The MLB All-Star Futures Game is a chance for some of the game’s best prospects to show their ability on a big stage. The American and National League’s best — at least one top prospect from each team — will play a seven-inning game as a part of All-Star Weekend festivities. And the Los Angeles Angels have selected their top prospect, Caden Dana, to participate.
Dana was selected in the 11th round of the 2022 MLB Draft out of Don Bosco Prep in New Jersey, but quickly rose the ranks of the Angels farm system after promotions and trades left the system relatively bare. Dana recently became the No. 1 prospect in the organization and was placed on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 prospects list at No. 91.
Dana, 20, has spent the entire 2024 season with Double-A Rocket City. He has started 15 games with 84.1 innings pitched, averaging around 5.2 innings per start. He has posted a 3.09 ERA and 1.043 WHIP with 88 strikeouts. He is still learning better command — 30 walks — but has shown immense potential.
He is one of seven right-handed pitchers represented by the AL at the Futures Game and one of 17 pitchers overall. It’s unclear if all 17 pitchers will get a chance to toss in the game, but Dana should hopefully get an opportunity as one of the top 100 prospects taking part in the game.
The MLB All-Star Futures Game will be broadcast by MLB Network on July 13 at 1:00 p.m. PST from Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. Dana won’t have much of a commute playing in Houston.
Angels lose to finish quality June
The Angels posted five runs in the ninth inning of Sunday’s series finale against the Detroit Tigers. However, it wasn’t enough to overcome the six-run deficit, bringing their six-game winning streak to an end and missing out on a weekend sweep. But it closed out an impressive month for the club.
The Angels went 15-11 in June, sweeping two series’, winning four and getting a 1-1 split against the L.A. Dodgers. While the strong stretch wasn’t enough to dig the Angels out of a hole in the standings, they have firmly established themselves as better than the basement-dwellers of the league and proving that the young roster can hold up.
For Taylor Ward, the late rally was a symbol of what the Angels are at their best and how they’ve been able to fight through the 2024 campaign after a tough start.