You know that whole adage about never having enough pitching? The Angels are putting that to the test.
In last year’s Draft, the Angels had 20 selections. And they took 20 pitchers. All but one of them from the college ranks. Seven of those newly acquired arms are on the new Top 30 list to start 2022.
It’s not just pitching that’s been added, of course. There’s been a huge amount of turnover this time around. Including the draftees, there are 17 players on this year’s rankings who were not in the Angels Top 30 a year ago. Some were acquired on the international market that just opened last January, some were acquired via trade and some played their way onto the list.
Reid Detmers has been the No. 1 prospect since Brandon Marsh graduated off the list last year and that continued for this new ranking, though he’s expected to graduate off the list soon enough. He’s the lone Top 100 representative right now, though no one should be surprised if Sam Bachman, the first of the 20 pitchers taken in last year’s Draft, pitches his way onto that list as his first full season of pro ball unfolds.
Beyond all those arms, the Angels continue to have intriguing talent up the middle, with athletic middle infielders and outfielders. Many are still far away and for some, this is a big year for them to start turning that potential into production.
Here’s a look at the Angels top prospects:
1. Reid Detmers, LHP (MLB No. 21)
2. Sam Bachman, RHP
3. Arol Vera, SS
4. Kyren Paris,…