The Los Angeles Angels have made such a habit of promoting their most recent draft picks to the majors quickly, it barely makes news when a pitcher they drafted two years ago gets his first big league promotion at age 20.
Caden Dana, the Angels’ only top-100 prospect, is still poised to make history when he makes his big league debut Sunday.
Dana will become the Angels’ youngest pitcher since closer Francisco Rodriguez in 2002. He’ll be their youngest starting pitcher since a 20-year-old Frank Tanana took the mound in 1974.
Dana leads the Southern League in strikeouts (147), IP (135.2), opponent average (.184) and WHIP (0.94) & is second in ERA (2.52) and wins (9).
He would be the youngest #Angels pitcher since Francisco Rodriguez in 2002 and youngest starting pitcher since Frank Tanana in 1973 https://t.co/LTOhJY1ZWr
— Angels PR (@LAAngelsPR) August 29, 2024
In his last start for the Rocket City Trash Pandas on Monday, Dana retired seven batters through six innings for the Angels’ affiliate. He has a 2.52 ERA this season at the Double-A level.
The right-hander leads the Southern League in strikeouts (147), innings pitched (135.2), opponent average (.184) and WHIP (0.94). Dana also ranks second in ERA and wins (9).
ANAHEIM, CA – APRIL 26: The halo circle on top of the big A located in the parking lot of Angels Stadium is seen during the baseball game between the Cleveland Indians and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on April 26, 2010 at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California. The Angels are calling up two pitching prospects to start this weekend, including top-100 pitcher Caden Dana.
Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images
Dana, No. 74 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 prospects list, was the Angels’ 11th-round pick in the 2022 draft. He isn’t their only pitching prospect getting his first major league start this weekend.
Angels to Promote Sam Aldegheri
Samuel Aldegheri was one of two pitchers the Angels acquired from the Philadelphia Phillies on July 27 in the trade that sent closer Carlos Estévez to the Phillies. According to multiple reports Thursday, Aldegheri will start Friday when the Angels return home to face the Seattle Mariners.
Read more: Philadelphia Phillies Make Huge Trade For Angels’ Carlos Estevez
When he throws his first pitch, he’ll be the first pitcher born and raised in Italy to appear in a major league game.
The Los Angeles Angels are calling up left-hander Sam Aldegheri, sources tell ESPN. Aldegheri, 22, will be the first pitcher born and raised in Italy to play in the major leagues — and he is expected to go Friday. The Angels acquired him from Philadelphia at the trade deadline.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) August 29, 2024
A left-hander from Verona, Aldegheri was 0-2 with a 5.19 ERA in four starts at Rocket City. In 17.1 innings, he allowed 16 hits, nine walks, and struck out 25 without allowing a home run.
The Phillies signed Aldegheri out of Italy back in 2019. The lefty was only promoted to Double-A in July, making two starts for the Phillies’ affiliate prior to the trade. He began the year at advanced Class-A and posted a 3.18 ERA, 95 strikeouts, 28 walks, and only three home runs allowed in 68 innings.
The Angels might not be done.
Christian Moore, the Angels’ top pick in the 2024 amateur draft out of the University of Tennessee, is hitting .333 with six home runs in his first 21 minor league games. If he gets his first call-up this season, Moore will join position players Nolan Schanuel (2023) and Zach Neto (2022) as the third straight Angel to debut in his draft year — a phenomenon unique to the Angels in MLB.
For now, it appears Dana and Aldegheri will get the first crack.
