The Los Angeles Angels continued their trend of selecting college players, making seven of their eight selections from the collegiate ranks on the second day of the 2023 Major League Baseball Draft.
After drafting infielder/outfielder Nolan Schanuel out of Florida Atlantic University with their 11th overall pick, the Angels shifted gears a bit, taking five pitchers among their eight selections. Day 2 consists of rounds 3-10.
The Angels made a few selections under-slot value, which means they can save some money in the signing process. Angels scouting director Tim McIlvaine is in his second year with the team, and is overseeing the process.
Round 3: Albert Rios, 3B, Stanford
Rios was taken with the Angels’ third-round pick (No. 79), and the 2023 Pac-12 Player of the Year posted a terrific final season with 18 home runs, 73 RBI, with a 1.191 on-base plus slugging.
The 21-year-old has the ability to play multiple spots and is relatively young in his development after being held to just seven at-bats during his first two college seasons. Rios’ terrific junior year put him on the radar of many scouts, and his multi-position game should allow the Angels to find a spot for him, considering he can play the outfield, catcher, and some third base.
Round 4: Joe Redfield, OF, Sam Houston(TX)
A junior college transfer, Joe Redfield was the Angels’ fourth round pick, and although he wasn’t ranked on many analysts’ top boards, he has the tools that project quite well.
In his 2023 season, Redfield posted a .402 batting average with 15 home runs, 56 RBI, 81 runs scored and logged 15 stolen bases in his junior year. The outfielder can play a competent center field, and prior to being drafted, he was entering the transfer portal in search of a better opportunity.
Round 5: Chris Clark, P, Harvard(MA)
The big right-hander posted a 4.93 ERA in his final season at Harvard, leading the Ivy League with 93 strikeouts, while ranking sixth in innings pitched with 65.2 on the year. Clark has the ability to touch the upper 90s with his four-seam fastball and has experience as a reliever, but most has come as a starter.
Round 6: Camden Minacci, P, Wake Forest
Minacci projects as a reliever at the next level, mainly because of his limited arsenal. Similar to former Angels draft pick in Ben Joyce, there’s a shot he could contribute in MLB sooner than many in this class.
The two-pitch right-hander was a key piece to the Wake Forest bullpen and has a fastball that tops out in the upper 90s. Minacci also throws a devastating slider that should be exciting to watch in how it lives up to big league bats.
Rounds 7-10
The Angels selected third baseman Cole Fontenelle out of Texas Christian University with their seventh round pick, a four-year junior and a switch-hitter. Following that up with their lone high-school draftee thus far, in Barrett Kent out of Pottsboro High School in Texas. The former high-rising pitcher has the tools to be a solid arm with his well-equipped arsenal.
In their final few rounds on Day 2, the Angels took a pair of right-handed pitchers in Chase Gockel out of Quincy University, and Chris Barraza. Barraza is a high strikeout arm, posting 39 punchouts in his 29 innings of work this past season.
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