Farm to Table

 

I think it says a lot about the Angels as they stand at the moment that the two 2010s-era mega-draft prospects, Jo Adell and Mickey Moniak, are having one-dimensional, frankly underwhelming seasons, while there are some really nice 2020s-era draft picks, essentially fresh out of the pack, who are already leading the team. Zach Neto, from the 2022 draft, is the best player on the team with great offensive and defensive work this year. Nolan Schanuel, from last year's draft, has put together a solid enough sophomore year, with 12 homers and 43 RBIs. And they just brought Caden Dana up, the 20-year-old 2022 draft pick who did really well in his first start. 

So maybe NOW the Angels' luck is beginning to turn up? Y'know, with...no sign of Mike Trout and the team's best player from last year looking to win an MVP with the Dodgers.

Pretty much all of the best stories from the Angels this year have come from post-pandemic draft classes. Ben Joyce, with his 105-mph fastball, was another 2022 draft pick. Meanwhile, two 2019 draft picks who've been called up this year, Kyren Paris and Jack Kochanowicz, have struggled, with Kochanowicz trying to keep his ERA under 5. 

And it's also just very funny in general how many former Top OMG Prospects have made their way through this Angels team this year. All of Cole Tucker, Miguel Sano, Keston Hiura, Willie Calhoun and Matt Moore made appearances for the Angels this year, and I can tell you with certainty that all five of those guys have had their rookie cards stockpiled by a prospector in the last decade and a half. Remember when Hiura was supposed to be THE guy for the Brewers, and then he just completely fell apart? Remember when we all yelled at the Dodgers for giving up Willie Calhoun in the deal that netted them Yu Darvish? Remember when Matt Moore was supposed to be the Rays' next Cy Young guy, then it became clear that he couldn't pitch for more than two innings? 

It's a wonder this team has landed on prospects that actually work, and can actually keep a team going. Schanuel and Neto, a year after they were called up to fill urgent positions, have become everyday guys with a lot of perks. I'm thinking Dana will fill a certain role, as [hopefully] will Samuel Aldegheri, the first ever Italian-born MLB-er, netted in the deal that gave the Phillies their surefire ninth inning man this year. And while I'm not even sure what else Mike Trout can do for this team considering his recent track record, there's at least the possibility that the farm system will eventually make this team a factor again soon. I just...don't think Trout'll be around to see it. He might retire in a year or so at this rate.

The Angels might be bad for a little while longer, but from the looks of these recent draft picks, they might come around eventually.

Coming Tonight: It's his last contracted year, there's no knowing whether or not he'll be back anywhere next year, and I think he's just enjoying the moment at this point.