The Los Angeles Angels’ No. 1 prospect and one of only two top-100 players, according to MLB Pipeline, is a towering right-hander who has skyrocketed up the ranks thanks to incredible showings in the minor leagues in 2023 and 2024. Caden Dana, who has received physical comparisons to Noah Syndergaard with a slightly different pitch mix, is the best prospect in the Angels organization.
He has pitched 129.2 innings over 22 starts for Double-A Rocket City this season, and is posting a 2.64 ERA and a 0.949 WHIP with 140 strikeouts. Dana has actually improved with each promotion, statistically. And when the farm systems were re-evaluated after the trade deadline, Dana was seen as someone who could make his MLB debut at the start of the 2025 season.
But recent developments within the Angels pitching staff — injuries to players like Jose Soriano and more — have perhaps opened the door for Dana to come up in 2024. Manager Ron Washington spoke about the concept, not denying it as a possibility but ensuring the organization wants to do what’s best for Dana’s development, according to Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com:
“This kid is 20 years old, experiencing his first full season,” Washington said of Dana. “We want him to be successful now. As far as him getting here, I’m not going to say he might not get here, but we’re not having a conversation about it. He’s on the radar, but I don’t know what’s going to happen, because it’s beyond my decision-making.”
One reason that Dana might be finding so much success down in Double-A is that the Angels have given him the rope to learn from mistakes and fight through potential fatigue. He has thrown over 100 pitches six times this season. But Dana appreciates that level of trust in him,
“It’s almost like, if you slow the game down, you look up and it’s the sixth, seventh inning already,” Dana said. “It’s weird how that works. I’m glad the Angels really aren’t putting the leash on me, because I think I need that and I think everything is a learning experience right now. I think I have to get used to it.”
If the Angels decide to call Dana up this season, he’ll undoubtedly be ready to go right away. He’s more than built up enough stamina as a starter and has steadily gotten better as the year has gone on. But choosing to wait until next season could also be beneficial, as he is still only 20 years of age with one season of play beyond Class-A as a pro.
The Angels are known to rush players through their system and get them to the big league club. But, for now, they are exhibiting patience, and it may pay off in the long run.
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