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2025 Los Angeles Angels Top Fantasy Baseball Prospects

Los Angeles Angels top prospects for fantasy baseball

The Angels love to push prospects aggressively through their system. The expectation should be similar for their most recent first-round pick Christian Moore. Moore headlines the list of top prospects below which also features a few intriguing names acquired at last year’s trade deadline. Keep reading for the full list of prospects that dynasty managers need to be aware of.

 

Top Angels Prospects

 

The Top Tier

 

1) Christian Moore – 2B, 22 YO

2024 Stats (A/AA): .347 AVG | .400 OBP | .584 SLG | 6 HR | 13 SB | 26.4 K% | 8.2 BB%

 

The Angels have made a habit of using their first-round pick on a college hitter they feel can move quickly through their minor league system. Nolan Schanuel, Zach Neto, Ben Joyce, and now Christian Moore. Moore’s big power numbers at Tennessee led to his selection at eighth overall. In his final collegiate season, Moore exploded for 34 home runs. The transition to professional baseball could not have been more smooth. He continued hitting for excellent power crushing six home runs in just 25 games. Moore’s power is certainly a plus tool. He gets the ball in the air regularly and projects for 25-30 home runs at the major league level. Power-hitting second basemen are always attractive to dynasty managers. The added bonus is that the Angels are already moving Moore quickly through their system. We should see him in the major leagues at some point in 2025.

The concern with Moore lies in his hit tool. As is typical for most power hitters, Moore’s swing comes with plenty of holes. He struggles to make consistent contact and saw his strikeout rate jump up to 29.6% in Double-A. As Moore’s power has increased, his speed has decreased. He profiles for a handful of stolen bases, but not much more. His profile has the potential to turn into Brandon Lowe from the right side. His power-fueled upside does not come without plenty of risk.

 

2) Matthew Lugo – SS/OF, 23 YO

2024 Stats (AA/AAA): .287 AVG | .376 SLG | .578 OBP | 17 HR | 16 SB | 23.3 K% | 10.1 BB%

 

Matthew Lugo was selected in the second round back in 2019 by the Red Sox. Lugo’s progression through the minors was slowed due to the pandemic as well as early struggles. He exploded in 2022 showing off power and speed that get dynasty managers excited. The wheels fell off in 2023 before Lugo rebounded nicely last season. A midseason trade to the Angels could work out best for Lugo’s near-term fantasy value. The Angels are void of much core talent on their roster and Lugo should have a chance to earn a starting role for them as early as spring training.

How interested should dynasty managers be in Lugo? Digging in, there is a lot to like. Since the start of 2023, Lugo has dramatically increased his line drive rate. This increase in line drive rate makes his .337 BABIP seem much more sustainable. Although Lugo does not hit the ball overly hard, you can still believe in his power. Lugo gets to his pull side with ease helping his power to play up beyond what his exit velocities suggest. He posted home-run-per-fly-ball rates well above the league average this past season. There is 20+ home run pop here. On top of that, Lugo has plus speed. He went 16/17 on stolen base attempts last season and projects for 15-20 at the major league level. His contact skills are not the best, but he has continued to show improvements in this area, as well as his plate discipline over the past year. Although Lugo is not the flashy new toy for dynasty managers, he has plenty of upside. His proximity makes him a prospect to keep tabs on heading into 2025.

 

3) Caden Dana – SP, 21 YO

2024 MiLB Stats (AA): 135.2 IP | 2.52 ERA | 27.4 K% | 7.3 BB%

2024 MLB Stats: 10.1 IP | 9.58 ERA | 15.4 K% | 13.5 BB%

 

Caden Dana entered the 2022 draft with a strong commitment to the University of Kentucky that many felt was unbreakable. The Angels took him in the 11th round and convinced him to join the organization. Since, Dana has been (to the surprise of nobody) pushed aggressively through the minor leagues. Dana entered last year having never pitched above High-A but still managed to make his way to the major leagues. He skipped Triple-A entirely, but it is fair to question whether all of this was best for his development. After pitching well in his major league debut, Dana was shelled in each of his other two starts. He struggled with command as he walked seven and gave up five home runs in just 10.1 innings of work.

Dana is primarily a two-pitch pitcher. He relies heavily on his four-seam fastball and slider while mixing in a changeup and curve on occasion. His fastball was the pitch that got him in trouble. Dana has good induced vertical break on the pitch, but lacks premier velocity. Four of the five homers he surrendered were off the fastball. His slider is a plus offering with good movement and dive down in the zone. He commands it well and gets plenty of whiffs on it. Dana profiles as a back-end starter with some upside from his slider. He works deep into games creating a stable base. A lack of faith in the organization to successfully develop his command dampens the excitement surrounding him moving forward.

 

4) Joswa Lugo – SS, 18 YO

2024 Stats (DSL): .301 AVG | .370 OBP | .466 SLG | 5 HR | 18 SB | 23.3 K% | 7.8 BB%

 

If you are searching for athleticism and upside, Joswa Lugo is a name to highlight. Lugo signed with the Angels last January out of the Dominican Republic. The big right-handed hitting shortstop put together an excellent first season of professional ball. The lack of buzz surrounding his name after the slash line he put together is puzzling. Lugo showed off good power, which should come as no surprise given his 6’3″ frame. His speed and athleticism were on pure display through his 18 stolen bases. Lugo even showed off a great batted-ball distribution through his pull and line drive rates. His hands are quiet, his swing is smooth, and he has the upside dynasty managers dream about.

Yes, Lugo is still a raw talent. He has an aggressive approach at the plate that is compounded with a lot of swing-and-miss. Lugo’s swing can get long at times and it is fair to worry how his bat will play against better velocity up in the zone. Despite Lugo’s suspect hit tool, he is the kind of profile that could fly up prospect boards with another strong season. He has 25/40 upside and will be just 18 for the entirety of the 2025 season.

 

5) George Klassen – SP, 23 YO

2024 Stats (A/A+/AA): 93.0 IP | 3.10 ERA | 35.2 K% | 12.0 BB%

 

During George Klassen’s time at Minnesota, he was used primarily as a reliever his first season before transitioning to the starting rotation. He finished his final collegiate season with an underwhelming 6.35 ERA but the Phillies still saw enough potential to grab him in the sixth round of the 2023 draft. From a pure stuff standpoint, Klassen’s talent was never in question. Klassen’s four-seam fastball sits around 97 mph with the ability to touch triple digits. The pitch also generates over 14″ of arm side run. Off the fastball, Klassen mixes both a slider and curveball that generate extremely high whiff rates. His slider is the best of the breaking balls disappearing on batters. This near-elite 1/2 combination gives Klassen significant upside.

His fall to the sixth round was predicated primarily on relief risk. Klassen’s stuff was held back in college by erratic control. Walk rates plagued Klassen in college but the walk issues seemingly disappeared with the Phillies. His walk rate prior to the trade was 8.9% but jumped to 16.9% in the eight starts that followed. Fatigue in his first full professional season is a possible explanation, but for somebody with control issues in the past, this remains a concern moving forward. Klassen has more upside than many pitchers in the minor leagues but a trade to an organization that has struggled to develop pitching gives me some concern over his future projection.

 

6) Ryan Johnson – SP, 22 YO

2024 Stats: DNP

 

The Angels routinely attempt to find college value throughout the draft. Ryan Johnson certainly fits that bill. Johnson went to college at Dallas Baptist University pitching three seasons of collegiate ball there. Johnson improved every season finishing his final year with a 2.21 ERA and 151 strikeouts. Johnson’s slider is already a clear plus offering and is one that he throws with regularity. He commands all of the pitches in his deep arsenal well and fills the strike zone consistently. He does not have a history of struggling with walks and features a four-seam fastball in the mid to upper 90s.

With a starter’s arsenal and good control/command, Johnson has the making of a future starting pitcher. However, the uniqueness of his delivery scared many MLB scouts and provides significant relief risk moving forward. Johnson uses a slide step with almost no leg lift in his wind-up. His low arm slot takes a whippy action with very little extension. His stuff may play better in short stints out of the bullpen against professional hitters. Johnson is one of the more unique pitchers to come out of the 2024 draft.

 

7) Barrett Kent – SP, 20 YO

2024 Stats (A): 113 IP | 6.21 ERA | 24.3 K% | 11.8 BB%

 

The Angels continued to fill their draft board with pitching when they selected Barrett Kent in the eighth round of the 2023 draft. The 6’4″ righty struggled in his first full season of professional baseball. He posted a 6.21 ERA with a mediocre strikeout and walk rate. Despite these struggles, Kent has the stuff to become a significant dynasty asset.

Starting with his fastball, Kent’s velocity sits around 93. Still just 20, the hope is that Kent can add a couple more ticks to his four-seamer to pair with the excellent arm-side run he gets. As far as his secondaries, Kent has two pitches that could be plus offerings. His changeup is currently his best non-fastball. The pitch seemingly disappears to left-handed batters. While Kent’s slider lacks consistency, he still gets good movement on it giving it plus potential. As with the two pitchers above him, Kent’s current ranking comes down to a lack of faith in the Angels to develop pitching. His arsenal has more potential than a seventh-ranked prospect in a poor farm system.

 

Prospects Dynasty Managers Should Know

 

8) Nelson Rada – OF, 19 YO

2023 Stats (AA): .234 AVG | .331 SLG | .269 OBP | 1 HR | 35 SB | 23.3 K% | 11.4 BB%

 

Speed is the name of the game for Nelson Rada. Rada signed with the Angels out of Venezuela back in 2022 and has stolen 90 bases over the past two seasons. Rada has good contact skills and excellent plate discipline but lacks the ability to impact the ball much. At 5’8″, there is not much power projection for him to grow into. He profiles as an OBP and stolen base guy for fantasy managers.

 

9) Sam Aldegheri – SP, 23 YO

2024 MiLB Stats (A+/AA): 95.1 IP | 3.59 ERA | 33.5 K% | 10.3 BB%

2024 MLB Stats: 13.0 IP | 4.85 ERA | 14.9 K% | 14.9 BB%

 

Sam Aldegheri is the first pitcher to make it to the major leagues after being born in Italy. The Phillies originally signed Aldegheri, then traded him to the Angels at last year’s trade deadline. Aldegheri posted strong numbers in the lower levels of the minor leagues but lacks the stuff to accel against tougher competition. He profiles as a back-end starter or left-handed reliever long-term.

 

10) Felix Morrobel – SS/2B, 19 YO

2024 Stats (CPX): .308 AVG | .400 OBP | .327 SLG | 0 HR | 5 SB | 12.9 K% | 12.9 BB%

 

Felix Morrobel is a switch-hitting middle infield prospect who signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2023. Just 19, there is room for physical projection in Morrobel’s profile, although he has yet to hit for any power professionally. Injuries limited Morrobel to just 15 games in 2024, but he continued to show off solid contact skills. He profiles to hit for decent average with underwhelming power numbers.

 

11) Cole Fontenelle – 3B, 22 YO

2024 Stats (AA):.278 AVG | .404 OBP | .417 SLG | 2 HR | 12 SB | 25.8 K% | 12.4 BB%

 

A fibula injury limited Cole Fontenelle to just 22 games in 2024. The big third baseman transferred to TCU for his final collegiate season and put up big numbers there before being drafted in the seventh round of the 2023 draft. Fontenelle projects with above-average power and a good feel for pulling the ball. His approach at the plate is sound but his contact skills are suspect. Fontenelle struck out 36.1% of the time in the AFL this past season.

 

12) Joel Hurtado – SP, 23 YO

2024 Stats (A+): 138.2 IP | 4.61 ERA | 21.3 K% | 13.0 BB%

 

The wiry right-hander from the Dominican Republic has two plus offerings. Joel Hurtado features a fastball that sits in the upper 90s and mixes in a slider that is a plus strikeout pitch. Hurtado seemed to make strides in the control department late in 2023 but that regressed following a promotion to High-A for 2024. Hurtado probably projects best in a relief role considering his age and current development.

 

13) Trey Gregory-Alford – SP, 18 YO

2024 Stats: DNP

 

Trey Gregory-Alford’s strong commitment to the University of Virginia led to him falling to the 11th round of the 2024 draft. The Angels were able to sway him away with second-round money adding him to their list of pitching prospects. Gregory-Alford’s fastball instantly turns him into an intriguing prospect. Sitting in the upper 90s at just 18 years old, this could be a plus offering. He also has a plus slider but lacks a third offering. The development of this is key to reducing the relief risk and help him achieve his potential.

 

14) Dario Laverde – C, 19 YO

2024 Stats (CPX/A): .293 AVG | .371 OBP | .406 SLG | 2 HR | 1 SB | 21.2 K% | 9.8 BB%

 

The Angels signed Dario Laverde out of Venezuela back in January of 2022. Since joining the Angels organization, the team has worked to try and get him to calm down his hands and adjust his batting stance. He has hit for solid average, but has failed to tap into any real power. He profiles as a plus OBP catcher who is not going to provide many home runs or stolen bases. He is a low ceiling catcher prospect.

 

15) Denzer Guzman – SS, 20 YO

2024 Stats (A+/AA): .224 AVG | .302 OBP | .315 SLG | 6 HR | 10 SB | 27.7 K% | 9.4 BB%

 

Denzer Guzman’s athleticism has kept him toward the top of most Angels’ prospect publications. Signed as an international free agent back in 2021, Guzman has shown flashes of plus power but has failed to put things together. His hit tool is below average, and his stolen base production has been underwhelming. There is plenty of development needed in order to help Guzman reach the Major Leagues.

 

The Next Five

 

Although these prospects do not crack the top 15, dynasty managers should keep their eye on these five players.

Chris Cortez– 22 YO – Second-round pick with a big fastball/slider combo but spotty control and significant relief risk.

Hayden Alvarez – 17 YO – Toolsy outfielder with excellent speed and plenty of development left.

Capri Ortiz – 19 YO – Speedy middle infielder with a suspect hit tool and a limited power projection.

Ubaldo Soto – 17 YO – Young right-handed pitcher who has dominated the DSL twice but has yet to face full-season hitters.

Randy De Jesus– 19 YO – A 6’4″ outfielder who has struggled to make consistent contact early in his professional career.

 

Photos courtesy of Icon Sportswire
Adapted by Kurt Wasemiller (@kurt_player02 on Instagram & Threads
@kuwasemiller.bksy.social on BlueSky)

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