ANAHEIM -- While the Angels have struggled, losing 10 of 11 and going 0-6 on the road against the Royals and White Sox this week, several of their top prospects are off to strong starts. Just about a month into the Minor League season, let’s check in on which Halos prospects have been standing out in each of the club’s four affiliates. Triple-A Salt Lake: CF Nelson Rada Rada, ranked the club’s No. 2 prospect by MLB Pipeline, is off to a solid start at Triple-A despite being just 20 years old -- over seven years younger than his average competition. Rada has slashed .284/.391/.368 with a homer, three doubles, a triple, 13 RBIs and eight stolen bases in 25 games this season. Rada has been flaunting a blend of patience at the plate and prowess on the basepaths and is also regarded as an above-average center fielder. At 5-foot-9, 185 pounds, he doesn’t offer much power but fits the bill as a leadoff hitter who can get on base and steal bags. Rada signed for $1.85 million when the international signing period opened in January 2022 and could make his Major League debut this year. However, with Mike Trout's comfortability in center helping him regain his superstar form, exactly when Rada makes his debut remains to be seen. Double-A Rocket City: CF Raudi Rodriguez Rodriguez burst on to the scene in 2025 when he had a breakout season with Single-A Inland Empire. He carried his strong showing over to the Arizona Fall League (AFL), earning AFL All-Star Game MVP honors. He wasn’t ranked among the club’s Top 30 prospects before last year but now has risen to No. 15. The 22-year-old is batting .269/.412/.397 with three homers, a double, 18 RBIs and 10 stolen bases in 22 games. Rodriguez will need to improve his average and add some power going forward, but he’s walked 18 times compared to 17 strikeouts. He’s also playing center field this year but has experience as a corner outfielder. Rodriguez was a 19th-round pick in the 2023 MLB Draft out of Georgia Premier Academy (Statesboro, Ga.) and is likely to make his big league debut in 2027, although a late-season callup can’t be ruled out yet. |
High-A Tri-City: RHP Tyler Bremner Bremner, the No. 2 pick in last year’s Draft out of UC Santa Barbara, has lived up to the hype, as he’s been dominant in his first taste of pro ball. Ranked as the club's No. 1 prospect and MLB Pipeline's No. 71 overall prospect, Bremner has a 1.08 ERA in four starts with 25 strikeouts and five walks across 16 2/3 innings. The 22-year-old appears primed for a promotion to Double-A Rocket City soon, as he’s been overpowering hitters at High-A. And given how aggressive the Angels are with their prospects, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Bremner make his MLB debut this season. He already possesses a Major League-caliber fastball and changeup combination but has been working to improve his offspeed pitches. |
Single-A Rancho Cucamonga: OF Lucas Ramirez Ramirez, the son of 12-time All-Star Manny Ramirez, turned heads with his performance for Team Brazil in the World Baseball Classic, including homering off MLB pitchers Jacob deGrom, Logan Webb and Gabe Speier. The 20-year-old remains unranked among the club’s Top 30 prospects, but that should soon change given how he’s started the year at Single-A. Ramirez has slashed .354/.400/.570 with a homer, six doubles, four triples, two stolen bases and 19 RBIs in 20 games. He’s just a little under a year younger than his average competition, so if he keeps it up, the Angels are likely to challenge him at High-A Tri-City. He’s primarily played right field over the first month of the season, but has some experience in center and left. Ramirez, a 17th-round pick in the 2024 Draft out of American Heritage High School (Plantation, Fla.), is still considered a few years away from the bigs. |
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MLB MORNING LINEUP PODCAST |
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JOYCE BEGINS REHAB ASSIGNMENT IN SINGLE-A |
Flamethrower Ben Joyce, who underwent shoulder surgery in May 2025, is nearing a return, as he was scheduled to start a rehab assignment with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga on Wednesday. It’s a big step for Joyce, but he will need several appearances before joining an Angels bullpen that desperately needs help. Halos manager Kurt Suzuki said Joyce doesn’t have an official timetable to return, but he’s hoping for sooner rather than later. “That’s up to him,” Suzuki said. “Just seeing how he does, how he recovers and all those types of things. We obviously don’t want to rush him, but at the same time if he’s feeling good throwing the ball well, I mean who knows? With him he’s a freak of nature, you never know.” |
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Who has the most pinch-hits in Angels’ history? A. Orlando Palmeiro B. Jack Howell C. Spike Owen D. Rod Carew |
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KIKUCHI EXITS WITH LEFT SHOULDER TIGHTNESS |
Left-hander Yusei Kikuchi exited his outing against the White Sox on Wednesday before the start of the third inning due to left shoulder tightness. The southpaw said he's not sure if he’ll make his next start. It’s another unfortunate setback for the Angels, who should have an update on Kikuchi’s status before the start of Friday’s series opener against the Mets at Angel Stadium. “I feel tightness in my shoulder when I throw fastballs only,” Kikuchi said through interpreter Koki Goto. “I felt like I could push through if I wanted to, but I didn't want to take any chances at that moment, so I decided to step down. I’ll have to talk with the training staff and see how I feel [Thursday].” |
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A. Palmeiro, with 42 pinch-hits. |
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