced his bat into the conversation with Stanford it is very feasible he will do the same with the Angels sooner rather than later. His natural hitting tools are the definition of advanced beyond his years, and with legitimate development there is a real chance to tap into his elite abilities at the Major League level. There are some who believe he will have a quick rise to the Majors once his bat becomes fully accustomed to the professional speed of the game, and though it is still too early to read the tea leaves for an MLB debut date he has a legitimate chance to break in as early as 2025. All in all, what the Angels have to look forward to in Alberto Rios is an immediate game changer on the field who can use the experience of those around him to make himself better, two qualities the Angels have had in short supply this last decade. Patience will be rewarded with Rios in Anaheim, as it was in Stanford.  
“This game is very fragile, very similar to life. I had the opportunity to be on the field and live within those white lines. I felt appreciative and grateful, I had a huge sense of gratitude to be out there playing this beautiful game. You only have such a short amount of time to do it in your life. Being out there was an unbelievable experience, it made me appreciate what the game is and what it's done for me so far in my life.”
View the full article

by Ryan Falla, AngelsWin.com Staff Reporter
Much of the Angels tenure post-2010 has seen the organization marred with a reputation lacking in developmental allure. Through most of the last decade Anaheim has suffered from a lack of true talent depth, often seeing the organization showcase one or two top end talents each year. However, reputations within Anaheim have begun to shift as the quality of prospects has seen steady improvement in recent years due to drafting efforts by GM Perry Minasian. The Angels recent Top 10 Prospect list features a few draft picks from 2023, one of those vaunted picks being future star pitcher Barrett Kent. The 19 year old right handers immediate establishment as a top prospect is no accident; his power repertoire, advanced feel for the game, and elite work ethic have him on pace for top-of-the-rotation stardom as an Angel in the coming years.
“I do see those numbers [Top 10 Prospect ranking], and they mean something to me. I got a chip on my shoulder, it's up to myself to prove I can do it. I'm ready to prove that. I'm ready to be here. I deserve to be up in the Top 10. I'm gonna go about my business and work as hard as I can in being the best version of myself.” 
Following his debut with Inland Empire last season a comprehensive preview on Kent was put together on AngelsWin, which can be referred to at this link
His above average repertoire, which includes a high 90’s power fastball worthy of its Texas origins, has seen refinement this off-season with Kent focusing on the development of his secondary heading into 2024. His slider was a go-to breaking pitch last year due to the quality of its break across both planes, and behind that pitch he also commands a sizeable curveball alongside a change-up that played exceptionally well against left handed hitters. Kent’s curveball was self-admittedly his least favorite pitch coming out of last season, though it appears an off-season focus on the pitch has flipped the script on his connection with the curve.
“I've been throwing some bullpens and feeling the pitches out right now. Just taking my time with it, getting ready for the first game. The curveball is coming in. I'm starting to get a real good feel for it. Like I said, executing is the name of the game. Gotta execute the curveball. I think it's looking great, that and the changeup. I've built up on it and I think it's turned into a really great pitch. I'm excited to see those two in action.”
Kent will likely start the season at Low A given his limited experience last year, though he is projected to move quickly through the lower levels. For reference, last year the Angels current #2 prospect Caden Dana entered the season as a 19 year old and pitched himself into a High A promotion just three starts into the season. Kent’s advanced makeup across the board paired with the Angels reputation for progressing young players quickly should see Kent move along the lower levels with little wasted time. As of now the biggest developmental need for Kent coming out of high school is seeing live batters at game speed and getting his eye adjusted to the professional groove.
“I have to execute every pitch that I make, the mistakes get hit pretty far here. I learned that it's more about being consistent, just execute everything and don't make mistakes at the end of the day. It's on me to do as good as I can possibly do for the team, go out there and compete on the mound. Pitch like I know I can and hopefully I see that [promotion]. It'd be a good goal, but right now I just keep it as it is and do what I can do. ”
The fact that Kent was able to break the Top 10 with just 4 innings of Low A work shows how advanced his quality as a pitcher is compared to most 19 year olds. The road to the Majors is often a long one, though it becomes much shorter when you possess the makeup that Kent brings to an organization. He's arguably the most advanced high school pitcher the Angels have drafted in the last decade next to Chris Rodriguez, who would be the Angels most notable HS draft pick post-2010 to make the Majors. Kent carries the advantage of a clean bill of health as he enters the 2024 season looking to make his name known as a Top Prospect not just with the Angels, but across all of baseball. It is still too early to pin a Major League date on him, but with a strong 2024 season to springboard off of we could see a timetable as early as late 2025. For now, however, the immediate goal is to simply continue building on the dream, executing with successes, and focusing on one day at a time as Kent builds his stock as a future Top 100 MLB Prospect. 
View the full article

by Ryan Falla, AngelsWin.com Staff Reporter
Much of the Angels tenure post-2010 has seen the organization marred with a reputation lacking in developmental allure. Through most of the last decade Anaheim has suffered from a lack of true talent depth, often seeing the organization showcase one or two top end talents each year. However, reputations within Anaheim have begun to shift as the quality of prospects has seen steady improvement in recent years due to drafting efforts by GM Perry Minasian. The Angels recent Top 10 Prospect list features a few draft picks from 2023, one of those vaunted picks being future star pitcher Barrett Kent. The 19 year old right handers immediate establishment as a top prospect is no accident; his power repertoire, advanced feel for the game, and elite work ethic have him on pace for top-of-the-rotation stardom as an Angel in the coming years.
“I do see those numbers [Top 10 Prospect ranking], and they mean something to me. I got a chip on my shoulder, it's up to myself to prove I can do it. I'm ready to prove that. I'm ready to be here. I deserve to be up in the Top 10. I'm gonna go about my business and work as hard as I can in being the best version of myself.” 
Following his debut with Inland Empire last season a comprehensive preview on Kent was put together on AngelsWin, which can be referred to at this link
His above average repertoire, which includes a high 90’s power fastball worthy of its Texas origins, has seen refinement this off-season with Kent focusing on the development of his secondary heading into 2024. His slider was a go-to breaking pitch last year due to the quality of its break across both planes, and behind that pitch he also commands a sizeable curveball alongside a change-up that played exceptionally well against left handed hitters. Kent’s curveball was self-admittedly his least favorite pitch coming out of last season, though it appears an off-season focus on the pitch has flipped the script on his connection with the curve.
“I've been throwing some bullpens and feeling the pitches out right now. Just taking my time with it, getting ready for the first game. The curveball is coming in. I'm starting to get a real good feel for it. Like I said, executing is the name of the game. Gotta execute the curveball. I think it's looking great, that and the changeup. I've built up on it and I think it's turned into a really great pitch. I'm excited to see those two in action.”
Kent will likely start the season at Low A given his limited experience last year, though he is projected to move quickly through the lower levels. For reference, last year the Angels current #2 prospect Caden Dana entered the season as a 19 year old and pitched himself into a High A promotion just three starts into the season. Kent’s advanced makeup across the board paired with the Angels reputation for progressing young players quickly should see Kent move along the lower levels with little wasted time. As of now the biggest developmental need for Kent coming out of high school is seeing live batters at game speed and getting his eye adjusted to the professional groove.
“I have to execute every pitch that I make, the mistakes get hit pretty far here. I learned that it's more about being consistent, just execute everything and don't make mistakes at the end of the day. It's on me to do as good as I can possibly do for the team, go out there and compete on the mound. Pitch like I know I can and hopefully I see that [promotion]. It'd be a good goal, but right now I just keep it as it is and do what I can do. ”
The fact that Kent was able to break the Top 10 with just 4 innings of Low A work shows how advanced his quality as a pitcher is compared to most 19 year olds. The road to the Majors is often a long one, though it becomes much shorter when you possess the makeup that Kent brings to an organization. He's arguably the most advanced high school pitcher the Angels have drafted in the last decade next to Chris Rodriguez, who would be the Angels most notable HS draft pick post-2010 to make the Majors. Kent carries the advantage of a clean bill of health as he enters the 2024 season looking to make his name known as a Top Prospect not just with the Angels, but across all of baseball. It is still too early to pin a Major League date on him, but with a strong 2024 season to springboard off of we could see a timetable as early as late 2025. For now, however, the immediate goal is to simply continue building on the dream, executing with successes, and focusing on one day at a time as Kent builds his stock as a future Top 100 MLB Prospect. 
View the full article

by @CartiHalos, AngelsWin.com Staff Reporter
Friday night, the Angels revealed their biggest signing yet - right-handed relief pitcher Robert Stephenson.  Stephenson's career has been an interesting one to look at, but with a 2023 that was nothing short of monumental and several other outstanding years, it's fair to say his impact should be felt in the Angels bullpen come opening day.
He first came onto the scene in 2016 as a Starting pitcher, starting 22 rather unimpressive games for the Reds from 2016-2018. Although his numbers from these years are nothing to gawk at (An 81 ERA+ and 5.50 FIP), the flashes of his ability to fool hitters shined through at times.  
From 2016-2018, Stephenson pitched in 37 games.  In his first full year in a relief role, he made 57 appearances and absolutely hit his stride. It was an enormous step up from his previous production, with an ERA+ of 125 and a FIP in the high 3s over 64.2 innings.  These numbers are respectable in themselves, but his underlying numbers were absurdly good.  He made hitters swing and miss at a near league-best rate - his 39.0 Whiff% finished second to only new Astro Josh Hader. If the batter made the decision to swing, there was a 2 in 5 chance that they were hitting nothing but air.  These whiffs were converting themselves into strikeouts, too. He was one of only 38 qualified pitchers to strike out 30% or more of the hitters he faced - out of 279 total.
2020 was a rough year, for baseball and for Robert Stephenson. He gave up 11 earned runs in only 10 innings, leading to the Reds shipping him and Jameson Hannah to Colorado for Case Williams and Jeff Hoffman.  
His 2021 campaign in Colorado was an impressive return to form, arguably Stephenson's best full season. He put up a 154 ERA+ and 3.63 FIP over 46 innings with solid swing-and-miss numbers as always.  After a pretty poor start to 2022 from both Stephenson and the Rockies, they waived him and he was claimed by the Pittsburgh Pirates, where he finished 2022 strong, and even with his poor numbers still finished the season in the 93rd percentile in Chase%.  Something to note with his time in Pittsburgh he seemed to pitch to a lot more contact than he did with the Reds or Rockies, which could have many different causes, but I lean towards blaming pitching coach Oscar Marin's ideologies. 
After yet another rough start with the Pirates, Stephenson was dealt to the Rays for Alika Williams in early June 2023.  The next day, June 3rd, Stephenson did something he had never done over his entire career. He threw a cutter. Or, at least, a pitch Statcast defined as a cutter. He calls it a 'hard slider,' as opposed to his more loopy, top to bottom slider he's thrown his whole career.  He then threw this 'hard slider' 41% of the time for the rest of the season, over 20% more than he threw any other pitch. It was the 4th best cutter in the MLB according to Baseball Savant, behind only very solid players like Corbin Burns and Kodai Senga, and per 100 pitches it's run value was only exceeded by Chris Martin's cutter.
 After moving to Tampa Bay, he went nuclear. Armed with the cutter, he exploded onto the scene, finally having his swing-and-miss abilities utilized.  From June 2nd onward he struck out an unbelievable 42.9% of hitters faced, hitters whiffed on his pitches nearly 50% of the time, and chose to swing at his out-of-the-zone pitches nearly 40% of the time. Since pitch tracking began, nobody with 50 or more IP has ever had a higher percentage of their pitches be swinging strikes than Robert Stephenson's were in 2023. 
His career trajectory raises some question marks - do the Angels have the pitching mindset that Stephenson will succeed in? What was hindering his swing-and-miss numbers from leading to strong results in Cincinnati? Is this just classic Rays devil magic? and, most of all, is the cutter sustainable? After all, as much as it was dominant in 2023, it was a small sample size.
The deal is for 3 years, $33 Million with an option.  According to FanGraphs, 1 Win Above Replacement is about equal to $8 Million. By this logic, they'd project him at about 3 years, $22.5M - making this a moderate overpay for the Angels, however, after the Astros gave Hader $19M a year (FanGraphs estimates his worth at $13.6) Stephenson was the most coveted reliever on the board, making the overpay a byproduct of the market (also, I don't love WAR as a tool for judging relievers).
After all this, 1 question remains - Why?  
The Angels offseason has been, very noticeably, painfully slow. Which makes this Stephenson deal feel very odd. You won 73 games last year, lost your top performer, haven't made practically any improvements, and you sign a relief pitcher to a multi-year, 8 figure deal? It feels like a deal that the Phillies or the Rangers would make, not the Angels in their current state.
Personally, I have 3 possible theories:
1) The Angels are gearing up for a 2025 push.  Their young studs will all be a year older, next offseason will have less uncertainty since presumably the Bally thing will be over with, and there's a lot of talent in the free agent class next year (especially on the pitching end).  Signing Stephenson now gives you a concrete arm in the pen that's relatively inexpensive and allows you to focus on starting pitching and middle of the order bats next year like Burnes or Santander.  
2) Arte isn't keen on spending money, so this is the biggest splash that could be made. From what's being reported it seems to be a strange situation with Bally Sports and Diamond and all the potential lost money that's hindering the Angels willingness to spend.  It's possible that names like Bellinger, Snell, Montgomery are all being tossed around, but are unrealistic and wouldn't get approved because of the price tag, leading Perry and Co. to look at players in the $8-12M price range who can have an impact ASAP.  Stephenson would be a pretty solid fit for that kind of approach, as would players like Duvall or Kike Hernandez.
3) The front office spun a wheel and it landed on Stephenson, so they signed him. The next wheel spin's choice has not yet been reported.
Which of these is correct, I'm afraid we may never know. Only time will tell.
All in all, I'm not offended by this deal. It's certainly risky, but it's the kind of risk that is both capable of paying off in a major way and manageable if things go awry. Stephenson was one of my most desired free agents for essentially all of the offseason so far, although I was anticipating a few more corresponding moves to go along with it. At the very least, this Angels bullpen will be extremely interesting to watch with their mix of funky deliveries, fireballers, and stuff wizards. 
 
 
View the full article

by Ryan Falla, AngelsWin.com Staff Reporter
Much of the Angels tenure post-2010 has seen the organization marred with a reputation lacking in developmental allure. Through most of the last decade Anaheim has suffered from a lack of true talent depth, often seeing the organization showcase one or two top end talents each year. However, reputations within Anaheim have begun to shift as the quality of prospects has seen steady improvement in recent years due to drafting efforts by GM Perry Minasian. The Angels recent Top 10 Prospect list features a few draft picks from 2023, one of those vaunted picks being future star pitcher Barrett Kent. The 19 year old right handers immediate establishment as a top prospect is no accident; his power repertoire, advanced feel for the game, and elite work ethic have him on pace for top-of-the-rotation stardom as an Angel in the coming years.
“I do see those numbers [Top 10 Prospect ranking], and they mean something to me. I got a chip on my shoulder, it's up to myself to prove I can do it. I'm ready to prove that. I'm ready to be here. I deserve to be up in the Top 10. I'm gonna go about my business and work as hard as I can in being the best version of myself.” 
Following his debut with Inland Empire last season a comprehensive preview on Kent was put together on AngelsWin, which can be referred to at this link
His above average repertoire, which includes a high 90’s power fastball worthy of its Texas origins, has seen refinement this off-season with Kent focusing on the development of his secondary heading into 2024. His slider was a go-to breaking pitch last year due to the quality of its break across both planes, and behind that pitch he also commands a sizeable curveball alongside a change-up that played exceptionally well against left handed hitters. Kent’s curveball was self-admittedly his least favorite pitch coming out of last season, though it appears an off-season focus on the pitch has flipped the script on his connection with the curve.
“I've been throwing some bullpens and feeling the pitches out right now. Just taking my time with it, getting ready for the first game. The curveball is coming in. I'm starting to get a real good feel for it. Like I said, executing is the name of the game. Gotta execute the curveball. I think it's looking great, that and the changeup. I've built up on it and I think it's turned into a really great pitch. I'm excited to see those two in action.”
Kent will likely start the season at Low A given his limited experience last year, though he is projected to move quickly through the lower levels. For reference, last year the Angels current #2 prospect Caden Dana entered the season as a 19 year old and pitched himself into a High A promotion just three starts into the season. Kent’s advanced makeup across the board paired with the Angels reputation for progressing young players quickly should see Kent move along the lower levels with little wasted time. As of now the biggest developmental need for Kent coming out of high school is seeing live batters at game speed and getting his eye adjusted to the professional groove.
“I have to execute every pitch that I make, the mistakes get hit pretty far here. I learned that it's more about being consistent, just execute everything and don't make mistakes at the end of the day. It's on me to do as good as I can possibly do for the team, go out there and compete on the mound. Pitch like I know I can and hopefully I see that [promotion]. It'd be a good goal, but right now I just keep it as it is and do what I can do. ”
The fact that Kent was able to break the Top 10 with just 4 innings of Low A work shows how advanced his quality as a pitcher is compared to most 19 year olds. The road to the Majors is often a long one, though it becomes much shorter when you possess the makeup that Kent brings to an organization. He's arguably the most advanced high school pitcher the Angels have drafted in the last decade next to Chris Rodriguez, who would be the Angels most notable HS draft pick post-2010 to make the Majors. Kent carries the advantage of a clean bill of health as he enters the 2024 season looking to make his name known as a Top Prospect not just with the Angels, but across all of baseball. It is still too early to pin a Major League date on him, but with a strong 2024 season to springboard off of we could see a timetable as early as late 2025. For now, however, the immediate goal is to simply continue building on the dream, executing with successes, and focusing on one day at a time as Kent builds his stock as a future Top 100 MLB Prospect. 
View the full article

by @CartiHalos, AngelsWin.com Staff Reporter
Friday night, the Angels revealed their biggest signing yet - right-handed relief pitcher Robert Stephenson.  Stephenson's career has been an interesting one to look at, but with a 2023 that was nothing short of monumental and several other outstanding years, it's fair to say his impact should be felt in the Angels bullpen come opening day.
He first came onto the scene in 2016 as a Starting pitcher, starting 22 rather unimpressive games for the Reds from 2016-2018. Although his numbers from these years are nothing to gawk at (An 81 ERA+ and 5.50 FIP), the flashes of his ability to fool hitters shined through at times.  
From 2016-2018, Stephenson pitched in 37 games.  In his first full year in a relief role, he made 57 appearances and absolutely hit his stride. It was an enormous step up from his previous production, with an ERA+ of 125 and a FIP in the high 3s over 64.2 innings.  These numbers are respectable in themselves, but his underlying numbers were absurdly good.  He made hitters swing and miss at a near league-best rate - his 39.0 Whiff% finished second to only new Astro Josh Hader. If the batter made the decision to swing, there was a 2 in 5 chance that they were hitting nothing but air.  These whiffs were converting themselves into strikeouts, too. He was one of only 38 qualified pitchers to strike out 30% or more of the hitters he faced - out of 279 total.
2020 was a rough year, for baseball and for Robert Stephenson. He gave up 11 earned runs in only 10 innings, leading to the Reds shipping him and Jameson Hannah to Colorado for Case Williams and Jeff Hoffman.  
His 2021 campaign in Colorado was an impressive return to form, arguably Stephenson's best full season. He put up a 154 ERA+ and 3.63 FIP over 46 innings with solid swing-and-miss numbers as always.  After a pretty poor start to 2022 from both Stephenson and the Rockies, they waived him and he was claimed by the Pittsburgh Pirates, where he finished 2022 strong, and even with his poor numbers still finished the season in the 93rd percentile in Chase%.  Something to note with his time in Pittsburgh he seemed to pitch to a lot more contact than he did with the Reds or Rockies, which could have many different causes, but I lean towards blaming pitching coach Oscar Marin's ideologies. 
After yet another rough start with the Pirates, Stephenson was dealt to the Rays for Alika Williams in early June 2023.  The next day, June 3rd, Stephenson did something he had never done over his entire career. He threw a cutter. Or, at least, a pitch Statcast defined as a cutter. He calls it a 'hard slider,' as opposed to his more loopy, top to bottom slider he's thrown his whole career.  He then threw this 'hard slider' 41% of the time for the rest of the season, over 20% more than he threw any other pitch. It was the 4th best cutter in the MLB according to Baseball Savant, behind only very solid players like Corbin Burns and Kodai Senga, and per 100 pitches it's run value was only exceeded by Chris Martin's cutter.
 After moving to Tampa Bay, he went nuclear. Armed with the cutter, he exploded onto the scene, finally having his swing-and-miss abilities utilized.  From June 2nd onward he struck out an unbelievable 42.9% of hitters faced, hitters whiffed on his pitches nearly 50% of the time, and chose to swing at his out-of-the-zone pitches nearly 40% of the time. Since pitch tracking began, nobody with 50 or more IP has ever had a higher percentage of their pitches be swinging strikes than Robert Stephenson's were in 2023. 
His career trajectory raises some question marks - do the Angels have the pitching mindset that Stephenson will succeed in? What was hindering his swing-and-miss numbers from leading to strong results in Cincinnati? Is this just classic Rays devil magic? and, most of all, is the cutter sustainable? After all, as much as it was dominant in 2023, it was a small sample size.
The deal is for 3 years, $33 Million with an option.  According to FanGraphs, 1 Win Above Replacement is about equal to $8 Million. By this logic, they'd project him at about 3 years, $22.5M - making this a moderate overpay for the Angels, however, after the Astros gave Hader $19M a year (FanGraphs estimates his worth at $13.6) Stephenson was the most coveted reliever on the board, making the overpay a byproduct of the market (also, I don't love WAR as a tool for judging relievers).
After all this, 1 question remains - Why?  
The Angels offseason has been, very noticeably, painfully slow. Which makes this Stephenson deal feel very odd. You won 73 games last year, lost your top performer, haven't made practically any improvements, and you sign a relief pitcher to a multi-year, 8 figure deal? It feels like a deal that the Phillies or the Rangers would make, not the Angels in their current state.
Personally, I have 3 possible theories:
1) The Angels are gearing up for a 2025 push.  Their young studs will all be a year older, next offseason will have less uncertainty since presumably the Bally thing will be over with, and there's a lot of talent in the free agent class next year (especially on the pitching end).  Signing Stephenson now gives you a concrete arm in the pen that's relatively inexpensive and allows you to focus on starting pitching and middle of the order bats next year like Burnes or Santander.  
2) Arte isn't keen on spending money, so this is the biggest splash that could be made. From what's being reported it seems to be a strange situation with Bally Sports and Diamond and all the potential lost money that's hindering the Angels willingness to spend.  It's possible that names like Bellinger, Snell, Montgomery are all being tossed around, but are unrealistic and wouldn't get approved because of the price tag, leading Perry and Co. to look at players in the $8-12M price range who can have an impact ASAP.  Stephenson would be a pretty solid fit for that kind of approach, as would players like Duvall or Kike Hernandez.
3) The front office spun a wheel and it landed on Stephenson, so they signed him. The next wheel spin's choice has not yet been reported.
Which of these is correct, I'm afraid we may never know. Only time will tell.
All in all, I'm not offended by this deal. It's certainly risky, but it's the kind of risk that is both capable of paying off in a major way and manageable if things go awry. Stephenson was one of my most desired free agents for essentially all of the offseason so far, although I was anticipating a few more corresponding moves to go along with it. At the very least, this Angels bullpen will be extremely interesting to watch with their mix of funky deliveries, fireballers, and stuff wizards. 
 
 
View the full article

The Angels have reportedly agreed to terms with relief pitcher Robert Stephenson on a three-year deal, adding another name to their bullpen depth chart.
Terms of the deal, which reportedly includes an option, were not available.
The Angels previously signed right-handers Luis Garcia and Adam Cimber and left-hander Adam Kolarek to major league deals this winter, although Kolarek is now on the Triple-A roster after being removed from the 40-man roster.
Stephenson, whose deal is reportedly pending a physical, posted a 3.10 ERA last season, splitting the year between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Tampa Bay Rays. He was traded to the Rays in early June, and had a 2.35 ERA over 38⅓ innings with Tampa Bay, including 60 strikeouts.
Stephenson averaged 96.8 mph with his fastball last season.
A first-round pick of the Cincinnati Reds in 2011, Stephenson, 30, has pitched parts of eight years in the majors with the Reds, Colorado Rockies, Pirates and Rays. He has a career 4.64 ERA. Last season was his third out of the last five with an ERA below 4.00.
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The Angels have reportedly agreed to terms with relief pitcher Robert Stephenson on a three-year deal, adding another name to their bullpen depth chart.
Terms of the deal, which reportedly includes an option, were not available.
The Angels previously signed right-handers Luis Garcia and Adam Cimber and left-hander Adam Kolarek to major league deals this winter, although Kolarek is now on the Triple-A roster after being removed from the 40-man roster.
Stephenson, whose deal is reportedly pending a physical, posted a 3.10 ERA last season, splitting the year between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Tampa Bay Rays. He was traded to the Rays in early June, and had a 2.35 ERA over 38⅓ innings with Tampa Bay, including 60 strikeouts.
Stephenson averaged 96.8 mph with his fastball last season.
A first-round pick of the Cincinnati Reds in 2011, Stephenson, 30, has pitched parts of eight years in the majors with the Reds, Colorado Rockies, Pirates and Rays. He has a career 4.64 ERA. Last season was his third out of the last five with an ERA below 4.00.
Related Articles
Los Angeles Angels | Angels add shortstop Joswa Lugo among 15 international signings Los Angeles Angels | Angels avoid arbitration with 4 players; 2 still unsigned Los Angeles Angels | New Angels pitcher Zach Plesac ready to ‘change the narrative’ of his career Los Angeles Angels | Angels reportedly near deal with right-hander Zach Plesac View the full article

by Ryan Falla, AngelsWin.com Staff Reporter
Much of the Angels tenure post-2010 has seen the organization marred with a reputation lacking in developmental allure. Through most of the last decade Anaheim has suffered from a lack of true talent depth, often seeing the organization showcase one or two top end talents each year. However, reputations within Anaheim have begun to shift as the quality of prospects has seen steady improvement in recent years due to drafting efforts by GM Perry Minasian. The Angels recent Top 10 Prospect list features a few draft picks from 2023, one of those vaunted picks being future star pitcher Barrett Kent. The 19 year old right handers immediate establishment as a top prospect is no accident; his power repertoire, advanced feel for the game, and elite work ethic have him on pace for top-of-the-rotation stardom as an Angel in the coming years.
“I do see those numbers [Top 10 Prospect ranking], and they mean something to me. I got a chip on my shoulder, it's up to myself to prove I can do it. I'm ready to prove that. I'm ready to be here. I deserve to be up in the Top 10. I'm gonna go about my business and work as hard as I can in being the best version of myself.” 
Following his debut with Inland Empire last season a comprehensive preview on Kent was put together on AngelsWin, which can be referred to at this link
His above average repertoire, which includes a high 90’s power fastball worthy of its Texas origins, has seen refinement this off-season with Kent focusing on the development of his secondary heading into 2024. His slider was a go-to breaking pitch last year due to the quality of its break across both planes, and behind that pitch he also commands a sizeable curveball alongside a change-up that played exceptionally well against left handed hitters. Kent’s curveball was self-admittedly his least favorite pitch coming out of last season, though it appears an off-season focus on the pitch has flipped the script on his connection with the curve.
“I've been throwing some bullpens and feeling the pitches out right now. Just taking my time with it, getting ready for the first game. The curveball is coming in. I'm starting to get a real good feel for it. Like I said, executing is the name of the game. Gotta execute the curveball. I think it's looking great, that and the changeup. I've built up on it and I think it's turned into a really great pitch. I'm excited to see those two in action.”
Kent will likely start the season at Low A given his limited experience last year, though he is projected to move quickly through the lower levels. For reference, last year the Angels current #2 prospect Caden Dana entered the season as a 19 year old and pitched himself into a High A promotion just three starts into the season. Kent’s advanced makeup across the board paired with the Angels reputation for progressing young players quickly should see Kent move along the lower levels with little wasted time. As of now the biggest developmental need for Kent coming out of high school is seeing live batters at game speed and getting his eye adjusted to the professional groove.
“I have to execute every pitch that I make, the mistakes get hit pretty far here. I learned that it's more about being consistent, just execute everything and don't make mistakes at the end of the day. It's on me to do as good as I can possibly do for the team, go out there and compete on the mound. Pitch like I know I can and hopefully I see that [promotion]. It'd be a good goal, but right now I just keep it as it is and do what I can do. ”
The fact that Kent was able to break the Top 10 with just 4 innings of Low A work shows how advanced his quality as a pitcher is compared to most 19 year olds. The road to the Majors is often a long one, though it becomes much shorter when you possess the makeup that Kent brings to an organization. He's arguably the most advanced high school pitcher the Angels have drafted in the last decade next to Chris Rodriguez, who would be the Angels most notable HS draft pick post-2010 to make the Majors. Kent carries the advantage of a clean bill of health as he enters the 2024 season looking to make his name known as a Top Prospect not just with the Angels, but across all of baseball. It is still too early to pin a Major League date on him, but with a strong 2024 season to springboard off of we could see a timetable as early as late 2025. For now, however, the immediate goal is to simply continue building on the dream, executing with successes, and focusing on one day at a time as Kent builds his stock as a future Top 100 MLB Prospect. 
View the full article

by Ryan Falla, AngelsWin.com Staff Reporter
Much of the Angels tenure post-2010 has seen the organization marred with a reputation lacking in developmental allure. Through most of the last decade Anaheim has suffered from a lack of true talent depth, often seeing the organization showcase one or two top end talents each year. However, reputations within Anaheim have begun to shift as the quality of prospects has seen steady improvement in recent years due to drafting efforts by GM Perry Minasian. The Angels recent Top 10 Prospect list features a few draft picks from 2023, one of those vaunted picks being future star pitcher Barrett Kent. The 19 year old right handers immediate establishment as a top prospect is no accident; his power repertoire, advanced feel for the game, and elite work ethic have him on pace for top-of-the-rotation stardom as an Angel in the coming years.
“I do see those numbers [Top 10 Prospect ranking], and they mean something to me. I got a chip on my shoulder, it's up to myself to prove I can do it. I'm ready to prove that. I'm ready to be here. I deserve to be up in the Top 10. I'm gonna go about my business and work as hard as I can in being the best version of myself.” 
Following his debut with Inland Empire last season a comprehensive preview on Kent was put together on AngelsWin, which can be referred to at this link
His above average repertoire, which includes a high 90’s power fastball worthy of its Texas origins, has seen refinement this off-season with Kent focusing on the development of his secondary heading into 2024. His slider was a go-to breaking pitch last year due to the quality of its break across both planes, and behind that pitch he also commands a sizeable curveball alongside a change-up that played exceptionally well against left handed hitters. Kent’s curveball was self-admittedly his least favorite pitch coming out of last season, though it appears an off-season focus on the pitch has flipped the script on his connection with the curve.
“I've been throwing some bullpens and feeling the pitches out right now. Just taking my time with it, getting ready for the first game. The curveball is coming in. I'm starting to get a real good feel for it. Like I said, executing is the name of the game. Gotta execute the curveball. I think it's looking great, that and the changeup. I've built up on it and I think it's turned into a really great pitch. I'm excited to see those two in action.”
Kent will likely start the season at Low A given his limited experience last year, though he is projected to move quickly through the lower levels. For reference, last year the Angels current #2 prospect Caden Dana entered the season as a 19 year old and pitched himself into a High A promotion just three starts into the season. Kent’s advanced makeup across the board paired with the Angels reputation for progressing young players quickly should see Kent move along the lower levels with little wasted time. As of now the biggest developmental need for Kent coming out of high school is seeing live batters at game speed and getting his eye adjusted to the professional groove.
“I have to execute every pitch that I make, the mistakes get hit pretty far here. I learned that it's more about being consistent, just execute everything and don't make mistakes at the end of the day. It's on me to do as good as I can possibly do for the team, go out there and compete on the mound. Pitch like I know I can and hopefully I see that [promotion]. It'd be a good goal, but right now I just keep it as it is and do what I can do. ”
The fact that Kent was able to break the Top 10 with just 4 innings of Low A work shows how advanced his quality as a pitcher is compared to most 19 year olds. The road to the Majors is often a long one, though it becomes much shorter when you possess the makeup that Kent brings to an organization. He's arguably the most advanced high school pitcher the Angels have drafted in the last decade next to Chris Rodriguez, who would be the Angels most notable HS draft pick post-2010 to make the Majors. Kent carries the advantage of a clean bill of health as he enters the 2024 season looking to make his name known as a Top Prospect not just with the Angels, but across all of baseball. It is still too early to pin a Major League date on him, but with a strong 2024 season to springboard off of we could see a timetable as early as late 2025. For now, however, the immediate goal is to simply continue building on the dream, executing with successes, and focusing on one day at a time as Kent builds his stock as a future Top 100 MLB Prospect. 
View the full article

by Ryan Falla, AngelsWin.com Staff Reporter
Much of the Angels tenure post-2010 has seen the organization marred with a reputation lacking in developmental allure. Through most of the last decade Anaheim has suffered from a lack of true talent depth, often seeing the organization showcase one or two top end talents each year. However, reputations within Anaheim have begun to shift as the quality of prospects has seen steady improvement in recent years due to drafting efforts by GM Perry Minasian. The Angels recent Top 10 Prospect list features a few draft picks from 2023, one of those vaunted picks being future star pitcher Barrett Kent. The 19 year old right handers immediate establishment as a top prospect is no accident; his power repertoire, advanced feel for the game, and elite work ethic have him on pace for top-of-the-rotation stardom as an Angel in the coming years.
“I do see those numbers [Top 10 Prospect ranking], and they mean something to me. I got a chip on my shoulder, it's up to myself to prove I can do it. I'm ready to prove that. I'm ready to be here. I deserve to be up in the Top 10. I'm gonna go about my business and work as hard as I can in being the best version of myself.” 
Following his debut with Inland Empire last season a comprehensive preview on Kent was put together on AngelsWin, which can be referred to at this link
His above average repertoire, which includes a high 90’s power fastball worthy of its Texas origins, has seen refinement this off-season with Kent focusing on the development of his secondary heading into 2024. His slider was a go-to breaking pitch last year due to the quality of its break across both planes, and behind that pitch he also commands a sizeable curveball alongside a change-up that played exceptionally well against left handed hitters. Kent’s curveball was self-admittedly his least favorite pitch coming out of last season, though it appears an off-season focus on the pitch has flipped the script on his connection with the curve.
“I've been throwing some bullpens and feeling the pitches out right now. Just taking my time with it, getting ready for the first game. The curveball is coming in. I'm starting to get a real good feel for it. Like I said, executing is the name of the game. Gotta execute the curveball. I think it's looking great, that and the changeup. I've built up on it and I think it's turned into a really great pitch. I'm excited to see those two in action.”
Kent will likely start the season at Low A given his limited experience last year, though he is projected to move quickly through the lower levels. For reference, last year the Angels current #2 prospect Caden Dana entered the season as a 19 year old and pitched himself into a High A promotion just three starts into the season. Kent’s advanced makeup across the board paired with the Angels reputation for progressing young players quickly should see Kent move along the lower levels with little wasted time. As of now the biggest developmental need for Kent coming out of high school is seeing live batters at game speed and getting his eye adjusted to the professional groove.
“I have to execute every pitch that I make, the mistakes get hit pretty far here. I learned that it's more about being consistent, just execute everything and don't make mistakes at the end of the day. It's on me to do as good as I can possibly do for the team, go out there and compete on the mound. Pitch like I know I can and hopefully I see that [promotion]. It'd be a good goal, but right now I just keep it as it is and do what I can do. ”
The fact that Kent was able to break the Top 10 with just 4 innings of Low A work shows how advanced his quality as a pitcher is compared to most 19 year olds. The road to the Majors is often a long one, though it becomes much shorter when you possess the makeup that Kent brings to an organization. He's arguably the most advanced high school pitcher the Angels have drafted in the last decade next to Chris Rodriguez, who would be the Angels most notable HS draft pick post-2010 to make the Majors. Kent carries the advantage of a clean bill of health as he enters the 2024 season looking to make his name known as a Top Prospect not just with the Angels, but across all of baseball. It is still too early to pin a Major League date on him, but with a strong 2024 season to springboard off of we could see a timetable as early as late 2025. For now, however, the immediate goal is to simply continue building on the dream, executing with successes, and focusing on one day at a time as Kent builds his stock as a future Top 100 MLB Prospect. 
View the full article

Shortstop Joswa Lugo, a Dominican shortstop with a powerful bat, was the Angels’ top signee among the 15 players they inked on the first day of the international signing period on Monday.
Lugo, 16, reportedly received a $2.3 million signing bonus, the largest among the Angels’ signees. Lugo was rated the No. 8 international prospect in this year’s class by Baseball America, and he was No. 37 by MLB Pipeline.
The Angels also spent $685,000 on Dominican outfielder Hayden Alvarez and $575,000 for Dominican shortstop Greylin De La Paz. Alvarez was ranked No. 63 and De La Paz was ranked No. 70 by Baseball America. The Angels also signed No. 87 Humberto Tibieri, a catcher from Venezuela.
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View the full article

Shortstop Joswa Lugo, a Dominican shortstop with a powerful bat, was the Angels’ top signee among the 15 players they inked on the first day of the international signing period on Monday.
Lugo, 16, reportedly received a $2.3 million signing bonus, the largest among the Angels’ signees. Lugo was rated the No. 8 international prospect in this year’s class by Baseball America, and he was No. 37 by MLB Pipeline.
The Angels also spent $685,000 on Dominican outfielder Hayden Alvarez and $575,000 for Dominican shortstop Greylin De La Paz. Alvarez was ranked No. 63 and De La Paz was ranked No. 70 by Baseball America. The Angels also signed No. 87 Humberto Tibieri, a catcher from Venezuela.
Related Articles
Los Angeles Angels | Angels avoid arbitration with 4 players; 2 still unsigned Los Angeles Angels | New Angels pitcher Zach Plesac ready to ‘change the narrative’ of his career Los Angeles Angels | Angels reportedly near deal with right-hander Zach Plesac The Angels also signed right-hander Jhostin Betances (Dominican Republic), catcher José Camacho (Venezuela), right-hander Daniel Colina (Venezuela), right-hander Dioris De la Rosa (Dominican Republic), outfielder Wilberson De Pena (Dominican Republic), right-hander Jhasir Flores (Panama), right-hander Fabian Gallardo (Venezuela), right-hander Kauriel Leon (Dominican Republic), right-hander Cristopher Montilla (Venezuela), catcher Marlon Quintero (Panama) and outfielder Manuel Silva (Venezuela).
View the full article

By @ryanmfalla, AngelsWin.com Staff Reporter
It's not everyday you find an ace-caliber high schooler bulldogging his way to top prospect rankings just one year out of high school, and it's even less often that you find that arm in the 11th round of the draft. The Angels latest top prospect, RHP Caden Dana, came into the Angels organization as a high schooler in the 2022 draft, and though he’s pitched less than 80 innings with the organization he’s already established himself atop the leaderboards. Though he has pitched just one full professional season in the minors the quality of his stuff, as well as his physical and mental makeup, has firmly entrenched his status as a soon to be big league starter. The maturity present in the now 20 year old speaks for itself with his presence on the mound, and his dedication behind the scenes allow his best qualities to shine regularly. When talking about Caden Dana you often hear whispers of ace-like potential, yet when analyzing his ability it becomes clear this conversation should be more than just whispers.
“It was a big step for me going from high school ball to facing grown men in Rookie ball. It was different but I adapted pretty quick. I stuck with my main intention from high school; just throw strikes, focus, and get that out.”
His first full season in the Minors saw him waste no time establishing his stock as a top organizational prospect. Dana struck out 89 hitters across 69.1 innings of work between Low A and High A in 2023 while allowing just four home runs. Hitters managed a sub .300 OBP while seeing power numbers fall to a meager .324 slugging percentage against his stuff. He also performed well against the splits as right handed hitters managed a lowly .621 OPS while lefties hit for a similarly meager .619 OPS. This was not across short sample size either as Dana pitched against righties in 155 PAs with lefties seeing the plate 126 times. Dana’s strikeouts may be the most upfront indicator of his Major League quality, yet his ability to sap power out of bats is the talent that will spell the most success for Dana going forward.
“I'm just trying to keep them as off balance as possible, keep them guessing. Don't let them know what's coming. That’s my goal, if you get off-balance swings you won’t give up too many home runs.”
Through 53.1 innings at High A Dana registered as a top pitcher across multiple categories in the Northwest league, notably finishing the season as a top 5 pitcher in K/9 rate (12 K/9), K% (31.7%), FIP (3.23), and Swinging Strike % (16.6%). Despite producing most of his outs through the flyball (43.7%), which would be the 6th highest FB% in the Northwest League, Dana managed a top 3 HR/FB rate of 5.5%. This ability to keep the ball in the park bodes well for his future pitching in Anaheim as Angels stadium has seen its fair share of flyball/strikeout pitchers find great success. Dana tends to comp towards a Noah Syndergaard type given his edge towards power pitching over finesse, though he does come packaged with a fair grasp on strike zone control for a pitcher entering his age 20 season. Attitude and energy wise, Dana is reminiscent of Angels favorite Jered Weaver, a quality sure to play well with fans in the coming years. His presence on the mound is highly aggressive, and his ability to spot the ball all across the zone is strong enough to give credence to the future stars ace-like comparisons. Dana’s physical frame (6’4, 215lbs) supports his power repertoire well, offering confidence that he will continue to add velocity onto his already mid to high 90’s power fastball. His slider looks to develop into a quality Major League out pitch, and once he furthers his sense of control on his hammering curve Dana will present a true force to be reckoned with as an Angel. 
“I got a four seam fastball, change up, split change up, 12-6 curve and a slider. I can play up and down. I can play east and west. I like bullying hitters with my fastball, really test them with that. Build off that with a curveball or slider, really test them with the secondary. All of my pitches work well with each other.”
The Angels have made a recent habit of spending over slot in the draft to attract talented high school pitchers edging towards college. Despite being a talent capable of first round quality development Dana fell to the 11th round of the 2022 draft, leading to speculation that he would take his talents to the University of Kentucky before the Angels swooped in with a well over slot bonus to secure his talents. The Angels would repeat this same strategy in 2023 after swooning pitcher Barrett Kent with a well over slot bonus in the 8th round to keep him from fulfilling his commitment to Arkansas. Instead of watching top level high school talents refine their draft stock in college, and likely fall out of the Angels reach, the organization has taken to securing these arms before they can develop into surefire top 10 picks out of college. An inspired strategy for an organization often picking outside of the top ten, why wait for talents to become first rounders in three years when you can roll the dice in the middle rounds now? This strategy has so far proven effective as Caden Dana’s development has him fast tracked towards a soon to be Major League starting role.
“I was drafted on the third day of the draft, my agent called and told me the Angels had come up with a really good offer. They ended up drafting both me and my brother [Casey Dana] that day. My dad was on that call too, it was something I had only dreamed. The Angels had proposed the idea the day before we got drafted. I was happy and also pretty shocked to hear that, I didn't think that situation was possible going into the draft. It was the best outcome for me, my brother and my family. Getting everyone into the picture together.”
Dana’s path to the Majors is quite straight-forward from here as he finished 2023 with success at High A, seeing his last three starts all go for 6 IP with at least 7 K’s in each start (9 K’s last two starts). It would not be out of the question to see him begin the year at Double A, and from there he’s just a stones throw away from the big league club. The Angels are quickly preparing Dana for a Major League workload as he regularly threw 80+ pitches an outing last season with four of his ten High A outings being 90+ pitch affairs. You often see 18 to 19 year old prospects average 40-60 pitches an outing, signifying the Angels desire to develop a Major League stamina early. This is not without warrant either as Dana came into the organization with a natural ability to maintain quality of stuff deep into starts, especially the strength of his power fastball. The stars appear to be aligning for Dana to make his big league debut in short order; as is the Major league starting staff is not particularly deep and with the Angels tendency to promote prospects out of Double A there appears to be a clear shot to the Majors for Dana. Especially should the bottom end of that big league starting depth fall out of order in 2024. Realistically speaking Dana is earmarked for a 2025/2026 debut, though I wouldn’t be surprised to see him making his first big league impressions late in 2024 come September call-ups. He is one of the more aggressively minded pitchers within the system, and with the stuff to back up his bulldog mentality he is sure to provide impact quickly once he hits the Majors. This organization may be far removed from the modern glory days of bulldog aces like Jered Weaver or John Lackey, but with Caden Dana in the fold Angel fans can look forward to a starting staff that will bring Angels dominance back to the AL West. Dana may simply be a prospect today, but come tomorrow we will see him shine as one of the brightest spots in the future of the Los Angeles Angels. 
View the full article

By @ryanmfalla, AngelsWin.com Staff Reporter
It's not everyday you find an ace-caliber high schooler bulldogging his way to top prospect rankings just one year out of high school, and it's even less often that you find that arm in the 11th round of the draft. The Angels latest top prospect, RHP Caden Dana, came into the Angels organization as a high schooler in the 2022 draft, and though he’s pitched less than 80 innings with the organization he’s already established himself atop the leaderboards. Though he has pitched just one full professional season in the minors the quality of his stuff, as well as his physical and mental makeup, has firmly entrenched his status as a soon to be big league starter. The maturity present in the now 20 year old speaks for itself with his presence on the mound, and his dedication behind the scenes allow his best qualities to shine regularly. When talking about Caden Dana you often hear whispers of ace-like potential, yet when analyzing his ability it becomes clear this conversation should be more than just whispers.
“It was a big step for me going from high school ball to facing grown men in Rookie ball. It was different but I adapted pretty quick. I stuck with my main intention from high school; just throw strikes, focus, and get that out.”
His first full season in the Minors saw him waste no time establishing his stock as a top organizational prospect. Dana struck out 89 hitters across 69.1 innings of work between Low A and High A in 2023 while allowing just four home runs. Hitters managed a sub .300 OBP while seeing power numbers fall to a meager .324 slugging percentage against his stuff. He also performed well against the splits as right handed hitters managed a lowly .621 OPS while lefties hit for a similarly meager .619 OPS. This was not across short sample size either as Dana pitched against righties in 155 PAs with lefties seeing the plate 126 times. Dana’s strikeouts may be the most upfront indicator of his Major League quality, yet his ability to sap power out of bats is the talent that will spell the most success for Dana going forward.
“I'm just trying to keep them as off balance as possible, keep them guessing. Don't let them know what's coming. That’s my goal, if you get off-balance swings you won’t give up too many home runs.”
Through 53.1 innings at High A Dana registered as a top pitcher across multiple categories in the Northwest league, notably finishing the season as a top 5 pitcher in K/9 rate (12 K/9), K% (31.7%), FIP (3.23), and Swinging Strike % (16.6%). Despite producing most of his outs through the flyball (43.7%), which would be the 6th highest FB% in the Northwest League, Dana managed a top 3 HR/FB rate of 5.5%. This ability to keep the ball in the park bodes well for his future pitching in Anaheim as Angels stadium has seen its fair share of flyball/strikeout pitchers find great success. Dana tends to comp towards a Noah Syndergaard type given his edge towards power pitching over finesse, though he does come packaged with a fair grasp on strike zone control for a pitcher entering his age 20 season. Attitude and energy wise, Dana is reminiscent of Angels favorite Jered Weaver, a quality sure to play well with fans in the coming years. His presence on the mound is highly aggressive, and his ability to spot the ball all across the zone is strong enough to give credence to the future stars ace-like comparisons. Dana’s physical frame (6’4, 215lbs) supports his power repertoire well, offering confidence that he will continue to add velocity onto his already mid to high 90’s power fastball. His slider looks to develop into a quality Major League out pitch, and once he furthers his sense of control on his hammering curve Dana will present a true force to be reckoned with as an Angel. 
“I got a four seam fastball, change up, split change up, 12-6 curve and a slider. I can play up and down. I can play east and west. I like bullying hitters with my fastball, really test them with that. Build off that with a curveball or slider, really test them with the secondary. All of my pitches work well with each other.”
The Angels have made a recent habit of spending over slot in the draft to attract talented high school pitchers edging towards college. Despite being a talent capable of first round quality development Dana fell to the 11th round of the 2022 draft, leading to speculation that he would take his talents to the University of Kentucky before the Angels swooped in with a well over slot bonus to secure his talents. The Angels would repeat this same strategy in 2023 after swooning pitcher Barrett Kent with a well over slot bonus in the 8th round to keep him from fulfilling his commitment to Arkansas. Instead of watching top level high school talents refine their draft stock in college, and likely fall out of the Angels reach, the organization has taken to securing these arms before they can develop into surefire top 10 picks out of college. An inspired strategy for an organization often picking outside of the top ten, why wait for talents to become first rounders in three years when you can roll the dice in the middle rounds now? This strategy has so far proven effective as Caden Dana’s development has him fast tracked towards a soon to be Major League starting role.
“I was drafted on the third day of the draft, my agent called and told me the Angels had come up with a really good offer. They ended up drafting both me and my brother [Casey Dana] that day. My dad was on that call too, it was something I had only dreamed. The Angels had proposed the idea the day before we got drafted. I was happy and also pretty shocked to hear that, I didn't think that situation was possible going into the draft. It was the best outcome for me, my brother and my family. Getting everyone into the picture together.”
Dana’s path to the Majors is quite straight-forward from here as he finished 2023 with success at High A, seeing his last three starts all go for 6 IP with at least 7 K’s in each start (9 K’s last two starts). It would not be out of the question to see him begin the year at Double A, and from there he’s just a stones throw away from the big league club. The Angels are quickly preparing Dana for a Major League workload as he regularly threw 80+ pitches an outing last season with four of his ten High A outings being 90+ pitch affairs. You often see 18 to 19 year old prospects average 40-60 pitches an outing, signifying the Angels desire to develop a Major League stamina early. This is not without warrant either as Dana came into the organization with a natural ability to maintain quality of stuff deep into starts, especially the strength of his power fastball. The stars appear to be aligning for Dana to make his big league debut in short order; as is the Major league starting staff is not particularly deep and with the Angels tendency to promote prospects out of Double A there appears to be a clear shot to the Majors for Dana. Especially should the bottom end of that big league starting depth fall out of order in 2024. Realistically speaking Dana is earmarked for a 2025/2026 debut, though I wouldn’t be surprised to see him making his first big league impressions late in 2024 come September call-ups. He is one of the more aggressively minded pitchers within the system, and with the stuff to back up his bulldog mentality he is sure to provide impact quickly once he hits the Majors. This organization may be far removed from the modern glory days of bulldog aces like Jered Weaver or John Lackey, but with Caden Dana in the fold Angel fans can look forward to a starting staff that will bring Angels dominance back to the AL West. Dana may simply be a prospect today, but come tomorrow we will see him shine as one of the brightest spots in the future of the Los Angeles Angels. 
View the full article

By @ryanmfalla, AngelsWin.com Staff Reporter
It's not everyday you find an ace-caliber high schooler bulldogging his way to top prospect rankings just one year out of high school, and it's even less often that you find that arm in the 11th round of the draft. The Angels latest top prospect, RHP Caden Dana, came into the Angels organization as a high schooler in the 2022 draft, and though he’s pitched less than 80 innings with the organization he’s already established himself atop the leaderboards. Though he has pitched just one full professional season in the minors the quality of his stuff, as well as his physical and mental makeup, has firmly entrenched his status as a soon to be big league starter. The maturity present in the now 20 year old speaks for itself with his presence on the mound, and his dedication behind the scenes allow his best qualities to shine regularly. When talking about Caden Dana you often hear whispers of ace-like potential, yet when analyzing his ability it becomes clear this conversation should be more than just whispers.
“It was a big step for me going from high school ball to facing grown men in Rookie ball. It was different but I adapted pretty quick. I stuck with my main intention from high school; just throw strikes, focus, and get that out.”
His first full season in the Minors saw him waste no time establishing his stock as a top organizational prospect. Dana struck out 89 hitters across 69.1 innings of work between Low A and High A in 2023 while allowing just four home runs. Hitters managed a sub .300 OBP while seeing power numbers fall to a meager .324 slugging percentage against his stuff. He also performed well against the splits as right handed hitters managed a lowly .621 OPS while lefties hit for a similarly meager .619 OPS. This was not across short sample size either as Dana pitched against righties in 155 PAs with lefties seeing the plate 126 times. Dana’s strikeouts may be the most upfront indicator of his Major League quality, yet his ability to sap power out of bats is the talent that will spell the most success for Dana going forward.
“I'm just trying to keep them as off balance as possible, keep them guessing. Don't let them know what's coming. That’s my goal, if you get off-balance swings you won’t give up too many home runs.”
Through 53.1 innings at High A Dana registered as a top pitcher across multiple categories in the Northwest league, notably finishing the season as a top 5 pitcher in K/9 rate (12 K/9), K% (31.7%), FIP (3.23), and Swinging Strike % (16.6%). Despite producing most of his outs through the flyball (43.7%), which would be the 6th highest FB% in the Northwest League, Dana managed a top 3 HR/FB rate of 5.5%. This ability to keep the ball in the park bodes well for his future pitching in Anaheim as Angels stadium has seen its fair share of flyball/strikeout pitchers find great success. Dana tends to comp towards a Noah Syndergaard type given his edge towards power pitching over finesse, though he does come packaged with a fair grasp on strike zone control for a pitcher entering his age 20 season. Attitude and energy wise, Dana is reminiscent of Angels favorite Jered Weaver, a quality sure to play well with fans in the coming years. His presence on the mound is highly aggressive, and his ability to spot the ball all across the zone is strong enough to give credence to the future stars ace-like comparisons. Dana’s physical frame (6’4, 215lbs) supports his power repertoire well, offering confidence that he will continue to add velocity onto his already mid to high 90’s power fastball. His slider looks to develop into a quality Major League out pitch, and once he furthers his sense of control on his hammering curve Dana will present a true force to be reckoned with as an Angel. 
“I got a four seam fastball, change up, split change up, 12-6 curve and a slider. I can play up and down. I can play east and west. I like bullying hitters with my fastball, really test them with that. Build off that with a curveball or slider, really test them with the secondary. All of my pitches work well with each other.”
The Angels have made a recent habit of spending over slot in the draft to attract talented high school pitchers edging towards college. Despite being a talent capable of first round quality development Dana fell to the 11th round of the 2022 draft, leading to speculation that he would take his talents to the University of Kentucky before the Angels swooped in with a well over slot bonus to secure his talents. The Angels would repeat this same strategy in 2023 after swooning pitcher Barrett Kent with a well over slot bonus in the 8th round to keep him from fulfilling his commitment to Arkansas. Instead of watching top level high school talents refine their draft stock in college, and likely fall out of the Angels reach, the organization has taken to securing these arms before they can develop into surefire top 10 picks out of college. An inspired strategy for an organization often picking outside of the top ten, why wait for talents to become first rounders in three years when you can roll the dice in the middle rounds now? This strategy has so far proven effective as Caden Dana’s development has him fast tracked towards a soon to be Major League starting role.
“I was drafted on the third day of the draft, my agent called and told me the Angels had come up with a really good offer. They ended up drafting both me and my brother [Casey Dana] that day. My dad was on that call too, it was something I had only dreamed. The Angels had proposed the idea the day before we got drafted. I was happy and also pretty shocked to hear that, I didn't think that situation was possible going into the draft. It was the best outcome for me, my brother and my family. Getting everyone into the picture together.”
Dana’s path to the Majors is quite straight-forward from here as he finished 2023 with success at High A, seeing his last three starts all go for 6 IP with at least 7 K’s in each start (9 K’s last two starts). It would not be out of the question to see him begin the year at Double A, and from there he’s just a stones throw away from the big league club. The Angels are quickly preparing Dana for a Major League workload as he regularly threw 80+ pitches an outing last season with four of his ten High A outings being 90+ pitch affairs. You often see 18 to 19 year old prospects average 40-60 pitches an outing, signifying the Angels desire to develop a Major League stamina early. This is not without warrant either as Dana came into the organization with a natural ability to maintain quality of stuff deep into starts, especially the strength of his power fastball. The stars appear to be aligning for Dana to make his big league debut in short order; as is the Major league starting staff is not particularly deep and with the Angels tendency to promote prospects out of Double A there appears to be a clear shot to the Majors for Dana. Especially should the bottom end of that big league starting depth fall out of order in 2024. Realistically speaking Dana is earmarked for a 2025/2026 debut, though I wouldn’t be surprised to see him making his first big league impressions late in 2024 come September call-ups. He is one of the more aggressively minded pitchers within the system, and with the stuff to back up his bulldog mentality he is sure to provide impact quickly once he hits the Majors. This organization may be far removed from the modern glory days of bulldog aces like Jered Weaver or John Lackey, but with Caden Dana in the fold Angel fans can look forward to a starting staff that will bring Angels dominance back to the AL West. Dana may simply be a prospect today, but come tomorrow we will see him shine as one of the brightest spots in the future of the Los Angeles Angels. 
View the full article

By @ryanmfalla, AngelsWin.com Staff Reporter
It's not everyday you find an ace-caliber high schooler bulldogging his way to top prospect rankings just one year out of high school, and it's even less often that you find that arm in the 11th round of the draft. The Angels latest top prospect, RHP Caden Dana, came into the Angels organization as a high schooler in the 2022 draft, and though he’s pitched less than 80 innings with the organization he’s already established himself atop the leaderboards. Though he has pitched just one full professional season in the minors the quality of his stuff, as well as his physical and mental makeup, has firmly entrenched his status as a soon to be big league starter. The maturity present in the now 20 year old speaks for itself with his presence on the mound, and his dedication behind the scenes allow his best qualities to shine regularly. When talking about Caden Dana you often hear whispers of ace-like potential, yet when analyzing his ability it becomes clear this conversation should be more than just whispers.
“It was a big step for me going from high school ball to facing grown men in Rookie ball. It was different but I adapted pretty quick. I stuck with my main intention from high school; just throw strikes, focus, and get that out.”
His first full season in the Minors saw him waste no time establishing his stock as a top organizational prospect. Dana struck out 89 hitters across 69.1 innings of work between Low A and High A in 2023 while allowing just four home runs. Hitters managed a sub .300 OBP while seeing power numbers fall to a meager .324 slugging percentage against his stuff. He also performed well against the splits as right handed hitters managed a lowly .621 OPS while lefties hit for a similarly meager .619 OPS. This was not across short sample size either as Dana pitched against righties in 155 PAs with lefties seeing the plate 126 times. Dana’s strikeouts may be the most upfront indicator of his Major League quality, yet his ability to sap power out of bats is the talent that will spell the most success for Dana going forward.
“I'm just trying to keep them as off balance as possible, keep them guessing. Don't let them know what's coming. That’s my goal, if you get off-balance swings you won’t give up too many home runs.”
Through 53.1 innings at High A Dana registered as a top pitcher across multiple categories in the Northwest league, notably finishing the season as a top 5 pitcher in K/9 rate (12 K/9), K% (31.7%), FIP (3.23), and Swinging Strike % (16.6%). Despite producing most of his outs through the flyball (43.7%), which would be the 6th highest FB% in the Northwest League, Dana managed a top 3 HR/FB rate of 5.5%. This ability to keep the ball in the park bodes well for his future pitching in Anaheim as Angels stadium has seen its fair share of flyball/strikeout pitchers find great success. Dana tends to comp towards a Noah Syndergaard type given his edge towards power pitching over finesse, though he does come packaged with a fair grasp on strike zone control for a pitcher entering his age 20 season. Attitude and energy wise, Dana is reminiscent of Angels favorite Jered Weaver, a quality sure to play well with fans in the coming years. His presence on the mound is highly aggressive, and his ability to spot the ball all across the zone is strong enough to give credence to the future stars ace-like comparisons. Dana’s physical frame (6’4, 215lbs) supports his power repertoire well, offering confidence that he will continue to add velocity onto his already mid to high 90’s power fastball. His slider looks to develop into a quality Major League out pitch, and once he furthers his sense of control on his hammering curve Dana will present a true force to be reckoned with as an Angel. 
“I got a four seam fastball, change up, split change up, 12-6 curve and a slider. I can play up and down. I can play east and west. I like bullying hitters with my fastball, really test them with that. Build off that with a curveball or slider, really test them with the secondary. All of my pitches work well with each other.”
The Angels have made a recent habit of spending over slot in the draft to attract talented high school pitchers edging towards college. Despite being a talent capable of first round quality development Dana fell to the 11th round of the 2022 draft, leading to speculation that he would take his talents to the University of Kentucky before the Angels swooped in with a well over slot bonus to secure his talents. The Angels would repeat this same strategy in 2023 after swooning pitcher Barrett Kent with a well over slot bonus in the 8th round to keep him from fulfilling his commitment to Arkansas. Instead of watching top level high school talents refine their draft stock in college, and likely fall out of the Angels reach, the organization has taken to securing these arms before they can develop into surefire top 10 picks out of college. An inspired strategy for an organization often picking outside of the top ten, why wait for talents to become first rounders in three years when you can roll the dice in the middle rounds now? This strategy has so far proven effective as Caden Dana’s development has him fast tracked towards a soon to be Major League starting role.
“I was drafted on the third day of the draft, my agent called and told me the Angels had come up with a really good offer. They ended up drafting both me and my brother [Casey Dana] that day. My dad was on that call too, it was something I had only dreamed. The Angels had proposed the idea the day before we got drafted. I was happy and also pretty shocked to hear that, I didn't think that situation was possible going into the draft. It was the best outcome for me, my brother and my family. Getting everyone into the picture together.”
Dana’s path to the Majors is quite straight-forward from here as he finished 2023 with success at High A, seeing his last three starts all go for 6 IP with at least 7 K’s in each start (9 K’s last two starts). It would not be out of the question to see him begin the year at Double A, and from there he’s just a stones throw away from the big league club. The Angels are quickly preparing Dana for a Major League workload as he regularly threw 80+ pitches an outing last season with four of his ten High A outings being 90+ pitch affairs. You often see 18 to 19 year old prospects average 40-60 pitches an outing, signifying the Angels desire to develop a Major League stamina early. This is not without warrant either as Dana came into the organization with a natural ability to maintain quality of stuff deep into starts, especially the strength of his power fastball. The stars appear to be aligning for Dana to make his big league debut in short order; as is the Major league starting staff is not particularly deep and with the Angels tendency to promote prospects out of Double A there appears to be a clear shot to the Majors for Dana. Especially should the bottom end of that big league starting depth fall out of order in 2024. Realistically speaking Dana is earmarked for a 2025/2026 debut, though I wouldn’t be surprised to see him making his first big league impressions late in 2024 come September call-ups. He is one of the more aggressively minded pitchers within the system, and with the stuff to back up his bulldog mentality he is sure to provide impact quickly once he hits the Majors. This organization may be far removed from the modern glory days of bulldog aces like Jered Weaver or John Lackey, but with Caden Dana in the fold Angel fans can look forward to a starting staff that will bring Angels dominance back to the AL West. Dana may simply be a prospect today, but come tomorrow we will see him shine as one of the brightest spots in the future of the Los Angeles Angels. 
View the full article

By @ryanmfalla, AngelsWin.com Staff Reporter
It's not everyday you find an ace-caliber high schooler bulldogging his way to top prospect rankings just one year out of high school, and it's even less often that you find that arm in the 11th round of the draft. The Angels latest top prospect, RHP Caden Dana, came into the Angels organization as a high schooler in the 2022 draft, and though he’s pitched less than 80 innings with the organization he’s already established himself atop the leaderboards. Though he has pitched just one full professional season in the minors the quality of his stuff, as well as his physical and mental makeup, has firmly entrenched his status as a soon to be big league starter. The maturity present in the now 20 year old speaks for itself with his presence on the mound, and his dedication behind the scenes allow his best qualities to shine regularly. When talking about Caden Dana you often hear whispers of ace-like potential, yet when analyzing his ability it becomes clear this conversation should be more than just whispers.
“It was a big step for me going from high school ball to facing grown men in Rookie ball. It was different but I adapted pretty quick. I stuck with my main intention from high school; just throw strikes, focus, and get that out.”
His first full season in the Minors saw him waste no time establishing his stock as a top organizational prospect. Dana struck out 89 hitters across 69.1 innings of work between Low A and High A in 2023 while allowing just four home runs. Hitters managed a sub .300 OBP while seeing power numbers fall to a meager .324 slugging percentage against his stuff. He also performed well against the splits as right handed hitters managed a lowly .621 OPS while lefties hit for a similarly meager .619 OPS. This was not across short sample size either as Dana pitched against righties in 155 PAs with lefties seeing the plate 126 times. Dana’s strikeouts may be the most upfront indicator of his Major League quality, yet his ability to sap power out of bats is the talent that will spell the most success for Dana going forward.
“I'm just trying to keep them as off balance as possible, keep them guessing. Don't let them know what's coming. That’s my goal, if you get off-balance swings you won’t give up too many home runs.”
Through 53.1 innings at High A Dana registered as a top pitcher across multiple categories in the Northwest league, notably finishing the season as a top 5 pitcher in K/9 rate (12 K/9), K% (31.7%), FIP (3.23), and Swinging Strike % (16.6%). Despite producing most of his outs through the flyball (43.7%), which would be the 6th highest FB% in the Northwest League, Dana managed a top 3 HR/FB rate of 5.5%. This ability to keep the ball in the park bodes well for his future pitching in Anaheim as Angels stadium has seen its fair share of flyball/strikeout pitchers find great success. Dana tends to comp towards a Noah Syndergaard type given his edge towards power pitching over finesse, though he does come packaged with a fair grasp on strike zone control for a pitcher entering his age 20 season. Attitude and energy wise, Dana is reminiscent of Angels favorite Jered Weaver, a quality sure to play well with fans in the coming years. His presence on the mound is highly aggressive, and his ability to spot the ball all across the zone is strong enough to give credence to the future stars ace-like comparisons. Dana’s physical frame (6’4, 215lbs) supports his power repertoire well, offering confidence that he will continue to add velocity onto his already mid to high 90’s power fastball. His slider looks to develop into a quality Major League out pitch, and once he furthers his sense of control on his hammering curve Dana will present a true force to be reckoned with as an Angel. 
“I got a four seam fastball, change up, split change up, 12-6 curve and a slider. I can play up and down. I can play east and west. I like bullying hitters with my fastball, really test them with that. Build off that with a curveball or slider, really test them with the secondary. All of my pitches work well with each other.”
The Angels have made a recent habit of spending over slot in the draft to attract talented high school pitchers edging towards college. Despite being a talent capable of first round quality development Dana fell to the 11th round of the 2022 draft, leading to speculation that he would take his talents to the University of Kentucky before the Angels swooped in with a well over slot bonus to secure his talents. The Angels would repeat this same strategy in 2023 after swooning pitcher Barrett Kent with a well over slot bonus in the 8th round to keep him from fulfilling his commitment to Arkansas. Instead of watching top level high school talents refine their draft stock in college, and likely fall out of the Angels reach, the organization has taken to securing these arms before they can develop into surefire top 10 picks out of college. An inspired strategy for an organization often picking outside of the top ten, why wait for talents to become first rounders in three years when you can roll the dice in the middle rounds now? This strategy has so far proven effective as Caden Dana’s development has him fast tracked towards a soon to be Major League starting role.
“I was drafted on the third day of the draft, my agent called and told me the Angels had come up with a really good offer. They ended up drafting both me and my brother [Casey Dana] that day. My dad was on that call too, it was something I had only dreamed. The Angels had proposed the idea the day before we got drafted. I was happy and also pretty shocked to hear that, I didn't think that situation was possible going into the draft. It was the best outcome for me, my brother and my family. Getting everyone into the picture together.”
Dana’s path to the Majors is quite straight-forward from here as he finished 2023 with success at High A, seeing his last three starts all go for 6 IP with at least 7 K’s in each start (9 K’s last two starts). It would not be out of the question to see him begin the year at Double A, and from there he’s just a stones throw away from the big league club. The Angels are quickly preparing Dana for a Major League workload as he regularly threw 80+ pitches an outing last season with four of his ten High A outings being 90+ pitch affairs. You often see 18 to 19 year old prospects average 40-60 pitches an outing, signifying the Angels desire to develop a Major League stamina early. This is not without warrant either as Dana came into the organization with a natural ability to maintain quality of stuff deep into starts, especially the strength of his power fastball. The stars appear to be aligning for Dana to make his big league debut in short order; as is the Major league starting staff is not particularly deep and with the Angels tendency to promote prospects out of Double A there appears to be a clear shot to the Majors for Dana. Especially should the bottom end of that big league starting depth fall out of order in 2024. Realistically speaking Dana is earmarked for a 2025/2026 debut, though I wouldn’t be surprised to see him making his first big league impressions late in 2024 come September call-ups. He is one of the more aggressively minded pitchers within the system, and with the stuff to back up his bulldog mentality he is sure to provide impact quickly once he hits the Majors. This organization may be far removed from the modern glory days of bulldog aces like Jered Weaver or John Lackey, but with Caden Dana in the fold Angel fans can look forward to a starting staff that will bring Angels dominance back to the AL West. Dana may simply be a prospect today, but come tomorrow we will see him shine as one of the brightest spots in the future of the Los Angeles Angels. 
View the full article

By @ryanmfalla, AngelsWin.com Staff Reporter
It's not everyday you find an ace-caliber high schooler bulldogging his way to top prospect rankings just one year out of high school, and it's even less often that you find that arm in the 11th round of the draft. The Angels latest top prospect, RHP Caden Dana, came into the Angels organization as a high schooler in the 2022 draft, and though he’s pitched less than 80 innings with the organization he’s already established himself atop the leaderboards. Though he has pitched just one full professional season in the minors the quality of his stuff, as well as his physical and mental makeup, has firmly entrenched his status as a soon to be big league starter. The maturity present in the now 20 year old speaks for itself with his presence on the mound, and his dedication behind the scenes allow his best qualities to shine regularly. When talking about Caden Dana you often hear whispers of ace-like potential, yet when analyzing his ability it becomes clear this conversation should be more than just whispers.
“It was a big step for me going from high school ball to facing grown men in Rookie ball. It was different but I adapted pretty quick. I stuck with my main intention from high school; just throw strikes, focus, and get that out.”
His first full season in the Minors saw him waste no time establishing his stock as a top organizational prospect. Dana struck out 89 hitters across 69.1 innings of work between Low A and High A in 2023 while allowing just four home runs. Hitters managed a sub .300 OBP while seeing power numbers fall to a meager .324 slugging percentage against his stuff. He also performed well against the splits as right handed hitters managed a lowly .621 OPS while lefties hit for a similarly meager .619 OPS. This was not across short sample size either as Dana pitched against righties in 155 PAs with lefties seeing the plate 126 times. Dana’s strikeouts may be the most upfront indicator of his Major League quality, yet his ability to sap power out of bats is the talent that will spell the most success for Dana going forward.
“I'm just trying to keep them as off balance as possible, keep them guessing. Don't let them know what's coming. That’s my goal, if you get off-balance swings you won’t give up too many home runs.”
Through 53.1 innings at High A Dana registered as a top pitcher across multiple categories in the Northwest league, notably finishing the season as a top 5 pitcher in K/9 rate (12 K/9), K% (31.7%), FIP (3.23), and Swinging Strike % (16.6%). Despite producing most of his outs through the flyball (43.7%), which would be the 6th highest FB% in the Northwest League, Dana managed a top 3 HR/FB rate of 5.5%. This ability to keep the ball in the park bodes well for his future pitching in Anaheim as Angels stadium has seen its fair share of flyball/strikeout pitchers find great success. Dana tends to comp towards a Noah Syndergaard type given his edge towards power pitching over finesse, though he does come packaged with a fair grasp on strike zone control for a pitcher entering his age 20 season. Attitude and energy wise, Dana is reminiscent of Angels favorite Jered Weaver, a quality sure to play well with fans in the coming years. His presence on the mound is highly aggressive, and his ability to spot the ball all across the zone is strong enough to give credence to the future stars ace-like comparisons. Dana’s physical frame (6’4, 215lbs) supports his power repertoire well, offering confidence that he will continue to add velocity onto his already mid to high 90’s power fastball. His slider looks to develop into a quality Major League out pitch, and once he furthers his sense of control on his hammering curve Dana will present a true force to be reckoned with as an Angel. 
“I got a four seam fastball, change up, split change up, 12-6 curve and a slider. I can play up and down. I can play east and west. I like bullying hitters with my fastball, really test them with that. Build off that with a curveball or slider, really test them with the secondary. All of my pitches work well with each other.”
The Angels have made a recent habit of spending over slot in the draft to attract talented high school pitchers edging towards college. Despite being a talent capable of first round quality development Dana fell to the 11th round of the 2022 draft, leading to speculation that he would take his talents to the University of Kentucky before the Angels swooped in with a well over slot bonus to secure his talents. The Angels would repeat this same strategy in 2023 after swooning pitcher Barrett Kent with a well over slot bonus in the 8th round to keep him from fulfilling his commitment to Arkansas. Instead of watching top level high school talents refine their draft stock in college, and likely fall out of the Angels reach, the organization has taken to securing these arms before they can develop into surefire top 10 picks out of college. An inspired strategy for an organization often picking outside of the top ten, why wait for talents to become first rounders in three years when you can roll the dice in the middle rounds now? This strategy has so far proven effective as Caden Dana’s development has him fast tracked towards a soon to be Major League starting role.
“I was drafted on the third day of the draft, my agent called and told me the Angels had come up with a really good offer. They ended up drafting both me and my brother [Casey Dana] that day. My dad was on that call too, it was something I had only dreamed. The Angels had proposed the idea the day before we got drafted. I was happy and also pretty shocked to hear that, I didn't think that situation was possible going into the draft. It was the best outcome for me, my brother and my family. Getting everyone into the picture together.”
Dana’s path to the Majors is quite straight-forward from here as he finished 2023 with success at High A, seeing his last three starts all go for 6 IP with at least 7 K’s in each start (9 K’s last two starts). It would not be out of the question to see him begin the year at Double A, and from there he’s just a stones throw away from the big league club. The Angels are quickly preparing Dana for a Major League workload as he regularly threw 80+ pitches an outing last season with four of his ten High A outings being 90+ pitch affairs. You often see 18 to 19 year old prospects average 40-60 pitches an outing, signifying the Angels desire to develop a Major League stamina early. This is not without warrant either as Dana came into the organization with a natural ability to maintain quality of stuff deep into starts, especially the strength of his power fastball. The stars appear to be aligning for Dana to make his big league debut in short order; as is the Major league starting staff is not particularly deep and with the Angels tendency to promote prospects out of Double A there appears to be a clear shot to the Majors for Dana. Especially should the bottom end of that big league starting depth fall out of order in 2024. Realistically speaking Dana is earmarked for a 2025/2026 debut, though I wouldn’t be surprised to see him making his first big league impressions late in 2024 come September call-ups. He is one of the more aggressively minded pitchers within the system, and with the stuff to back up his bulldog mentality he is sure to provide impact quickly once he hits the Majors. This organization may be far removed from the modern glory days of bulldog aces like Jered Weaver or John Lackey, but with Caden Dana in the fold Angel fans can look forward to a starting staff that will bring Angels dominance back to the AL West. Dana may simply be a prospect today, but come tomorrow we will see him shine as one of the brightest spots in the future of the Los Angeles Angels. 
View the full article

By @ryanmfalla, AngelsWin.com Staff Reporter
It's not everyday you find an ace-caliber high schooler bulldogging his way to top prospect rankings just one year out of high school, and it's even less often that you find that arm in the 11th round of the draft. The Angels latest top prospect, RHP Caden Dana, came into the Angels organization as a high schooler in the 2022 draft, and though he’s pitched less than 80 innings with the organization he’s already established himself atop the leaderboards. Though he has pitched just one full professional season in the minors the quality of his stuff, as well as his physical and mental makeup, has firmly entrenched his status as a soon to be big league starter. The maturity present in the now 20 year old speaks for itself with his presence on the mound, and his dedication behind the scenes allow his best qualities to shine regularly. When talking about Caden Dana you often hear whispers of ace-like potential, yet when analyzing his ability it becomes clear this conversation should be more than just whispers.
“It was a big step for me going from high school ball to facing grown men in Rookie ball. It was different but I adapted pretty quick. I stuck with my main intention from high school; just throw strikes, focus, and get that out.”
His first full season in the Minors saw him waste no time establishing his stock as a top organizational prospect. Dana struck out 89 hitters across 69.1 innings of work between Low A and High A in 2023 while allowing just four home runs. Hitters managed a sub .300 OBP while seeing power numbers fall to a meager .324 slugging percentage against his stuff. He also performed well against the splits as right handed hitters managed a lowly .621 OPS while lefties hit for a similarly meager .619 OPS. This was not across short sample size either as Dana pitched against righties in 155 PAs with lefties seeing the plate 126 times. Dana’s strikeouts may be the most upfront indicator of his Major League quality, yet his ability to sap power out of bats is the talent that will spell the most success for Dana going forward.
“I'm just trying to keep them as off balance as possible, keep them guessing. Don't let them know what's coming. That’s my goal, if you get off-balance swings you won’t give up too many home runs.”
Through 53.1 innings at High A Dana registered as a top pitcher across multiple categories in the Northwest league, notably finishing the season as a top 5 pitcher in K/9 rate (12 K/9), K% (31.7%), FIP (3.23), and Swinging Strike % (16.6%). Despite producing most of his outs through the flyball (43.7%), which would be the 6th highest FB% in the Northwest League, Dana managed a top 3 HR/FB rate of 5.5%. This ability to keep the ball in the park bodes well for his future pitching in Anaheim as Angels stadium has seen its fair share of flyball/strikeout pitchers find great success. Dana tends to comp towards a Noah Syndergaard type given his edge towards power pitching over finesse, though he does come packaged with a fair grasp on strike zone control for a pitcher entering his age 20 season. Attitude and energy wise, Dana is reminiscent of Angels favorite Jered Weaver, a quality sure to play well with fans in the coming years. His presence on the mound is highly aggressive, and his ability to spot the ball all across the zone is strong enough to give credence to the future stars ace-like comparisons. Dana’s physical frame (6’4, 215lbs) supports his power repertoire well, offering confidence that he will continue to add velocity onto his already mid to high 90’s power fastball. His slider looks to develop into a quality Major League out pitch, and once he furthers his sense of control on his hammering curve Dana will present a true force to be reckoned with as an Angel. 
“I got a four seam fastball, change up, split change up, 12-6 curve and a slider. I can play up and down. I can play east and west. I like bullying hitters with my fastball, really test them with that. Build off that with a curveball or slider, really test them with the secondary. All of my pitches work well with each other.”
The Angels have made a recent habit of spending over slot in the draft to attract talented high school pitchers edging towards college. Despite being a talent capable of first round quality development Dana fell to the 11th round of the 2022 draft, leading to speculation that he would take his talents to the University of Kentucky before the Angels swooped in with a well over slot bonus to secure his talents. The Angels would repeat this same strategy in 2023 after swooning pitcher Barrett Kent with a well over slot bonus in the 8th round to keep him from fulfilling his commitment to Arkansas. Instead of watching top level high school talents refine their draft stock in college, and likely fall out of the Angels reach, the organization has taken to securing these arms before they can develop into surefire top 10 picks out of college. An inspired strategy for an organization often picking outside of the top ten, why wait for talents to become first rounders in three years when you can roll the dice in the middle rounds now? This strategy has so far proven effective as Caden Dana’s development has him fast tracked towards a soon to be Major League starting role.
“I was drafted on the third day of the draft, my agent called and told me the Angels had come up with a really good offer. They ended up drafting both me and my brother [Casey Dana] that day. My dad was on that call too, it was something I had only dreamed. The Angels had proposed the idea the day before we got drafted. I was happy and also pretty shocked to hear that, I didn't think that situation was possible going into the draft. It was the best outcome for me, my brother and my family. Getting everyone into the picture together.”
Dana’s path to the Majors is quite straight-forward from here as he finished 2023 with success at High A, seeing his last three starts all go for 6 IP with at least 7 K’s in each start (9 K’s last two starts). It would not be out of the question to see him begin the year at Double A, and from there he’s just a stones throw away from the big league club. The Angels are quickly preparing Dana for a Major League workload as he regularly threw 80+ pitches an outing last season with four of his ten High A outings being 90+ pitch affairs. You often see 18 to 19 year old prospects average 40-60 pitches an outing, signifying the Angels desire to develop a Major League stamina early. This is not without warrant either as Dana came into the organization with a natural ability to maintain quality of stuff deep into starts, especially the strength of his power fastball. The stars appear to be aligning for Dana to make his big league debut in short order; as is the Major league starting staff is not particularly deep and with the Angels tendency to promote prospects out of Double A there appears to be a clear shot to the Majors for Dana. Especially should the bottom end of that big league starting depth fall out of order in 2024. Realistically speaking Dana is earmarked for a 2025/2026 debut, though I wouldn’t be surprised to see him making his first big league impressions late in 2024 come September call-ups. He is one of the more aggressively minded pitchers within the system, and with the stuff to back up his bulldog mentality he is sure to provide impact quickly once he hits the Majors. This organization may be far removed from the modern glory days of bulldog aces like Jered Weaver or John Lackey, but with Caden Dana in the fold Angel fans can look forward to a starting staff that will bring Angels dominance back to the AL West. Dana may simply be a prospect today, but come tomorrow we will see him shine as one of the brightest spots in the future of the Los Angeles Angels. 
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By @ryanmfalla, AngelsWin.com Staff Reporter
It's not everyday you find an ace-caliber high schooler bulldogging his way to top prospect rankings just one year out of high school, and it's even less often that you find that arm in the 11th round of the draft. The Angels latest top prospect, RHP Caden Dana, came into the Angels organization as a high schooler in the 2022 draft, and though he’s pitched less than 80 innings with the organization he’s already established himself atop the leaderboards. Though he has pitched just one full professional season in the minors the quality of his stuff, as well as his physical and mental makeup, has firmly entrenched his status as a soon to be big league starter. The maturity present in the now 20 year old speaks for itself with his presence on the mound, and his dedication behind the scenes allow his best qualities to shine regularly. When talking about Caden Dana you often hear whispers of ace-like potential, yet when analyzing his ability it becomes clear this conversation should be more than just whispers.
“It was a big step for me going from high school ball to facing grown men in Rookie ball. It was different but I adapted pretty quick. I stuck with my main intention from high school; just throw strikes, focus, and get that out.”
His first full season in the Minors saw him waste no time establishing his stock as a top organizational prospect. Dana struck out 89 hitters across 69.1 innings of work between Low A and High A in 2023 while allowing just four home runs. Hitters managed a sub .300 OBP while seeing power numbers fall to a meager .324 slugging percentage against his stuff. He also performed well against the splits as right handed hitters managed a lowly .621 OPS while lefties hit for a similarly meager .619 OPS. This was not across short sample size either as Dana pitched against righties in 155 PAs with lefties seeing the plate 126 times. Dana’s strikeouts may be the most upfront indicator of his Major League quality, yet his ability to sap power out of bats is the talent that will spell the most success for Dana going forward.
“I'm just trying to keep them as off balance as possible, keep them guessing. Don't let them know what's coming. That’s my goal, if you get off-balance swings you won’t give up too many home runs.”
Through 53.1 innings at High A Dana registered as a top pitcher across multiple categories in the Northwest league, notably finishing the season as a top 5 pitcher in K/9 rate (12 K/9), K% (31.7%), FIP (3.23), and Swinging Strike % (16.6%). Despite producing most of his outs through the flyball (43.7%), which would be the 6th highest FB% in the Northwest League, Dana managed a top 3 HR/FB rate of 5.5%. This ability to keep the ball in the park bodes well for his future pitching in Anaheim as Angels stadium has seen its fair share of flyball/strikeout pitchers find great success. Dana tends to comp towards a Noah Syndergaard type given his edge towards power pitching over finesse, though he does come packaged with a fair grasp on strike zone control for a pitcher entering his age 20 season. Attitude and energy wise, Dana is reminiscent of Angels favorite Jered Weaver, a quality sure to play well with fans in the coming years. His presence on the mound is highly aggressive, and his ability to spot the ball all across the zone is strong enough to give credence to the future stars ace-like comparisons. Dana’s physical frame (6’4, 215lbs) supports his power repertoire well, offering confidence that he will continue to add velocity onto his already mid to high 90’s power fastball. His slider looks to develop into a quality Major League out pitch, and once he furthers his sense of control on his hammering curve Dana will present a true force to be reckoned with as an Angel. 
“I got a four seam fastball, change up, split change up, 12-6 curve and a slider. I can play up and down. I can play east and west. I like bullying hitters with my fastball, really test them with that. Build off that with a curveball or slider, really test them with the secondary. All of my pitches work well with each other.”
The Angels have made a recent habit of spending over slot in the draft to attract talented high school pitchers edging towards college. Despite being a talent capable of first round quality development Dana fell to the 11th round of the 2022 draft, leading to speculation that he would take his talents to the University of Kentucky before the Angels swooped in with a well over slot bonus to secure his talents. The Angels would repeat this same strategy in 2023 after swooning pitcher Barrett Kent with a well over slot bonus in the 8th round to keep him from fulfilling his commitment to Arkansas. Instead of watching top level high school talents refine their draft stock in college, and likely fall out of the Angels reach, the organization has taken to securing these arms before they can develop into surefire top 10 picks out of college. An inspired strategy for an organization often picking outside of the top ten, why wait for talents to become first rounders in three years when you can roll the dice in the middle rounds now? This strategy has so far proven effective as Caden Dana’s development has him fast tracked towards a soon to be Major League starting role.
“I was drafted on the third day of the draft, my agent called and told me the Angels had come up with a really good offer. They ended up drafting both me and my brother [Casey Dana] that day. My dad was on that call too, it was something I had only dreamed. The Angels had proposed the idea the day before we got drafted. I was happy and also pretty shocked to hear that, I didn't think that situation was possible going into the draft. It was the best outcome for me, my brother and my family. Getting everyone into the picture together.”
Dana’s path to the Majors is quite straight-forward from here as he finished 2023 with success at High A, seeing his last three starts all go for 6 IP with at least 7 K’s in each start (9 K’s last two starts). It would not be out of the question to see him begin the year at Double A, and from there he’s just a stones throw away from the big league club. The Angels are quickly preparing Dana for a Major League workload as he regularly threw 80+ pitches an outing last season with four of his ten High A outings being 90+ pitch affairs. You often see 18 to 19 year old prospects average 40-60 pitches an outing, signifying the Angels desire to develop a Major League stamina early. This is not without warrant either as Dana came into the organization with a natural ability to maintain quality of stuff deep into starts, especially the strength of his power fastball. The stars appear to be aligning for Dana to make his big league debut in short order; as is the Major league starting staff is not particularly deep and with the Angels tendency to promote prospects out of Double A there appears to be a clear shot to the Majors for Dana. Especially should the bottom end of that big league starting depth fall out of order in 2024. Realistically speaking Dana is earmarked for a 2025/2026 debut, though I wouldn’t be surprised to see him making his first big league impressions late in 2024 come September call-ups. He is one of the more aggressively minded pitchers within the system, and with the stuff to back up his bulldog mentality he is sure to provide impact quickly once he hits the Majors. This organization may be far removed from the modern glory days of bulldog aces like Jered Weaver or John Lackey, but with Caden Dana in the fold Angel fans can look forward to a starting staff that will bring Angels dominance back to the AL West. Dana may simply be a prospect today, but come tomorrow we will see him shine as one of the brightest spots in the future of the Los Angeles Angels. 
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