The Los Angeles Angels farm system was ranked No. 28 in MLB Pipeline’s 2023 midseason update, ahead of only the Kansas City Royals and Houston Astros. The Baltimore Orioles (No. 1), Pittsburgh Pirates, Milwaukee Brewers, Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds rounded out the top five.
The Angels’ low ranking can be attributed to the orgnaization having only one prospect in MLB Pipeline’s top 100 rankings. That honor belongs to rookie catcher Logan O’Hoppe, who checks in at No. 31.
O’Hoppe is nearing a return to the Angels after missing the last four months due to a torn labrum in his left shoulder that required surgery. He appeared in 16 games prior to that point as the Angels primary catcher.
According to Jim Callis, Sam Dykstra and Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com, the Angels would be without a top 100 prospect if O’Hoppe stayed healthy. However, they praised the organization for quickly promoting MLB Draft picks to the Majors:
If O’Hoppe hadn’t gotten hurt, the Angels would be without a Top 100 guy. They continue to be the organization that pushes Draft guys to the big leagues the fastest, with Zach Neto the best success story. Nolan Schanuel, this year’s first-round pick, is already in Double-A, and shouldn’t take long to join Neto. Even if the system doesn’t have highly ranked guys, they do get big league producers, important since its is a little thin overall.
Zach Neto is a great example of a recent draft pick who has already made a mark in the big leagues. The 22-year-old was selected with the 13th overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft and earned his first call-up to the Angels this past April.
Neto, currently on the 10-day injured list with lower back inflammation, has produced 1.6 WAR in 67 games this season with roughly league-average offense and solid defense at shortstop.
As the MLB Pipeline writers noted, the Angels’ 2023 first-round pick, Nolan Schanuel, has already been promoted to Double-A Rocket City and could make his Major League debut next season.
Aside from O’Hoppe and Schanuel, the Angels’ top 5 prospects include right-handed pitcher Caden Dana, outfielder Nelson Rada and catcher/outfielder Alberto Rios.
The Angels lost both their No. 2 and No. 3 overall prospects — Ky Bush and Edgar Quero — in their trade deadline deal with the Chicago White Sox that brought in Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo López.
Logan O’Hoppe began rehab assignment with Low-A Inland Empire
O’Hoppe, who is currently on a rehab assignment with Low-A Inland Empire, could be back in the Angels lineup by the end of August.