Don’t forget to pick up your copy of the The 2024 Prospect Digest Handbook here.
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1. Nolan Schanuel, 1B
| Hit | Power | SB | Patience | Glove | Overall |
| 60 | 40 | 30 | 60 | 50 | 50 |
Background: Florida Atlantic University, home to the Owls, hasn’t churned out a whole lot of pro level talent throughout its history, sending just 12 players to the big leagues – the best, of course, being Austin Gomber and the immortal Jeff Fiorentino. Beyond the smattering of replacement level players, the Conference USA school has had just two players – C.J. Chatham and Tyler Frank – drafted before the third round. Both would eventually be second round picks in the midsummer selection; Chatham to the Red Sox in 2016 and Frank to the Rays two years later. Nolan Schanuel, a hulking 6-foot-4, 220-pound first baseman / corner outfielder, changed things, though. A product of Trea Turner’s alma mater, Park Vista Community High School, Schanuel began his final prep season in tremendous fashion, going 13-for-25 with 10 RBIs before COVID prematurely curtailed the year. Perfect Game would eventually rank the burgeoning bopper as the sixth best outfielder in Florida and 18th at the position nationally. And he immediately stepped into the Owls’ lineup as a true freshman, showcasing a promising combination of power, bat control, and patience. The then-19-year-old would finish the year with a sparkling .343/.444/.576 slash line, belting out 11 doubles, one triple, and 11 homeruns to go along with half-a-dozen stolen bases. He continued to feast upon the opposition as he moved in the Cal Ripken Collegiate League that summer as well, batting .333/.510/.520 in 24 games with the Bethesda Big Train. Schanuel, a native of Florida, was marvelous in his follow up campaign in 2022: he mashed .369/.477/.658 with 17 doubles, 16 homeruns, and 11 stolen bases while finishing with a 22-to-39 strikeout-to-walk ratio. But for the first time in recent memory, Schanuel struggled as he moved into the Cape Cod League. Facing premium arms on a consistent basis, he put together a paltry .200/.342/.272 in 36 games for the Hyannis Harbor Hawks. Last season, though, the eventual first rounder quickly made up for his struggles in the Cape as he set career highs with FAU in batting average (.447), on-base percentage (.615), slugging percentage (.868), doubles (18), triples (four), homeruns (19), and stolen bases (14). The Angels snagged the lefty-swinging first baseman in the opening round, 11th overall, and signed him for $5.25 million – the recommended slot value. Less than a month after making his professional debut in the Arizona Complex League, Schanuel rocketed through Low-A (two games), Double-A (15 games), and settled in for the remainder of the year with the big league club. The former Owl batted an OBP-driven .275/.402/.330 with three doubles and a dinger in with the Halos.
Scouting Report: Pre-draft scouting report:
“Consider the following:
Since 2011, only two Conference USA hitters batted over .400 in a season (min. 250 PA): Chad Zurcher and, of course, Nolan Schanuel. Zurcher, a product of the University of Memphis, was taken in the 31st round of the 2011 draft by the Mets and was out of pro ball in two years.
Now let’s expand it a bit:
Since 2011, only one Division I hitter hit at least .400 with an OBP north of .600 in a season (min. 250 PA): Nolan Schanuel.
A very good low, inside hitter that simply drops the bat head and drives the ball, Schanuel isn’t as athletically imposing as some of the other typical collegiate outfielders like LSU’s Dylan Crews or Florida’s Wyatt Langford. Schanuel isn’t built like the modern day power-hitter. Instead he’s physically reminiscent of players from yesteryear like Wally Joyner or Will Clark. Good bat speed, but not elite. Smooth left-handed stroke. Average runner. Schanuel crowds the plate, almost stealing the inside pitch away from the opposition. The power he showed in college won’t show up as a professional. But he owns an above-average hit tool, elite bat control, and a plus eye at the plate. He’s the type of prospect that the Brewers or Orioles have prioritized in recent years.”
After witnessing his work in the big leagues, I’ve bumped up Schanuel’s hit tool from above-average to plus. The key to consistent, long-term offensive success will be unlocking more thump from his stick.
Ceiling: 2.5-win player
Risk: Low toModerate
MLB ETA: 2024/2025
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2. Nelson Rada, CF
| Hit | Power | SB | Patience | Glove | Overall |
| 50 | 30/35 | 60 | 55 | 55 | 50 |
Background: Ever since Arte Moreno has taken control of the franchise, the team has never shied away from handing out big dollar contracts – both on the free agency and international markets. The problem, of course, is that they have hit on very few of those big ticket items. Nelson Rada, though, is proving to be the exception to the rule. Signed for a hefty $1.85 million as a spry 16-year-old two years ago, the young Venezuelan outfielder handled himself well during his professional debut in the foreign rookie league later that summer, batting .311/.446/.439 with 12 doubles, three triples, and a dinger in 50 games. Known for their aggressive promotion schedules (see: Schanuel, Nolan), the front office shoved the baby-faced prospect straight into the fires of the California League where he (A) became the youngest qualified hitter and (B) continued to showcase some promising offensive prowess. Appearing in 115 games with the Inland Empire 66ers, Rada hit .276/.396/.346 with 13 doubles, six triples, two homeruns, and a whopper of a stolen base total (55). His overall production, per Weighted Runs Created Plus, topped the league average mark by 13%.
Snippet from The 2022 Prospect Digest Handbook: There’s a lot of maturity in his [hitting] mechanics, very controlled with great rotation. Rada – clearly – is still a project / lottery ticket at this point. But there’s a lot, a lot of potential to turn into an impact hitter in the coming years. Don’t be surprised if he pops up as a Top 100 prospect in two years.
Scouting Report: Consider the following:
Since 2006, only twenty 17-year-old hitters have earned at least 10 plate appearances in any Low-A League. Four of those prospects accomplished the feat in 2023: Ethan Salas, Colt Emerson and Tai Peete, both of whom are in the Mariners’ organization, and Nelson Rada.
Here’s how the Angels’ youngster stacks up, production wise:
Rada’s overall production, as measured by Weighted Runs Created Plus, is the second highest tally among all 17-year-old years with at least 300 PA, trailing only Jose Tabata, a career .275/.336/.377 big league hitter.
After a particularly frigid start to the year, Rada, who batted .169/.319/.208 over his first 20 games, caught fire in early May and hit .298/.411/.381 over his remaining 98 contests. The teenage centerfield shows some impressive skills, namely his bat control, patience, and plus speed. The differentiator for him in the coming years won’t be contact, but quality of contact. Silky smooth swing, but he definitely needs to get stronger to drive the ball more consistently. If the power never comes, which looks questionable even now, the best case scenario is a Steven Kwan type offensive performer: .270/.340/.375 with a couple dozen stolen bases, a handful of homeruns, and some defensive value.
Ceiling: 2.0-win player
Risk: Medium
MLB ETA: 2025
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3. Kyren Paris, 2B/SS
| Hit | Power | SB | Patience | Glove | Overall |
| 40 | 50 | 60 | 50 | 55 | 45 |
Background: In a draft class loaded with first round talent, the Halos’ front office bypassed the likes of Corbin Carroll, Quinn Priester, George Kirby, and Anthon Volpe, eventually settling on North Carolina State shortstop Will Wilson, who (A) lasted just months in the organization before he was flipped to San Francisco as part of the Zack Cozart salary dump (another disastrous signing) and (B) is one of just three players taken within the top 21 picks that summer that hasn’t debuted in the big leagues. Los Angeles, though, quietly followed it up with a pair of intriguing high school prospects in the second and third rounds: Kyren Paris and Jack Kochanowicz. Limited to just 50 games between 2019 and 2021, Paris struggled mightily during the opening months of 2022 in High-A, but quietly righted the production ship as the year went on. Last season, the 6-foot, 180-pound middle infielder appeared in a career best 113 games with the Rocket City Trash Panda’s, the club’s Double-A affiliate, hitting a respectable .255/.393/.417 with 23 doubles, one triple, 14 homeruns, and 44 stolen bases. His production, per Weighted Runs Created Plus, was 23% better than the league average. He also spent a couple weeks up with the big league club in September.
Snippet from The 2022 Prospect Digest Handbook: Not only is Paris one of the better athletes in the Angels’ system, but he’s also one of the more intriguing prospects as well. The range of outcomes is still fairly enormous at this point, but there’s some starting potential here.
Scouting Report: Consider the following:
The list of 21-year-old hitters to accrue at least 350 plate appearances with a wRC+ mark between 118 and 128 (with one organization) in Double-A since 2006 is pretty small; Paris is just one of 24 to accomplish the feat. The problem, of course, is that Paris’s punch out rate, 29.4%, is the highest among the group.
Paris started to tap into the thump brewing in his bat last season, leading to career bests in doubles (23) and homeruns (14) despite spending the year at the most challenging level in the minor leagues. But the quality of the hit tool likely hampers his ceiling significantly. The speed, glove versatility and quality, and age all bode well for him as a super-sub-type player in the coming years. He’s the type of player that’s exciting to watch, but frustrating to observe.
Ceiling: 1.5-win player
Risk: Moderate
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4. Denzer Guzman, SS
| Hit | Power | SB | Patience | Glove | Overall |
| 40/50 | 35/45 | 50/40 | 50 | 45 | 50 |
Background: Another one of the club’s high profile, big dollar amateur free agents. Guzman joined the organization on a hefty $2 million deal during the 2020-21 signing period, but he’s yet to live up to those lofty expectations – at least on first blush. The 6-foot-1, 180-pound infielder disappointed during his debut showing in the Dominican Summer League, batting a paltry .213/.311/.362. He spent the majority of the following year, 2022, in the Complex Leagues where his bat started to come alive: he hit .286/.361/.422 with 11 doubles, three triples, three homeruns, and a trio of stolen bases. Guzman capped off the year with a five-game cameo in Low-A. Last season he batted a disappointing .239/.309/.371 with 21 doubles, seven triples, seven homeruns, and eight stolen bases in 111 games with Inland Empire. His overall production, according to Weighted Runs Created Plus, was 14% below the league average mark.
Snippet from The 2023 Prospect Digest Handbook: He’s lacking a true standout tool, but makes up for it with a well-rounded feel to his game.
Scouting Report: Consider the following:
Since 2006 only two 19-year-old hitters posted an 80 to 90 wRC+ with a strikeout rate between 26% and 29% with a walk ratio between 8% and 10% with one club in Low-A (min. 350 PA): Greg Burns and Denzer Guzman.
If I’m being blatantly honest, I went in thinking Guzman was going to be another one of the club’s failed prospects. But there’s something about the young shortstop that makes me think otherwise. There’s surprising power brewing in his bat and despite the higher-ish strikeout rate last summer (27.8%), Guzman put together some solid plate appearances last in the year. He’s still ways a way, but there’s some .260/.330/.440-with 15- to 20-homer potential here. He remains one of the more underrated prospects in the game, even he does eventually slider over to the hot corner. Hopefully, the Angels can get out of their own way and support his development.
Ceiling: 1.75- to 2.0-win player
Risk: Moderate to High
MLB ETA: 2025/2026
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5. Caden Dana, RHP
| FB | CB | SL | CH | Command | Overall |
| 50 | 55 | 50/55 | 40 | 45 | 45 |
Background: The Angels pulled off something you don’t see every day – or likely ever. After drafting Campbell shortstop Zach Neto with the 13th overall pick and signing him to a hefty $3.5 million deal, the organization’s next largest signing bonus was handed out 10 full rounds later – to Don Bosco Preparatory High School right-hander Caden Dana, who earned a massive $1,497,500 deal, a bonus roughly equivalent to the 52nd overall pick. The 328th player chosen that summer, Dana made four brief starts between the Complex and California Leagues two years ago, throwing just 8.1 innings, recording an 8-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio. The 6-foot-4, 215-pound righty made three brief – and largely dominant – starts back with Inland Empire at the beginning of the 2023 campaign before spending the remainder of the season in High-A. He would make 14 starts before “general fatigue” knocked him out of commission, twirling 68.1 innings with 89 punch outs and 30 free passes. He compiled an aggregate 3.56 ERA.
Scouting Report: Consider the following:
Since 2006, only seven 19-year-old hurlers posted a strikeout rate north of 30% in any High-A league with one organization in a season (min. 50 IP): Triston McKenzie, John Lamb, Tyler Skaggs, Tim Collins, Luis Patino, Yu-Min Lin, and – of course – Caden Dana. Ignoring Lin and Dana, both of whom accomplished the feat in 2023, the group has all spent time in the big leagues.
While it’s true that Dana possesses a four-pitch mix, the former 11th rounder leans heavily on his two of his offerings: a 93- to 95-mph fastball and a slider that flashes plus. The heater isn’t particularly promising. It’s straight and lacks a lot of swing-and-miss life, but he generally commands it well, missing off the plate, not on it. He favors locating it above the belt when he’s ahead in the count. He’ll mix in a rare curveball that he should throw more frequently. The young righty is also working on refining a changeup, but it lacks deception of any kind. Dana has the ceiling as a backend starting pitcher, but it’s pertinent he finds a consistent third pitch. There’s some potential as a fastball / slider multi-inning relief vibes.
Ceiling: 1.5-win player
Risk: Moderate to High
MLB ETA: 2025/2026
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6. Walbert Urena, RHP
| FB | CB | CH | Command | Overall |
| 70 | 50/55 | 55 | 40/45 | 45 |
Background: After signing a ton of high profile, expensive international prospects throughout the years, the Angels may have unearthed a potential gem for a fraction of the cost. Enter: Dominican righty Walbert Urena, who joined the club for $140,000 during the 2020-21 signing period. The hard-throwing youngster would make his debut with the organization’s Complex League affiliate two years ago, throwing 37.1 innings with 45 punch outs and a whopper of walk total (32). Undeterred, Urena was pushed up to full season action last year. And he quietly held his own, showcasing a very promising repertoire as one of the level’s youngest arms. He would make 22 appearances, 21 came via the start, posting a 97-to-60 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 98.2 innings of work. He finished the year with a 5.66 ERA, a 4.90 FIP, and a 5.22 xFIP.
Scouting Report: Consider the following:
Since 2006, only six 19-year-old hurlers posted a strikeout-to-walk percentage between 20.5% and 22.5% with a walk percentage north of 12.5% with one team in any Low-A league (min. 75 IP): Luke Jackson, Tyler Chatwood, Mauricio Robles, Ofelky Peralta, Victor Payano, and Walbert Urena.
There’s a lot of interesting pieces floating around, both in terms of present and future assets. Urena has a plus-plus fastball that’s electric. He’s shows an impressive feel – and willingness – to throw his above-average changeup, which generates a solid amount of swings-and-misses. He’ll also mix in a hard-tilting, erratic curveball – rarely. The command has ways to go, but he’s athletic (and fields his position well) and projects for a 45-grade feel in the coming years. There’s the potential for a #4-type ceiling with the floor as a very good setup arm. Obvious reliever risk.
Ceiling: 1.5-win player
Risk: Moderate to High
MLB ETA: 2026
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7. Jorge Ruiz, OF
| Hit | Power | SB | Patience | Glove | Overall |
| 50 | 30/35 | 50 | 45 | 55 | 45 |
Background: Another one of the club’s international free agent youngsters. Ruiz, a native of Valencia, Venezuela, has quietly flown under-the-radar during his professional career. Debuting in the foreign rookie league three years ago, the 5-foot-10, 164-pound outfielder batted a respectable .270/.381/.362 with 12 extra-base knocks as a 17-year-old. The front office pushed Ruiz stateside the following year. And, once again, he continued to display impressive bat-to-ball skills: he hit .335/.382/.414 with 12 doubles, two triples, and eight stolen bases. Last season, Ruiz teamed with fellow top prospect Nelson Rada in Low-A, giving the Inland Empire fans a pair of promising teenage sticks. He would finish the year with a .304/.379/.419 slash-line with 19 doubles, three triples, three homeruns, and 13 stolen bases (in 17 attempts). Per Weighted Runs Created Plus, his overall production was 19% better than the league average.
Scouting Report: Consider the following:
Since 2006, here’s the list of 19-year-old hitters that posted a wRC+ between 115 and 125 with a strikeout rate between 14% to 18% with one organization in any Low-A league (min. 300 PA): Kyle Tucker, Brett Lawrie, Brice Turang, Jae-Hoon Ha, Blaze Jordan, Cesar Puello, Pedro Ramirez, Diego Velasquez, Daniel Robertson, Jason Martin, Jahmai Jones, Austin Hedges, and – of course – Jorge Ruiz.
Cut from a similar cloth as fellow Inland outfielder Nelson Rada. Ruiz is another bat-to-ball centric hitter. Ruiz adds above-average speed, very little power, and a smattering of patience. The compact outfielder shows a plus glove in either corner and should remain a positive defensive contributor if / when he moves out of Rada’s shadow and into centerfield. The lack of power, despite the overall production, will likely pigeonhole him into a fourth, likely fifth, outfield gig in the coming years. Adding strength is critical at this junction in his career.
Ceiling: 1.0- to1.5-win player
Risk: Moderate
MLB ETA: Debuted in 2023
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8. Jack Kochanowicz, RHP
| FB | CB | SL | CH | Command | Overall |
| 60 | 50 | 50/55 | 50 | 50 | 40 |
Background: The Angels have done a poor job identifying, developing, or acquiring talent over the past decade or so, particularly through the draft or amateur international free agency. But their farm system – perhaps, way too late – does boast a quartet of interesting arms: Caden Dana, Jack Kochanowicz, Walbert Urena, and 2023 over-slot signee Barrett Kent. Taken in the third round in 2019 out of Harriton High School, Kochanowicz had a slow start to his professional career. He would miss the remainder of the 2019 and all of 2020 (not due to injury), and then popped up in Low-A as a behemoth 20-year-old, eventually sporting an equally gigantic ERA (7.78) across more than 80 innings. The front office had him repeat the level, forcing him to split time between the bullpen (eight appearances) and the rotation (nine starts). But he did take some small strides forward. And despite posting similar peripherals rates in the Arizona Fall League that year (8.2 K/9 and 3.8 BB/9), Kochanowicz was smacked around quite a bit too (10.05 ERA, 14.1 IP). Last season, though, the 6-foot-7, 228-pound right-hander made quick work of High-A and settled in for some up-and-down action with Rocket City. He would finish 2023 with a 5.27 ERA, averaging 6.6 whiffs and just 2.4 walks per nine innings.
Scouting Report: Consider the following:
Since 2006, there have been 23 instances in which a 22-year-old hurler posted a strikeout percentage between 16.5% and 18.5% with a walk percentage between 6.0% to 8.0% with one organization in a Double-A season (min. 60 IP). The most notable include: Paul Blackburn and Vance Worley.
An old school type of prospect that would be ranked significantly higher due to his size (6-foot-7, 228 pounds), velocity (he sits in the mid- to high-90s and regularly touches 99 mph), and strike-throwing ability. But the production has never quite measured up as he’s often been far too hittable. His fastball, a plus offering that would typically move into plus-plus territory, doesn’t miss many bats. Neither does his average curveball. His mid- to upper-80s slider is his best secondary weapon, flashing above-average when he’s finishing it. And he’ll mix in a 50-grade changeup. Unless he can improve the fastball shape and / or develop a swing-and-miss secondary offering, Kochanowicz is tracking like an up-and-down arm with a floor as a middle relief specialist.
Ceiling: 1.0-win player
Risk: Moderate
MLB ETA: 2023
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9. Sam Bachman, RHP
| FB | SL | CH | Command | Overall |
| 55 | 55 | 45 | 40 | 40 |
Background: Starring down the possibility of their small chance at contending in the coming years, the front office took an aggressive “win now” approach in the draft, honing in on collegiate, close-to-the-big-leagues prospects. Like Sam Bachman. Despite the obvious red flags. Snagging him with the ninth overall pick in 2021, Bachman made the leap up to Double-A during his first full season in pro ball – though the results were wildly disappointing. Making 12 starts with the Rocket City Trash Pandas, the hard-throwing right-hander tallied an artificially pleasing 3.92 ERA despite some lackluster peripherals: he averaged 6.2 punch outs and a whopping 5.2 walks per nine innings. Last season the former Miami of Ohio ace opened back up in the Southern League and after six – mostly disappointing appearances – the front office called him up The Show in late May. He would make 11 more appearances (17.0 IP, 14 K, 11 BB) before hitting the DL for the remainder of the year. He would eventually undergo a surgical procedure to “clean up” some issues.
Snippet from The 2023 Prospect Digest Handbook: The book on Bachman was quite simple: he’d come in and blow the doors off the competition with his plus-plus, triple-digit fastball. Except that’s not what he did or what he showed in 2022.
Scouting Report: Bachman’s heater will still light up a radar gun; he was averaging a smidgeon under 97 mph during his brief debut with the Halos. But it’s hittable – far too hittable. So it’s not surprising that he’s become heavily reliant on his slider, an above-average, sometimes erratic offering. The lack of a strong third pitch combined with the overall quality of his fastball has caused a lot his struggles. He’s strictly a relief arm moving forward – and one that’s not going to be particularly good or trustworthy given his command issues.
Ceiling: 1.0-win player
Risk: Moderate
MLB ETA: Debuted in 2023
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10. Alberto Rios, LF
| Hit | Power | SB | Patience | Glove | Overall |
| 50 | 50 | 35 | 50 | 50 | 40 |
Background: Hisfreshman season can be summed up rather succinctly – one single, solitary plate appearance against Washington State. And his sophomore campaign wasn’t exactly a barn burner either. The 6-foot, 203-pound catcher / outfielder batted a lowly .000/.143/.000 in a whopping seven plate appearances. But – finally – Rios was able to carve out a full time starting gig in 2023. And he took full advantage of the opportunity. Appearing in 63 games for The Cardinal, the St. John Bosco High School product slugged .384/.485/.707 with 24 doubles, 18 homeruns, and five stolen bases. The Angels of Los Angeles selected him in the third round, 79th overall, and signed a deal worth $847,500, roughly $54,000 below the recommended slot value. After a brief jaunt through the Complex League, Rios spent the remainder of the year with the 66ers of Inland Empire, batting a putrid .181/.269/.315 with four doubles, two triples, three homeruns, and seven stolen bases. His production in Low-A, per Weighted Runs Created Plus, was 39% below the league average.
Scouting Report: Consider the following:
Since 2011, only three Pac-12 hitters batted at least .375/.475/.625 in a season (min. 275 PA): Adley Rutschman, Cam Cannon, and – of course – Alberto Rios.
The Pac-12 Player of the Year, Rios exploded onto the scene – practically out of nowhere in 2023. Quick, short stroke with surprising power. The former Cardinal star is reminiscent of another former collegiate catcher – 2014 first rounder Connor Joe. Solid patience, hit tool, and a gritty approach to the game. Rios has a ceiling as a .250/.330/.400 hitter.
Ceiling: 1.0-win player
Risk: Moderate
MLB ETA: 2026
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All statistics were provided via the following website: Baseball Reference, FanGraphs, TheBaseballCube, BaseballProspectus, ClayDavenport.com, Baseball America, and X-user @mk237700 (for compiling Statcast Data)
