Dana leads, Moore follows in Angels' new Top 30 prospects list

August 14th, 2024

ANAHEIM -- The Angels had a recent infusion of talent into their Minor League system, as they benefited from having the No. 8 overall pick in the 2024 Draft and were also sellers at the Trade Deadline.

Their first-round pick, second baseman Christian Moore, is off to an unbelievable start to his professional career, as he’s already dominating Double-A Rocket City and could be called up to the Majors this season, much like Nolan Schanuel last year. He’s already the club’s No. 2 prospect and the No. 81 overall prospect, according to the in-season re-rank MLB Pipeline released this week. The Angels also had five players acquired in trades and four other Draft picks join their Top 30 prospects list.

Hard-throwing right-hander George Klassen, ranked No. 3, and lefty Samuel Aldegheri, ranked No. 8, were both acquired in the trade that sent closer Carlos Estévez to the Phillies on July 27. And outfielder Matthew Lugo (No. 12) and first baseman Niko Kavadas (No. 30) were acquired in the move that sent reliever Luis García to the Red Sox on July 30.

Team Top 30 Prospects lists:
ALE: BAL | BOS | NYY | TB | TOR
ALC: CLE | CWS | DET | KC | MIN
ALW: HOU | LAA | OAK | SEA | TEX
NLE: ATL | MIA | NYM | PHI | WSH
NLC: CHC | CIN | MIL | PIT | STL
NLW: AZ | COL | LAD | SD | SF

Right-hander Caden Dana remains the club’s No. 1 prospect and is also ranked No. 75 overall. He’s having a tremendous season with Rocket City at just 20 years old and could be called up late in the year. Dana and Moore are the organization’s only two players ranked among MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 prospects.

Here’s a look at the Angels’ top prospects:

  1. Caden Dana, RHP (No. 75 overall)
  2. Christian Moore, 2B (No. 81 overall)
  3. George Klassen, RHP
  4. Nelson Rada, CF
  5. Ryan Johnson, RHP

More from MLB Pipeline:
Top 100 prospects | Stats | Video | Podcast | Complete coverage

Biggest jump/fall

Here are the players whose ranks changed the most from the preseason list:

Jump: Juan Flores, C (Preseason: No. 22 | Midseason: No. 17)
Flores impressed the coaching staff during Spring Training and he fared so well at Single-A Inland Empire that he was promoted to High-A Tri-City in mid-June despite being just 18 years old. He’s struggled a bit since moving up in the system but is four and half years younger than his average competition. He’s yet to face a pitcher younger than him this year.

Fall: Jadiel Sanchez, OF (Preseason: No. 14 | Midseason: unranked)
Sanchez, acquired in the trade that sent Noah Syndergaard to the Phillies at the 2022 Trade Deadline, has struggled mightily at the plate this year at Tri-City. And unlike other Angels prospects, he's not facing older competition, as he's 23 and is a half a year older than the average player at his level.

New to the list

Here are the players added to the Top 30 from outside the organization:

No. 2: Christian Moore, 2B (No. 8 overall pick in Draft)
No. 5: Ryan Johnson, RHP (Compensation-round selection in Draft)
No. 10: Chris Cortez, RHP (Second-round selection in Draft)
No. 13: Trey Gregory-Alford, RHP (11th-round selection in Draft)
No. 18: Dylan Jordan, RHP (Fifth-round selection in Draft)

Best tools

Players are graded on a 20-80 scouting scale for future tools -- 20-30 is well below average, 40 is below average, 50 is average, 60 is above average and 70-80 is well above average. Players in parentheses have the same grade.

Hit: 55 -- Christian Moore
Power: 60 -- Christian Moore
Run: 75 -- Capri Ortiz
Arm: 60 -- Juan Flores
Defense: 55 -- Felix Morrobel (Nelson Rada, Juan Flores, Capri Ortiz, Adrian Placencia, Hayden Alvarez)
Fastball: 70 -- George Klassen (Walbert Urena)
Curveball: 60 -- Chris Cortez
Slider: 65 -- Ryan Johnson
Changeup: 55 -- Ryan Costeiu
Control: 65 -- Ryan Johnson