Detmers named Angels' 6th starter for 2022

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Top prospect Reid Detmers was named the Angels' sixth starter for the start of the 2022 season after turning in another strong spring start in Friday's 7-6 win over the Reds at Tempe Diablo Stadium.

Halos manager Joe Maddon hinted at it before the game, but he made it official after the contest that Detmers had won the job over right-hander Jaime Barría, who will head to the bullpen.

“He's officially the sixth starter,” Maddon said. “He’s going to get so much better. There’s still a lot for him to learn and how to utilize what he has. There’s not many guys with a curveball like that and a curveball-slider combination.”

Detmers, the Halos' No. 1 prospect and the No. 21 overall prospect in baseball per MLB Pipeline, allowed two runs over 3 2/3 innings and struck out six without issuing any walks.

“I felt good,” Detmers said. “Every time I’m out there, trying to attack the zone and limit walks. And just compete. My biggest thing this year is just competing.”

Detmers seemingly made only a few mistakes, giving up a solo homer to Aramis Garcia in the third and a leadoff double to Max Schrock in the fourth. Detmers retired the final two batters he faced, including striking out Colin Moran swinging on his 61st pitch of the afternoon. Detmers struck him out with a breaking ball in the dirt.

“The curveball felt good, the slider felt good,” Detmers said. "My main focus the last couple weeks was throwing strikes, and then if I need to expand, I can expand."

Detmers got his first taste of the Majors last year, making five starts and posting a 7.40 ERA with 19 strikeouts, 11 walks and five homers allowed in 20 2/3 innings. But he fared much better in the Minors, posting a 3.19 ERA with 108 strikeouts in 62 innings between Triple-A Salt Lake and Double-A Rocket City.

Detmers, the No. 10 overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft out of the University of Louisville, has had a strong spring, as he had previously thrown five scoreless innings leading up to Friday’s start, including three in a Minor League game against the D-backs last week.

The 22-year-old Detmers made a positive impression this spring and is one of three young left-handers the Angels are going to count on this season, including Patrick Sandoval and José Suarez.

“Reid has done a great job,” Halos general manager Perry Minasian said. “He’s put himself in a great position. He understands the art of pitching. He doesn’t just throw. He knows how to pitch, and he has weapons he can get both sides out with. I think the experience of last year and not necessarily having success at the big league level, I don’t know how used to that he is, so I think it was a real motivator for him this offseason.”