Angels protect two underdog prospects
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ANAHEIM -- The Angels added left-hander Kolton Ingram and right-hander José Soriano to their 40-man roster on Tuesday, ahead of the 3 p.m. PT deadline to protect eligible prospects from the Rule 5 Draft.
Three Angels players were designated for assignment to clear roster space: right-handers Touki Toussaint and Nash Walters, and lefty Rob Zastryzny. That also opened a roster spot for free-agent left-hander Tyler Anderson, who agreed to a three-year, $39 million deal with the Angels on Tuesday.
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Ingram and Soriano don’t rank among the club’s Top 30 Prospects, per MLB Pipeline, but Ingram is coming off a strong year in relief at Double-A Rocket City and Soriano was considered the club’s top pitching prospect before undergoing Tommy John surgery twice.
The Angels lost Soriano to the Pirates in the Rule 5 Draft after the 2020 season, but he was returned to the club last November after Pittsburgh designated him for assignment. Soriano had Tommy John surgery in June 2021 but returned in late July last season and posted a 2.08 ERA with 17 strikeouts in 13 innings at Rookie-level Arizona and Single-A Inland Empire.
Soriano, 24, has a career 2.90 ERA with 241 strikeouts and 141 walks in 254 2/3 innings in the Minor Leagues but has yet to pitch above Single-A ball. He has a dominant fastball, and the Angels clearly liked what they saw from him late in the season.
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Ingram, 26, was solid in relief with Rocket City, posting a 2.67 ERA with 73 strikeouts and 17 walks in 60 2/3 innings. He recorded 10 saves.
Ingram was picked by the Tigers in the 37th round of the 2019 Draft out of Columbus State University but was released by Detroit on July 3, 2020. The Angels signed him as a Minor League free agent prior to the 2021 season, and he had success across three levels, registering a 3.47 ERA with 67 strikeouts and 25 walks in 46 2/3 innings.
Notably, infielder Jeremiah Jackson, the club's No. 13 overall prospect, per MLB Pipeline, and outfielder Jordyn Adams, the club's No. 21 prospect, were not added to the 40-man roster and will be eligible to be selected in the Rule 5 Draft on Dec. 7. They both reached Double-A for the first time this year and have upside despite swing-and-miss issues.