LA Angels: 3 prospects who could make an impact in 2021

Reid Detmers

Reid Detmers was the Angels’ first-round selection in the 2020 MLB First-Year Player Draft at 10th overall. Detmers was the ace of the Louisville Cardinals staff for a few seasons and is still just 21 years of age.

There was some chatter that Detmers could make his major league debut in 2020 to help the Angels’ push for a playoff spot despite never playing in a minor league baseball game. Draft evaluators have a wide variety of viewpoints on Detmers, some believing he can be a top of the rotation starter and others viewing him as no more than a solid number four. Personally, I am someone who pays very close attention to the draft and I am under the assumption that he fits into the latter category.

Detmers is not exactly something to write home about, but he could be a huge help to an Angels staff that needs it as early as 2021. He is as close to big-league ready as any of the first-round picks amongst pitchers. That helps the Angels a lot in the short-term, undoubtedly. Detmers definitely has the potential to exceed my personal expectations, but at this juncture, it seems as if he is more of a rotation filler than a rotation backbone.

Detmers should start in Double-A or High-A with a quick progression through the minors in 2021. He will likely be penciled in as a rotation member in 2022.