ANAHEIM -- While the Major League season is winding down with only a few weeks left, it’s the same with the Minor League affiliates. The Triple-A regular season concludes on Sept. 21, while the Double-A regular season ends on Sept. 14 and the High-A and Single-A regular seasons conclude on Sunday. Of the club’s four main affiliates, only Single-A Inland Empire is heading to the postseason, as it clinched a spot by winning the second-half championship in the Cal League South Division. With the Minor League season nearing a close, here’s a look at one player at each of the club’s four levels who has been excelling lately: |
Triple-A Salt Lake: CF Nelson Rada Rada, who just turned 20 years old on Aug. 24, has had a breakout season in the Minors and looks to be the club’s potential center fielder and leadoff hitter of the future. Rada, ranked as the club’s No. 8 prospect by MLB Pipeline, has hit .327/.455/.429 with a homer, three doubles, two triples, 12 RBIs and 17 stolen bases in 26 games with Triple-A Salt Lake. At 5-foot-9, 185 pounds, he doesn’t offer much power but has elite on-base skills and is a strong defender in center. Rada doesn’t need to be placed on the 40-man roster this offseason, so the Angels could just stick with Bryce Teodosio in center the rest of the year, but he’s definitely someone who should be in the mix for a prominent role in ’26. |
Double-A Rocket City: LHP Sam Aldegheri After a rough June, Aldegheri turned it around by going 3-0 with a 2.52 ERA in 25 innings in July and 3-2 with a 2.84 ERA in 31 2/3 innings in August. Altogether, the lefty has posted a 3.78 ERA with 104 strikeouts and 56 walks in 121 1/3 innings in Double-A this season. Aldegheri, ranked as the club’s No. 14 prospect, profiles as more of a backend starter because he lacks big velocity. But he could get another chance down the stretch with the Angels this year, as their starting pitching depth is thin, especially with lefty Tyler Anderson likely out for the year after sustaining an oblique strain. Fellow lefty Mitch Farris was called up from Rocket City instead of Aldegheri on Tuesday and pitched well, but Aldegheri could still pitch his way back into the big league rotation. High-A Tri-City: OF Raudi Rodriguez Rodriguez isn’t ranked among the club’s Top 30 prospects but had a huge August, hitting .434/.529/.646 with four homers, five doubles, two triples and 18 RBIs in 26 games to earn Northwest League Player of the Month honors. Rodriguez, 22, is batting .286/.377/.480 with 14 homers, 21 doubles, 14 triples and 36 stolen bases in 122 games this season. He’s putting himself on the radar with his strong offensive performance this year. |
Single-A Inland Empire: RHP Trey Gregory-Alford Just 19, Gregory-Alford is already putting up impressive numbers, posting a 1.42 ERA with 20 strikeouts and 13 walks in 25 1/3 innings since his promotion to Single-A in early August. Gregory-Alford, ranked as the club’s No. 10 prospect, was an 11th round Draft pick in 2024 whom the Angels signed to a $1.96 million bonus. The early returns have been promising for the 6-foot-5 right-hander, who has seen his fastball reach triple-digits on the radar gun. |
MLB MORNING LINEUP PODCAST |
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Taylor Ward tied the club record with his 29th homer as a left fielder on Aug. 24. Who previously held the mark with 29 blasts while playing left field?
A) Garret Anderson
B) Justin Upton
C) Don Baylor
D) Juan Rivera
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WARD OK AFTER SCARY COLLISION WITH WALL IN HOUSTON |
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FARRIS PICKS UP WIN IN MLB DEBUT |
Farris was called up to make his MLB debut against the Royals on Tuesday and delivered five strong innings to pick up the victory. The 24-year-old was called up after Anderson was placed on the injured list with a left oblique strain and is expected to miss the rest of the season. No. 5 prospect Caden Dana was also called up to start on Wednesday, as the Angels had an open spot in the rotation after right-hander Jack Kochanowicz was optioned. “It was awesome,” Farris said. “Just trying to get out of there with some confidence. Five innings, one run. Way more than I could have asked for.” |
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B. Upton, with 29 as a left fielder in 2018. |
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