The Angels system is not very good. Fortunately, they made a couple of solid trades at the deadline that helped the top of the system, but after Caden Dana, I’m not sure there is a true impact player. Christian Moore has looked good in his professional debut, but I’m not a fan of the swing. Nelson Rada is also intriguing but needs to get stronger.
Sam Aldegheri, Matthew Lugo, and George Klassen were the Angels’ significant acquisitions at the deadline, and all three are projected to be Major Leaguers but will likely fall short of impact Major Leaguers. After that, there are some lottery picks but not much else.
Hopefully, Mike Trout will return healthy in 2025 and give the Angels faithful something to cheer for. Unfortunately, there’s not much in the minor leagues that can surround him to make it a competitive team. It’s been that way for 15 years. Just ridiculous!
Prospect Snapshot
- Top Prospect: Caden Dana
- Biggest Mover: George Klassen
- Biggest Disappointment: The Angels front office – It’s just a weak system
- Emerging Prospect: Dioris De La Rosa
1. Caden Dana (RHP)
- Highest Level: Majors ETA: 2024 Fantasy Ceiling: Top 40 SP
- Last Updated: 01/03/2025
- Tools Summary: Improved secondary pitches point to a mid-rotation starter, if not more.
Caden Dana had one of the best seasons of any pitcher in the minor leagues in 2024. In 23 starts in Double-A, he posted a 2.52 ERA, striking out a 9.8 per nine, and, most notably, consistently throwing strikes (2.6 BB/9). As a result, he was rewarded a three-game promotion to Los Angeles. In his first game, he pitched six innings of two-run ball and got the win. He gave up nine runs in 4.1 innings in his next two starts. Baseball is hard!
While he may not have the most overpowering stuff with a fastball that averaged 93.7 MPH (T 95), his slider and change-up are much improved. Both pitches missed bats and averaged 30% whiff rates in the minor leagues and in his limited time in Los Angeles.
He will be a late-round target for me in one-year leagues in 2025.
2. Christian Moore (2B, #8)
- Highest Level: Double-A ETA: 2026 Fantasy Ceiling: Top 15 2B or Top 50 OF
- Last Updated: 01/03/2025
- Tools Summary: He doesn’t have the prettiest swing, but he does have 70-grade raw power.
The Angels again went with a college hitter with their first pick in the 2024 Draft (Pick #8). Christian Moore has an excellent pedigree after leading the Tennessee Vols to a College World Series victory in June. He finished the season with an impressive 33 home runs while slashing .384/.457/.814 with an impressive 14% K-Rate.
Moore’s swing is A-typical, with an exaggerated wide stance and no stride. In other words, he’s using his upper body almost exclusively for this power. If the Angels can get him to use his lower body more, he could become a power-hitting middle infielder who can hit. There will be no speed. Also, defensively, he’s challenged and might have to wind up in left field or first base, which could put a lot of pressure on his bat.
The Angels will likely rush Moore to the Majors, even though I don’t love the swing. Over the past two years, they’ve succeeded with this approach, so who am I to argue against a different approach?
He got off to a strong start in his professional debut, slashing .347/.400/.584 with five home runs. He also struck out 29 times in 110 plate appearances (26%).
3. Nelson Rada (OF)
- Highest Level: Double-A ETA: 2025-26 Fantasy Ceiling: Top 50 OF with upside
- Last Updated: 01/03/2025
- Tools Summary: He’s a 70-runner with doubles power and a feel to hit. There is no power.
I’m not sure why the Angels are pushing Nelson Rada so hard. He started the season in Double-A as the youngest player by nearly two years. All things considered, he did ok. He makes excellent contact, is a 70 runner, and is a plus defender, but slugged .269 with a .035 ISO. That was the lowest SLG in the Southern League. He needs to get stronger, yet the Angels seem hellbent on getting him to the Major League as a teenager. Once that happens, it might be a replay for CJ Abrams.
He’s never going to hit for a ton of power. He does have some bat speed, but he’s only 5-foot-8, so the power will be limited. I could see him develop 5 to 10 home run pop at his peak with plenty of doubles. He should hit and remain a plus hitter with a chance to steal 30+ bases annually.
4. Sam Aldegheri (LHP)
- Highest Level: Majors ETA: 2024 Fantasy Ceiling: Top 60 SP with upside
- Last Updated: 01/03/2025
- Tools Summary: He doesn’t have a big fastball, but he’s tough on lefties and has enough control to profile as at least a number-four starter.
Sam Aldegheri was signed out of Italy by the Phillies in 2019. Italy is not usually used when I write sentences about a player’s home country. It’s not a misprint. The Phillies dipped into the European market and snagged Aldegheri for a $210,000 signing bonus. He returned a nice profit for the Phillies, as they traded him and George Klassen for Carlos Estevez at the deadline.
Aldegheri doesn’t have a big fastball (92.2 MPH average), but with excellent backspin (2289+ RPMs), he’s getting more whiffs than the velocity would suggest. His slider has taken a step forward in 2024 and has become his primary out-pitch (38.5 whiff rate).
His delivery is tough on lefties, as his .123 batting average against in Double-A confirms. Right-handed batters don’t fare much better (.211), but he does need to develop a better change-up. At 6-foot-1, he could be homer-prone, but that has yet to show up.
Overall, it’s more deception and finesse than power. I typically lean towards rostering power pitchers, but Aldegheri’s pitch data, particularly his fastball, show he could be a number four starter, maybe more at the highest level.
He did get a late-season call-up to Los Angeles, where he posted a 4.85 ERA in three starts. The Angels could use him to start the season in the rotation.
5. Matthew Lugo (3B/OF)
- Highest Level: Triple-A ETA: 2025 Fantasy Ceiling: Top 60 OF with upside
- Last Updated: 01/03/2025
- Tools Summary: He continues to show plus future power potential with above-average speed.
Matthew Lugo’s second kick at the can in Double-A went much better. He showed much better control of the strike zone while continuing to hit for power again (.664 SLG). The effort got him a quick promotion to Triple-A, where he showed more swing and miss than you would like, but he continued to show plus power potential with above-average speed.
He was traded at the deadline to the Angels, where he played in one game and hurt his hand. He did not return for the rest of the season. He’s expected to be a full go for Spring Training. I don’t see a star, but if he continues to improve his hit tool, he could develop into a strong-side platoon player or even a full-time regular who can play third base, first base, and left field.
6. George Klassen (RHP)
- Highest Level: Double-A ETA: 2025-26 Fantasy Ceiling: Closer
- Last Updated: 01/03/2025
- Tools Summary: He throws hard with a plus curveball. His lack of a pitch for glove-side batters and delivery issues likely means a role as a bullpen arm.
George Klassen was the Phillies’ sixth-round pick in 2023 and dominated Low-A to begin the 2024 season. He pitched to a sub-one ERA (0.71) in nine starts, giving up 21 hits in 38 innings. His fast start, in part, led to him being included in a deadline deal with the Angels for reliever Carlos Estevez.
He has a big fastball that averages 97.6 MPH and will touch 99 MPH with a high spin (2400 RPM). There isn’t a ton of deception in his delivery, so it doesn’t miss as many bats as it should. His power curveball is his big swing-and-miss pitch. It has excellent shape and is thrown harder than you typically see in a curveball (87 MPH). He also throws a cutter that looks good. He doesn’t throw a change-up, which could be problematic as he progresses to the upper minor leagues.
His delivery requires some effort, and he pitches entirely from the stretch. He’s quick to the plate, but watching him throw, you can see why he never could throw strikes in college.
His delivery and lack of a change-up lead me to believe he’ll work better in the bullpen. But, as a bullpen arm, he could touch 100 with his fastball, and using his plus curveball, he could be a real weapon.
7. Barrett Kent (RHP)
- Highest Level: Low-A ETA: 2027 Fantasy Ceiling: Top 60 SP with upside
- Last Updated: 01/03/2025
- Tools Summary: He’s athletic with the makings of a plus arsenal. He’s struggling to throw strikes but has enough athleticism to expect average control.
Barrett Kent was the Angels well over slot eighth-round pick in 2023. He signed for just under a million dollars on a slot of $206K, or third-round money. He’s a 6-foot-4, projectable teenage pitcher from Texas with a chance to develop into a power starter. He has a long way to go, including finding control, but all things considered, he held his own 26 starts (113.0 innings) in Low-A. In fact, that’s a lot of innings for a 19-year-old. He walked too many and gave up more home runs than you like to see (1.04 HR/9), but the stuff looks promising.
Kent’s fastball tops out at 96 MPH (93 to 95 average), and his delivery gets a ton of arm-side run as he falls off hard to the first base side. His best secondary pitch is his slider, and while his change-up is not there yet, I think it will develop over time.
Finally, the delivery is challenging. There is effort with poor balance. However, he’s athletic and should be able to find average control. If not, he’ll be a bullpen arm. If it all comes together, he could be a number four/three starter.
8. Ryan Johnson (RHP, #74)
- Highest Level: DNP ETA: 2026-27 Fantasy Ceiling: Closer or Top 60 SP
- Last Updated: 01/03/2025
- Tools Summary: His big fastball-slider combination and unusual delivery might make him a good candidate for a bullpen role.
Ryan Johnson was the Angels second-round pick last July, signing for over slot money ($1.7 million on a slot of $1.06 million). He was the Friday night starter for Dallas Baptist with big stuff, including a fastball that touched the upper nineties (average 94 to 95) and a wicked slider. He has the size to start, but the delivery screams reliever.
I’ve watched several YouTube videos of him, and his delivery almost resembles a quick pitch. He brings his hands over his head, but not far back, and slings the ball to the plate. It’s unusual and hard to pick up. There’s a lot of effort with a slightly lower three-quarters delivery, so it’ll be interesting if he can get on top of a pitch to neutralize glove-side batters. While the delivery screams reliever, I will give him a 20% of starting. I’m guessing on the delivery because I’ve never seen it before, so I’ll hedge my bets.
We will know more once we see him pitch in professional games. He should start the 2025 season in Low-A.
9. Joswa Lugo (SS)
- Highest Level: DSL ETA: 2027+ Fantasy Ceiling: Top 15 3B with extreme risk
- Last Updated: 01/03/2025
- Tools Summary: His high-end exit velocity points to future power. He’s also showing an early feel for the strike zone.
Joswa Lugo signed with the Angels in January of 2024 for $2.4 million. He had a fine season in the DSL, slashing .301/.370/.466 with five home runs and 18 stolen bases. He showed high-end exit velocity with some swing and miss (23% strikeout rate). He has current speed, but as he fills out, speed will be a small part of his profile. Also, he’ll likely move off shortstop with a move to third base the most logical destination.
10. Denzer Guzman (SS)
- Highest Level: Double-A ETA: 2026 Fantasy Ceiling: Middle Infielder with upside
- Last Updated: 01/03/2025
- Tools Summary: He’s a physical player still learning to hit and use his strength. It’s going to take time, but there could be something here.
Denzer Guzman was signed by the Angels in 2021 for $2 million, and as they like to do, they push their players – hard. Guzman started the season in High-A and struck out 33% of the time in 84 plate appearances, but because he hit .291, he was promoted to Double-A in May. Did anybody look at his .451 BABIP and think twice?
As the fourth youngest player in the Southern League, he slashed .206/.297/.304 with six home runs in 83 games. All things considered, he held his own, but that’s far from a successful stat line. He needs time to work on his approach (26.3% strikeout rate) and to learn to use his natural strength to impact the ball. He’s a physical player who should eventually hit for power, but getting everything together is hard, and he needs time.
I like the player, but he should have spent the entire season in High-A. You must be patient if you decide to roster him in a Dynasty League. If it all comes together, he’s at least a middle infielder. It could be more if he learns to pick up off-speed pitches better.
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