ANAHEIM -- When the Angels placed third baseman Yoán Moncada on the injured list and optioned outfielder Josh Lowe to Triple-A Salt Lake on May 22, they considered bringing up youngsters Christian Moore and Denzer Guzman but ultimately decided to go with outfielder Wade Meckler and infielder Donovan Walton. The decision worked out, as Meckler and Walton have provided a spark while allowing Moore and Guzman to continue to develop at Triple-A. Moore has also notably been seeing some action in left field in addition to third base and second base to increase his versatility, while Guzman has been playing short and third. Moore, 23, has hit .275/.431/.471 with three homers, 10 doubles and 22 RBIs in 37 games, while Guzman, 22, has batted .323/.392/.535 with 10 homers, 16 doubles and 50 RBIs in 53 games. It’s an encouraging sign for the Angels, as their farm system is heavy on pitching and their offense could use a jolt. Guzman is ranked as their No. 7 prospect by MLB Pipeline, while Moore, the No. 8 pick in the 2024 Draft, has graduated from prospect status. Both could play their way onto the Major League roster if they continue their strong seasons at Triple-A. Here’s a look at how other prospects are faring at each of the Angels’ four Minor League affiliates: Triple-A Salt Lake: LHP Samy Natera Jr. Natera had a strong showing for Team Mexico in the World Baseball Classic and has pitched well in relief at Triple-A with a 3.21 ERA and 39 strikeouts and 18 walks in 28 innings. The 26-year-old will need to cut down on his walks going forward but could be an intriguing bullpen option for the Angels at some point this season. The 6-foot-4, 230-pounder has had an impressive strikeout rate throughout his time in the Minors with 266 strikeouts in 190 2/3 innings. He’s not currently ranked among the club’s Top 30 prospects. |
Double-A Rocket City: OF Raudi Rodriguez Rodriguez, 22, broke out in 2025 at Single-A and in the Arizona Fall League and it’s carried over into a solid showing in his first taste of Double-A this year. Rodriguez, ranked as the Angels’ No. 15 prospect, has displayed a blend of power, speed and patience with a .295/.417/.486 slash line with seven homers, eight doubles, two triples, 19 stolen bases and 30 RBIs in 49 games. Most importantly, the right-handed hitter has cut his strikeout rate from 23.2 percent last year to 19.2 percent this season. He’s mostly seen action in center field but has also played in both right and left. There’s an outside chance he makes his debut late this season, but he is more likely ticketed for 2027. |
High-A Tri-City: 3B Jake Munroe Munroe, 22, recently became the club’s No. 30 prospect with right-hander Walbert Ureña’s graduation from prospect status last week. He's had a big year at the plate so far, batting .264/.412/.550 with 10 homers, 10 doubles and 23 RBIs in 42 games. The Angels selected him in the fourth round of last year’s Draft out of the University of Louisville for an under-slot bonus of just less than $600,000 and the early returns have been promising. Right-hander Tyler Bremner, the No. 2 overall pick in last year’s Draft, has also been impressive in his first taste of the Minors but missed nearly a month with fatigue before returning to the rotation on Tuesday. |
Single-A Rancho Cucamonga: OF Hayden Alvarez Just 19 years old, Alvarez had a huge May, slashing .347/.463/.531 in 26 games after hitting .221/.309/.337 in 21 games in April. All told, he's hit .288/.394/.440 with five homers, 11 doubles, 22 stolen bases and 24 RBIs in 47 games. Alvarez, ranked as the Angels’ No. 11 prospect, is considered a strong defender in center field. The 6-foot-3, right-handed hitter has a big league ETA of 2029. He was signed out of the Dominican Republic for $685,000 at the start of the 2024 international signing period. |
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MLB MORNING LINEUP PODCAST |
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ANGELS HOLD ANNUAL LOU GEHRIG DAY |
Major League Baseball and the Angels honored the life and legacy of Hall of Famer Lou Gehrig on Tuesday and to raise awareness for those with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The Angels hosted a pregame tailgate party with Augie's Quest, I Am ALS and ALS Association. All players, managers and coaches also wore custom No. 4 decals to honor Gehrig as well as commemorative red "4-ALS" Franklin wristbands. |
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Who was the last Angels player with 200 hits in a season? A. Darin Erstad
B. Mike Trout
C. Garret Anderson
D. Vladimir Guerrero |
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NETO, SCHANUEL ON THE MEND |
Shortstop Zach Neto was held out of the starting lineup on Monday and Tuesday after a collision at home plate on Saturday while first baseman Nolan Schanuel landed on the injured list on May 27 with left ankle tendonitis. Neto, though, played on Sunday and felt better on Tuesday after dealing with headache symptoms and could return to the lineup as soon as Wednesday’s series finale against the Rockies. And Schanuel has been running, taking grounders and hitting in the cages and could return this weekend against the Dodgers. |
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D. Guerrero, who had exactly 200 hits in 2006. |
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