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LA Angels: 5 crazy ‘what-if’ first-round picks that could have been

By Daniel Preciado

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 09: Starting pitcher Gerrit Cole #45 of the New York Yankees pitches against the Tampa Bay Rays in Game Five of the American League Division Series at PETCO Park on October 09, 2020 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 09: Starting pitcher Gerrit Cole #45 of the New York Yankees pitches against the Tampa Bay Rays in Game Five of the American League Division Series at PETCO Park on October 09, 2020 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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CLEVELAND, OH – SEPTEMBER 23: Shane Bieber #57 of the Cleveland Indians pitches against the Chicago White Sox during the second inning at Progressive Field on September 23, 2020 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Ron Schwane/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH – SEPTEMBER 23: Shane Bieber #57 of the Cleveland Indians pitches against the Chicago White Sox during the second inning at Progressive Field on September 23, 2020 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Ron Schwane/Getty Images) /

Shane Bieber (2016)

Imagine this…Shane Bieber pitching for the Angels at Angel Stadium. Well, it very easily could have happened. Bieber wasn’t the only star that the Angels could have had as New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso was also available.

Shane Bieber was selected in the fourth round (122nd overall) by the Cleveland Indians out of UC Santa Barbara. He just recently won the pitching Triple Crown — he’s good. Bieber was a top pitching prospect and then got turned into one of the best pitchers in the game by the elite pitching development department of the Cleveland Indians.

Pete Alonso was selected in the second round (64th overall) by the New York Mets out of the University of Florida. Alonso has developed into one of the biggest power bats in baseball, as he has crushed 69 home runs in 218 games played. Pretty good.

The Angels instead drafted first baseman Matt Thaiss out of Virginia in 2016 with the 16th overall pick, initially as a catcher. He is still on the 40-man roster for the Angels and recently made his major league debut. Still, he will likely not amount to what Pete Alonso is.

Scott Boras talks highly of Angels future. Next

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