These Angels prospects are impressing on the farm

This story was excerpted from Rhett Bollinger’s Angels Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

ANAHEIM -- Things aren’t exactly going well for the Angels right now.

Despite being aggressive ahead of the Aug. 1 Trade Deadline, they’ve yet to win a game since then and are now seven games behind the Blue Jays in the AL Wild Card race. It's hard to blame the Angels for going all-in to try to get to the postseason for the first time since 2014, especially with Shohei Ohtani set to be a free agent.

But so far, the moves of acquiring veterans Eduardo Escobar, Mike Moustakas, Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo López and Dominic Leone for the stretch run have not translated into wins, and their already thin farm system consequently took a hit, as they traded away catching prospect Edgar Quero and pitching prospects Landon Marceaux, Coleman Crow, Connor Van Scoyoc, Ky Bush, Jake Madden and Mason Albright.

Here’s a look at who’s left in that farm system and faring well in the Minors:

Triple-A Salt Lake: LHP Jhonathan Diaz
Diaz has quietly put together an impressive season with the Bees, as he’s gone 7-0 with a 3.41 ERA in 33 appearances (three starts). He's struck out 64 batters in 63 1/3 innings and has been getting stretched out recently. He was moved into the rotation on July 25 and has posted a 4.40 ERA in his three starts.

Diaz, 26, isn’t on the 40-man roster but has pitched well in his short stints in the Majors in 2021 and '22, posting a 3.49 ERA in 28 1/3 innings. He could be an option to be called up in relief later in the season.

Double-A Rocket City: 1B Nolan Schanuel
Schanuel, the No. 11 overall pick in this year’s Draft, is already at Double-A after dominating in two games at Single-A Inland Empire. And he’s faring well, hitting .378 with two doubles, a triple and 10 RBIs in 13 games.

Schanuel, 21, could be on the fast track to the Majors much like shortstop Zach Neto, the No. 13 overall pick in last year’s Draft who made his MLB debut on April 15. Schanuel is considered the first baseman of the future for the Angels and the early returns have been promising, as he’s continued to hit much like he did at Florida Atlantic University.

High-A Tri City: RHP Jorge Marcheco
Marcheco was promoted to High-A in early July and has continued to pitch well, posting a 1.88 ERA in five starts with 33 strikeouts in 28 2/3 innings. Marcheco, who turned 21 on Sunday, is starting to rise among the club’s top prospects and is currently ranked as the club’s No. 19 prospect, per MLB Pipeline. He’s been a steal for the Angels, who signed him for just $35,000 out of Cuba during the delayed 2020-21 international signing period. He doesn’t have elite stuff but has impressive control and pitchability.

Fellow right-hander Caden Dana is also at High-A but hasn’t pitched since July 15. The Angels are being cautious with him, as he’s now considered their top starting pitching prospect.

Single-A Inland Empire: OF Jadiel Sanchez
Sanchez, who was acquired along with fellow outfielder Mickey Moniak in the trade that sent Noah Syndergaard to the Phillies at last year’s Trade Deadline, has had a strong year, hitting .307/.376/.477 with eight homers, nine doubles, eight triples and 55 RBIs in 79 games.

He’s put himself on the radar and is now ranked as the club’s No. 25 prospect by MLB Pipeline. Sanchez, 22, is a switch-hitter who is developing into his power and has a strong arm in the outfield. He had a strong July, hitting .371 with six homers, five doubles and 27 RBIs in 23 games.