Angels Prospects

January 22, 2024 - Written by Brayden Zielke

Over the last few years, the Angels have consistently had one of the lowest ranking farm systems in baseball. This is partially due to many unsuccessful 1st Round Draft picks since 2014. The Angels first pick in 2014, left-handed pitcher Sean Newcomb was selected 15th overall and was traded to the Atlanta Braves as part of the package to acquire shortstop Andrelton Simmons. In 2016 the Angels took catcher Matt Thaiss 16th overall. Thaiss did play 245 games for the Angels from 2019-2024 but never found much success and underwent multiple position changes. Thaiss was recently traded to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for cash considerations after being designated for assignment less than a week earlier. The Angels selected outfielder Jordyn Adams 17th overall in 2018. Adams didn’t make his major league debut until 2023, where he found no success. Adams was recently non-tendered by the Angels, making him a free agent. In 2019, the Angels selected shortstop Will Wilson 15th overall. After playing only 46 games for the Angels organization, Wilson was shipped to San Francisco with Zack Cozart for essentially nothing. This was due to Cozart’s disastrous contract, which the Giants inherited with the trade. Wilson still has not made his major league debut. In 2021, the Angels took right-handed pitcher Sam Bachman 9th overall. While Bachman found success in his 11 games for the Angels in 2023, pitching to a 3.18 ERA, his career has been riddled by injuries and setbacks. While not every Angels 1st round pick has been bad, the track record of limited success doesn’t help when it comes to the farm system as a whole. Going into 2024, the Angels farm system was ranked dead last. However, due to solid drafting in 2024, a few surprise prospects, and 2 crafty trades by General Manager Perry Minasian, the Angels are in a much better spot going into 2025.

Caden Dana

Right-handed pitcher Caden Dana, 21, is the Angels top prospect and MLB’s 68th ranked prospect. Dana was drafted by the Angels in the 11th round, 328th overall in the 2022 draft out of Don Bosco Preparatory High School. Dana had a solid season in 2023, starting 3 games for the Inland Empire 66ers (A) and 11 games for the Tri-City Dust Devils (A+). Dana had a record of 3-5 with a 3.56 ERA over both levels. Dana spent almost the entirety of 2024 with the Rocket City Trash Pandas (AA), compiling a 9-7 record with and an impressive 2.52 ERA over 23 starts. Dana was promoted to the majors on August 29th and pitched in 3 games for the Angels. Dana had an impressive debut, holding the Seattle Mariners to 2 runs on 2 hits while walking 4 and striking out 4, picking up his first major-league win. However, his next 2 starts were dreadful, throwing only 4.1 innings combined and giving up 9 earned runs. While this might’ve been a rocky start to his stint with the Angels, I have complete confidence in Dana to sort it out in Spring Training and ultimately win a spot in the starting rotation.

Christian Moore

Second-baseman Christian Moore, 22, is the Angels #2 prospect and is MLB’s 71st ranked prospect. Moore was selected 8th overall in the 2024 draft out of Tennessee and made a huge splash in his limited time in the Angels organization. Moore made his MiLB debut with Inland Empire on July 31 and played only 2 games with the team, hitting .545 with 1 home run and 6 RBIs in 11 at bats. He was then promoted to Rocket City where he played 23 games, hitting .322 with 5 home runs and 14 RBIs. It is widely believed that Moore will be the Angels starting 2nd baseman in 2025 and I see no reason why he shouldn’t be. There is a gaping hole at the position and I believe that Moore is ready for the spotlight.

George Klassen

Right-handed pitcher George Klassen, 22, is the Angels #3 prospect. Klassen was acquired as half of the deal that sent closer Carlos Estévez to the Philadelphia Phillies. Klassen was selected by the Phillies in the 6th round, 193rd overall in the 2023 draft out of Minnesota. Klassen quickly rose through the Phillies organization in 2024, pitching to a 3-2 record with a 1.97 ERA over 14 starts with the Clearwater Threshers (A) and the Jersey Shore Blueclaws (A+). After being acquired by the Angels, Klassen started 1 game with Inland Empire before getting his first taste of AA with Rocket City. Between the two teams, Klassen had a record of 3-3 with a 5.08 ERA over 8 starts. While I don’t expect Klassen to be ready for major league action in 2025, I think he could be part of the starting rotation in 2026 and could get a trial run late in the season like we saw with Dana.

Sam Aldegheri

Left-handed pitcher Sam Aldegheri, 23, is the Angels #8 prospect. Aldegheri was acquired by the Angels as the other half of the Estevez trade. Aldegheri, who is Italian and was born in Verona, played in the Italian Baseball League as a member of the Parma Clima before signing with the Phillies as an international free agent in 2019. Aldegheri played in the Phillies minor league system from 2021-2024, pitching in 51 games and starting 41 of those games. Over 4 levels, Aldegheri pitched to an 11-9 record with an ERA of 3.46. After being acquired by the Angels, Aldegheri started 4 games for Rocket City, going 0-2 with a 5.19 ERA. The Angels called up Aldegheri on August 29. Aldegheri pitched well in his first two games, but struggled in his third. Over the 3 starts, Aldegheri went 1-2 with a 4.85 ERA. I fully expect Aldegheri to make an impact in 2025, even if he doesn’t win a spot in the rotation to start the year. He has shown himself to be major-league ready and I fully expect that he will prove that this upcoming season.

Matthew Lugo

Outfielder Matthew Lugo, 23, is the Angels #12 prospect. Lugo was acquired by the Angels at the 2024 trade deadline as part of the trade that sent relief pitcher Luis Garcia to the Boston Red Sox. Lugo was selected in the 2nd round, 69th overall by the Red Sox in the 2019 draft out of the Carlos Beltran Baseball Academy in Puerto Rico. Lugo has been an extremely consistent hitter during his time in the Red Sox organization, hitting .271 with 45 home runs and 236 RBIs over 425 games. While I don’t expect Lugo to make the initial 26 man roster, I do expect to see him up sometime in 2025.

Ryan Costeiu

Right-handed pitcher Ryan Costeiu, 24, is the Angels #15 prospect. Costeiu was selected in the 7th round, 201st overall by the Angels in the 2021 draft out of Arkansas. This name might not be well known by some fans, as he hasn’t been a high profile prospect or made any huge splashes. In his 3 years with the Angels organization, Costeiu has pitched in 46 games, including 29 starts. He has compiled a 5-10 record with a 3.26 ERA for the ACL Angels, Inland Empire, and Tri-City. Costieu will likely pitch in AA this season and could get an opportunity to pitch in the majors if an injury occurs in the latter half of the season.

Camden Minacci

Right-handed pitcher Camden Minacci, 23, is the Angels #16 prospect. Minacci was selected by the Angels in the 6th round, 174th overall, in the 2023 draft out of Wake Forest. Over his 2 seasons in the Angels organization, Minacci has pitched in 52 games , going 3-6 with a 3.62 ERA for Inland Empire, Tri-City, and Rocket City. Minacci has risen quickly through the Angels system, and I expect him to be called up sometime this season, especially if the Angels fail to sign any more relievers this offseason.

Garrett McDaniels

Left-handed pitcher Garrett McDaniels, 25, is the Angels #29 prospect. Mcdaniels attended Coastal Carolina University and the University of Mount Olive before being signed by the Dodgers while rehabbing from Tommy John Surgery. From 2022-24, McDaniels pitched in 49 games, including 7 starts, in the Dodgers system. Over that period, he pitched to a 5-7 record with a 3.22 ERA. After the 2024 season, McDaniels was not protected by the Dodgers and was selected by the Angels in the major league phase of the Rule 5 Draft. Unless the Angels elect to give McDaniels back to the Dodgers, he will be on the Angels roster and make an impact in 2025.

Niko Kavadas

First-baseman Niko Kavadas, 26, is the Angels #30 prospect. Kavadas was, along with Lugo, acquired by the Angels in the trade that sent Luis Garcia to the Boston Red Sox. Kavadas was selected by the Red Sox in the 11th round, 316th overall, in the 2021 draft out of Notre Dame. While in the minor leagues, Kavadas had inspiring power numbers, hitting 69 home runs over 4 seasons. After being acquired by the Angels, Kavadas played 30 games at the major league level, hitting .183 with 4 home runs and 8 RBIs. After the conclusion of the 2024 season, Kavadas played in the Arizona Fall League, hitting .329 with 6 home runs and 18 RBIs over 20 games and winning Offensive Player of the Year. Going into 2025, Kavadas will likely be Nolan Schanuel’s backup at 1st base, but will face competition from Ryan Noda during Spring Training.

In Conclusion

While this prospect group is somewhat top heavy, I truly believe that some of these prospects can find their way onto the Major League roster and make a big impact, especially with the lack of signings this offseason. Only time will tell how the Angels and these top prospects perform this upcoming season.

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