The Los Angeles Angels top prospect is embarrassing Double-A hitters as he makes one last push for a September call-up. According to MLB Pipeline, Caden Dana is the Angels’ top prospect and No. 74 overall in the minor leagues. The 20-year-old continues to dominate Southern League hitters who average to be more than four years older than him. Yet, it hasn’t bothered Dana one bit. The Angels top prospect currently has a 9-7 record over 23 starts, with a sterling 2.52 ERA and 0.94 WHIP. He ranks at or near the top of every major pitching category in the Southern League.
Wins: 9 (tied for second)
ERA: 2.52 (2nd) — First place is 2.44 by someone with 32 1/3 fewer innings pitched (Mason Adams)
Innings: 135.2 (1st)
Strikeouts: 147 (1st)
WHIP: 0.94 (1st)
Batting Average Against: .184 (1st)
Simply put, Dana has been phenomenal throughout the 2024 season. Yet, Dana was even better in August.
Caden Dana (@Angels) rolls on, fanning seven batters in six innings for the Double-A @trashpandas.
MLB’s No. 74 prospect leads the Southern League in strikeouts (147) and WHIP (0.94). pic.twitter.com/9xzLYvIkGO
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) August 26, 2024
Caden Dana Dominates in August
The Angels youth movement has begun in earnest with another disappointing season in Anaheim. Currently, the team still refuses to call it a rebuild. Yet, it’s clear that the organizational focus has turned to the youngsters. Luckily for the Angels, there’s a lot of good news on that front. The Angels 2024 first-round pick is in Double-A already and he’s thriving. Young players on the Angels roster have noticeably improved, including flamethrower slash closer-in-waiting Ben Joyce, shortstop Zach Neto, and first baseman Nolan Schanuel.
Regarding August’s performance, however, no one is topping Dana. Among starters with at least 15 innings pitched in the month, Dana’s numbers are once again some of the best in the Southern League. It should come as no surprise that he is the Angels top prospect after his 2024 performance.
Wins: 4 (t-1st)
ERA: 0.57 (1st)
Innings: 31.1 (2nd) — First place has 31.2 innings pitched (Lucas Braun)
Strikeouts: 32 (3rd) — First place has 35 K’s (Braun)
WHIP: 0.83 (1st)
Batting Average Against: .167 (2nd) — First place has .147 (Logan Workman)
Will Dana Earn a September Call-Up?
The big question that Angels fans will be asking is will Dana get called up when rosters expand in September. As it stands, the answer is probably yes. The Angels have aggressively promoted their top prospects in the last three years and this year should be no different. Not only is Dana likely to be promoted, but first-round pick Christian Moore could be as well. General manager Perry Minasian was just given a two-year extension to stay in the position through 2026. Apparently, Minasian’s aggressiveness convinced owner Arte Moreno to give out his first general manager extension since he took over the team. This bodes well for the Angels top prospect because it means they are likely to stay aggressive with prospect promotions with Minasian at the helm.
Main Photo: © Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
