A Look Back at the Angels 2021 All-Pitcher Draft Class

After a disappointing 2020 season, where they finished with a record of 26-34, the Anaheim Angels made a decisive shift in their team-building approach. Recognizing that despite having 8 players with an OPS+ of 100 or higher (excluding Shohei Ohtani), their dismal pitching was the primary culprit for their lackluster performance. With a pitching staff ERA of 5.09 and a WHIP of 1.315 in 2020, it was evident that improvements were necessary. Consequently, the team revamped their strategy and entered the 2021 MLB Draft with a singular focus on bolstering their pitching roster. They utilized all 20 of their draft picks to select pitchers, and in this blog post, I will reflect on those draft choices and evaluate their impact on the team's performance.

The First 10 Rounds:

In the opening round, the Angels secured RHP Sam Bachman. Despite a brief stint in the majors (with only 4 appearances), Bachman's performance in the minors has been lackluster, marked by a 4.48 ERA and 1.40 WHIP. Currently sidelined due to injury, the Angels anticipate his return to the major league roster this season, hoping for improved output.

Their second-round pick, LHP Ky Bush, also faced challenges, tallying a 4.97 ERA and 1.39 WHIP in the minors before being traded to the White Sox in 2023 for Reynaldo Lopez and Lucas Giolito, who have since departed the team. Other selections from rounds 3-10 either saw trades or failed to rank among the Angels' top 30 prospects, with the exception of Ryan Costeiu, drafted in the 7th round. Despite being the 12th-ranked prospect, Costeiu, age 23, is projected primarily as a bullpen asset.

The Next 10 Rounds:

Round 11 proved fruitful for the Angels with the selection of Chase Silseth, who made strides in the majors in 2023, boasting a 3.96 ERA and 1.28 WHIP in 52.1 IP. Demonstrating continued promise in Spring Training with a 1.08 ERA in 8.1 IP, Silseth is poised to fill rotation gaps left by Shohei Ohtani's departure.

In the 12th round, the Angels drafted LHP Mason Albright, who performed solidly in MILB in 2023 with a 3.28 ERA and 1.26 WHIP. However, Albright was subsequently traded at the deadline to the Colorado Rockies for CJ Cron and Randal Grichuk, both of whom are no longer on the team. The draft's remaining rounds (13-20) failed to yield any top 30 prospects for the Angels.

Overall, while the Angels acquired some promising pitchers, the draft class lacks standout performers. While Silseth is projected as a mid-rotation starter, uncertainties surround Bachman and Costeiu, especially in the context of a relatively weak farm system. The full potential of this draft class remains uncertain, but early indications suggest it may not be particularly impressive.