With the No. 10 overall pick in the shortened, five-round 2020 MLB Draft, the Los Angeles Angels selected pitcher Reid Detmers. With pitching being a constant source of pressure for the Angels organization, they took what was seen as the most pro-ready pitcher in the entire 2020 draft class. So far, he appears to be living up to that billing.
Detmers — after three years in college at Louisville — went directly to the Rocket City Trash Pandas, the Angels Double-A affiliate. In eight starts this season, he has a 3.34 ERA and 60 strikeouts to just 13 walks in 35 innings of work. He is yet to allow more than three earned runs in an individual start, and did something very few have ever done in his most recent outing.
On June 20, Detmers took the mound against the Biloxi Shuckers, the Double-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers, and proceeded to throw an immaculate first inning. An immaculate inning is nine pitches, nine strikes, and three strikeouts. He did this en route to a 6.0 inning start where he struck out 14 batters, allowing two runs on one swing of the bat.
Detmers spoke about this outing and how he felt throughout a historic start, according to Nick Trujillo of MLB.com:
“I was throwing everything for strikes and everything felt good coming out of the hand. I was getting a lot of swings and misses,” said Detmers. “Staying ahead and just keep attacking, that’s when I start to see success.”
Despite being just the fourth player in Angels history to throw an immaculate inning — joining Tyler Skaggs, Jered Weaver, and Cooper Criswell (who threw his just last week) — he was disappointed in himself for allowing three hits, two walks, and two runs. He also said that his mentality is to move past those mistakes.
“Obviously, you’re going to get hit around every once in a while, and when you do you just got to bounce back,” said Detmers. “That’s one of my mottos, just bounce back and just keep competing.”
Detmers still has some time before he can join the Major League rotation, but the early returns on his potential are looking great. The Angels wanted a pitcher who could be ready to go as soon as possible, and they may have found their guy.
With three starts of 10 or more strikeouts in eight total appearances, it’s clear Detmers is a guy that could make it to The Show eventually. Now, it’s just a matter of staying collected as he moves through the ranks.
Jo Adell making progress
While Joe Maddon is not yet ready to make any hasty decisions by bringing Jo Adell back to the Major Leagues, he is liking the progress he’s seen from the outfielder. In 39 games this season for the Salt Lake Bees, Adell has hit 16 home runs and carried an OPS of .964.