Monday, September 21

BOSTON -- The regular seasons for the lowest levels of the Minor Leagues have come to a close, while the Double-A regular season concludes Sunday and the Triple-A one ends Sept. 20.

Single-A Rancho Cucamonga (30-36 second half, 66-66 overall) and High-A Tri-City (29-37, 64-68) both missed the postseason, while Double-A Rocket City (33-31, 68-64) trimmed its magic number to four with a win at Chattanooga on Tuesday. Triple-A Salt Lake (23-40, 62-75) will also not qualify for the playoffs this year.

So with the Minor League season winding down, here’s a look at a standout prospect at each level for the Angels:

Triple-A Salt Lake: CF Nelson Rada

Rada, ranked as the club’s No. 6 prospect by MLB Pipeline, has been a bit lost in the shuffle this year but is still just 21 years old and has been displaying his on-base skills and baserunning acumen with Salt Lake. Rada, who is nearly seven years younger than his average competition, has slashed .266/.366/.347 with three homers, 17 doubles, five triples, 36 stolen bases and 38 RBIs in 118 games. At 5-foot-9 and 185 pounds, he doesn’t offer much power but is a plus defender in center and has good all-around baseball instincts. He’s likely to make his MLB debut at some point next year and profiles as a leadoff hitter.

Double-A Rocket City: 3B Jake Munroe

After putting up impressive numbers in 56 games with High-A Tri-City, Munroe was called up to Double-A Rocket City in late June and has been even better there. He's slashed .318/.415/.484 with seven homers, 15 doubles, six stolen bases and 35 RBIs in 58 games. He wasn’t ranked among the club’s Top 30 prospects before the season, but is now ranked No. 20 and could continue to rise if he hits like he has in 2026. Munroe, a fourth-round selection out of Louisville in the ’25 Draft, is not a plus runner and is considered average defensively, but his bat has shown plenty of promise. Shortstop Arjun Nimmala, the club’s No. 1 prospect, has also fared well since being acquired in the trade that sent José Soriano to the Blue Jays, but hasn’t hit for as much average as Munroe, slashing .224/.377/.459 in 23 games.

High-A Tri-City: RHP Chase Shores

Shores, 22, dealt with shoulder impingement that kept him out from late April until mid-June and had a 4.83 ERA in 16 starts this season, but finished strong with a 3.38 ERA over his last five outings. Despite his ERA, the 6-foot-8, 245-pounder had solid peripherals with 67 strikeouts, 31 walks and five homers allowed in 63 1/3 innings. Shores, who was the club’s second-round pick out of LSU in 2025 and is ranked as the club’s No. 18 prospect, is one of several starters who had solid showings with High-A, joining No. 9 prospect Dylan Jordan and the recently acquired No. 21 prospect Mason McGwire (son of Mark).

Single-A Rancho Cucamonga: 1B/3B Gavin Grahovac

Grahovac, the club’s third-round pick out of Texas A&M, put up huge numbers in his first taste of pro ball. The 21-year-old showed off massive power and surprising speed, slashing .304/.402/.641 with eight homers, five doubles, a triple, 13 stolen bases and 18 RBIs in 24 games. Grahovac, ranked as the club’s No. 10 prospect by MLB Pipeline, is from nearby Villa Park and could develop into a much-needed power threat from the right side for the Angels. He mostly saw time at first base with the Quakes, but the Angels believe he can stick at third with a strong arm and above-average athleticism.

Rookie Moisés Ballesteros got off to a slow start with his new team after being acquired in the trade that sent Ryan Zeferjahn to the Cubs on Aug. 3 but has been hitting much better in September. He had his first career three-hit game on Monday, going 3-for-4 with a homer and a double, and is slashing .360/.385/.640 with two homers, a double and four RBIs over seven games in September. He said hitting his first homer with the Angels last Wednesday against the Yankees helped settle him down.

“Not hitting a home run with the Angels, it was really heavy for me,” Ballesteros said. “I felt pressure or something. Then after my first home run, I felt really relaxed.”

Who was the first Angels player to win Rookie of the Year?

A. Wally Joyner

B. Garret Anderson

C. Tim Salmon

D. Jim Abbott

After their three-game series against the Nationals in Washington, the Angels return to Angel Stadium to host the Mariners for three games and the Twins for four games to conclude their 2026 home schedule. The Angels will hold several promotions, including Jo Adell’s home run robbery bobblehead on Sept. 16, Anaheim Ducks night on Sept. 18 and Fan Appreciation Night on Sept. 19. The Angels will give away an Angels/Ducks blanket on the 18th, while they will give away the team photo on the 19th and also host a Yard Sale.

Additionally, it’s Chapman University night on Sept. 15 and Japanese Heritage Night on the 18th, with both being special ticketed events. For more information, visit Angels.com/promotions.

C. Salmon, in 1993.

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