The Los Angeles Angels' pitching development struggles are well-documented, but the team's new pitching lab offers hope for improvement. Pitching prospect Caden Dana, drafted in the 11th round in 2022, is showing promise after a slow start in the minor leagues. With a 1.69 ERA in his first six starts this season at Double-A, his fastball and slider have impressed, though he still needs to work on his changeup. On the other hand, outfield prospect Imanol Vargas, acquired from the Dodgers, has disappointed with just a .285 OPS in eight games at Low-A.

By the Numbers
  • Caden Dana has a 1.69 ERA in his first six starts at Double-A in the 2024 season
  • Imanol Vargas has a .285 OPS in eight games at Low-A for the Angels
State of Play
  • Caden Dana shows promise with his performance and improvement in the minor leagues
  • Imanol Vargas, acquired from the Dodgers, is struggling to make an impact with the Angels
What's Next

If Caden Dana continues to perform well, he may force the Angels to consider promoting him to the major leagues. Imanol Vargas will need to show improvement to make an impact for the Angels.

Bottom Line

The Angels have a potential gem in Caden Dana, while the acquisition of Imanol Vargas from the Dodgers has yet to yield positive results.