sportstr44

Thanks, but nope not me.

15 Nelson Rada VenezuelaOF Notes: Born: Aug. 24, 2005. B-T: L-L. Ht.: 6-0. Wt.: 168. If Rada had been born eight days later, he would be in the 2022-23 class instead, so he is one of the younger player in the upcoming 2021-22 class. Rada stood out playing for Venezuela at the U-15 World Cup Americas Qualifier in Sept. 2019 in Mexico. He was 5-foot-9 early on, but he's the son of a former professional basketball player in Venezuela and has grown a few inches leading up to his signing date. He's an instinctive player, especially in center field where he gets good reads off the bat with a quick first step and at least solid-average speed. Rada has a fairly short stroke from the left side with a good eye for the strike zone and mostly gap power that has trended up as he's gotten stronger. He trains with Felix Olivo, who also had Angels shortstop Arol Vera, and the Angelsare expected to sign Rada as well.

BASEBALL AMERICASCOUTING REPORT Brandon Dufault Representative: NA Signing Scout: NA Dufault was one of the hardest throwers this spring in the Colonial Athletic Association. The 6-foot-5, 195-pound Northeastern reliever posted a 3.71 ERA with 22 strikeouts and 10 walks in 17 innings. Dufault's fastball lives at 93-96 mph and has reached 98. He operates mostly off his fastball, relying on his plus velocity against CAA hitters. His best offspeed is a slider, but it's often a below-average pitch that flashes a tick better at times. Dufault has a changeup, but it's not effective and he rarely throws the pitch. Dufault has a long arm stroke and needs to better sync up his somewhat funky mechanics to improve his control.

BASEBALL AMERICASCOUTING REPORT Mason Erla Representative: NA Signing Scout: NA Erla ranked as the No. 170 prospect in the 2020 class as a redshirt junior who took a step forward with his fastball velocity and posted a 1.04 ERA with impressive strikeout and walk rates over 26 innings. He was passed over in the five-round draft and made it back to campus where he has backed up from that 2020 performance. Erla posted a 3.50 ERA over 79.2 innings and 13 starts, with 80 strikeouts (9.0 K/9) and 30 walks (3.4 BB/9), but he allowed almost a hit per inning. His fastball still gets into the upper 90s, though he sits in the 91-94 mph range, and he has two fringy secondaries in a mid-80s slider and mid-80s changeup. Erla will turn 24 a month after the draft which could hurt him with teams that prioritize age.

Usually, it is more for the starting pitchers because most college pitchers have pitched 100-120 innings and for high school starters they are around 60-80 innings. So, the plan is for them not to throw more because they are most likely tapped out already. For any pitchers that will be seen as relievers, they will most likely keep pitching as they will only add 10-20 innings since the draft.

Over the past few years, the Angels and most other teams don't send their draft pick pitchers out to teams at the higher levels to control their innings pitched. They will usually send them to their complex to work on strength training and keep on a throwing program and they will not see any game time the year they are drafted. Basically, by doing this, they don't need to release anyone on the other rosters to fit in the new draft picks yet.