The Los Angeles Angels selected Reid Detmers with the 10th overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft, and he immediately emerged as one of the organization’s top prospects.
The left-hander made his big league debut the following year and struggled to the tune of a 7.40 ERA in five starts. Despite the poor results, the team continued to have high hopes for him as he entered his first full MLB season in 2022.
Detmers made the Angels’ Opening Day starting rotation and he initially battled with inconsistency. After an up-and-down month of April, the 23-year-old threw the 12th no-hitter in franchise history against the Tampa Bay Rays on May 10.
Detmers needed 108 pitches to complete his gem despite striking out only two batters. He was a walk and an error away from a perfect game.
Detmers was named the American League Player of the Week after his performance, becoming the first, non-two-way player to win the award for the Angels since Matt Shoemaker in July 2016, the first left-handed pitcher to do so since Chuck Finley in July 1997.
Unfortunately for Detmers, his struggles would resurface as he posted a 5.67 ERA and 6.87 FIP in 27 innings pitched over his next six starts. He was optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake to work out some issues before returning to the Angels in early July.
From that point on, Detmers looked like a different pitcher as he went 5-3 with a 3.04 ERA, 2.51 FIP, 1.30 WHIP and 9.9 strikeouts per nine in 71 innings across his final 13 MLB starts.
In 25 overall starts, Detmers was 7-6 with a 3.77 ERA, 3.79 FIP and 1.21 WHIP over 129 innings of work. He recorded 122 strikeouts against 46 walks and accumulated a career-best 2.4 WAR.
Detmers was named to the MLB Pipeline All-Rookie First Team at the end of the 2022 season, which recognizes the best rookies at each position with a first and second team that includes five starting pitchers and two relievers each.
Reid Detmers 2022 highlight
In addition to his no-hitter against the Rays, Detmers threw an immaculate inning against the Texas Rangers on July 30. He became just the third pitcher in MLB history to have a no-hitter and immaculate inning in the same season.
2023 outlook
On the heels of a promising rookie campaign, Detmers will look to build on his success in his second full MLB season with the Angels in 2023.
Detmers will once again be a key member of a starting rotation that is projected to include Shohei Ohtani, Tyler Anderson, Patrick Sandoval and José Suarez.
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