Best 7 players 25 and under on LA Angels 40-man roster

No. 6 best player 25 and under on LA Angels 40-man roster: Jaime Barria (25 years old)

Jaime Barria is a notable sleeper for the LA Angels heading into 2022. Barria is arguably the frontrunner for the sixth spot in the Angels' starting rotation, and he's probably the best starting pitcher as of THIS moment when considering all the guys in contention for that spot.

Barria recorded a 4.61 ERA last season to go along with a 97 ERA+. Those numbers probably don't blow you away, and shouldn't. But many of the other options are players who had worse years, or haven't had the four years of Big League experience that Barria has.

The thing about Barria is that he's been a legit, full-time, very good starting pitcher for the Halos before. People forget it sometimes, but he started 26 games for Anaheim back in 2018 and recorded a nice 3.41 ERA and 123 ERA+. His potential is a lot higher than people realize, but don't be surprised if Matt Wise identifies that potential and has him ready to go in the starting rotation this upcoming season. He'll at least be in the pen, but he's shown more than just flashes of promise at times in this league as a starter.

No. 5 best player 25 and under on LA Angels 40-man roster: Chris Rodriguez (23 years old)

Former LA Angels fourth round pick Chris Rodriguez has a case to be much higher on this list of course, but it's just that he doesn't have a ton of Big League experience yet. He truly is a really impressive pitcher, however, as he's shoved whenever he's been out there on a Big League mound.

Rodriguez pitched 15 times for the Angels last year, and even started a couple of games. On the season, he recorded a 3.64 ERA and 3.14 FIP. He posted a 2-1 record with a 124 ERA+. He didn't allow a single home run on the year. His injury, however, ended his season in August.

It was even more unfortunate for him in his playing career because he was just allowed to start games. His two starts were the two most recent games before he went down. That injury has him out for a long time, as he won't be back until the summer.

Rodriguez looked good in those two starts, throwing 10 innings and only allowing four earned runs. He recorded a 2.87 FIP as a starter in 2021.

No. 4 best player 25 and under on LA Angels 40-man roster: Jose Suarez (24 years old)

What a comeback it was for promising LA Angels' SP/RP Jose Suarez in 2021. After having an atrocious first two years with the Halos (7.99 ERA, 1.776 WHIP, 58 ERA+), Suarez bounced back in major ways both out of the pen AND out of the starting rotation.

Suarez was doing so well in the bullpen that he got his shot as a starter, and did a good job. He showed flashes early on, but didn't have the stats to back it up, as Maddon controversially kept pulling him from games at the incorrect times. In the last month of the season, however, Suarez was a different beast.

He had a 2.97 ERA in his last five starts--posting a 3-1 record. He showed that he's more than just a bullpen guy. And, he's also more than just a depth piece to add to a rotation. He's proved that he can throw the ball real well as a member of our rotation, and that the Angels have a chance to win if he's out there on the bump. He's already earned a top four spot in the starting six.

No. 3 best player 25 and under on LA Angels 40-man roster: Patrick Sandoval (25 years old)

Patrick Sandoval battled injuries last year with the LA Angels, so his season was cut short. Let's not forget just how impressive he was when he was on the field, though. Sandy had the tough task of making up for the horrendous Jose Quintana signing, and when he was healthy, he certainly got the job done.

He posted a 3.62 ERA for the Halos in 17 games (14 starts), and struck out 9.7 batters per nine innings. Those were both career-best marks for Sandoval, and he also boasted a 124 ERA+. Sandoval's 1.207 WHIP was solid, and he's only going to get more comfortable as he continues to adjust to the Big Leagues.

The only thing he struggles with is durability, but if he can string 25-plus starts together in a six-man rotation, he'll be just fine. He's arguably the second-best starter on the Angels when healthy, and is a breakout candidate for 2022. He got better and better as the year progressed. Expect more of that for the 2022 season, as Sandy is still young and in a great spot to continue working to get better.

No. 2 best player 25 and under on LA Angels 40-man roster: Jo Adell (22 years old)

Jo Adell's season for the LA Angels was also robbed due to injuries. Many didn't piece together what Adell DID do for the Angels, and focused on what he didn't do. The reality is that Adell had 26 RBIs in 35 games. That's pretty great, if you weren't sure.

The reality is that he cut down his strikeout number from 1.4 K per game to 0.9 K per game. He's on a great trajectory. The reality is that he also showed strong improvement on the defensive side of the game. That was necessary and he's on the upswing there for sure.

The reality is that he hit two triples in just 35 games. That would amount to nine in a full season. As long as Adell stays healthy, he's going to turn into a very good player. It may not be pretty at all times, but if the Angels trust the process, it'll happen. Maddon might as well have him be the full-time starter this season anyway. Sure, he likes Justin Upton, and might want him to start. But if Upton slumps, Adell will be taking over.

No. 1 best player 25 and under on LA Angels 40-man roster: Brandon Marsh (24 years old)

Brandon Marsh is already an incredibly strong player defensively for the LA Angels. He came up last year and never had to be sent down even once. Those 70 games of Big League experience were valuable to him, and he's set to take a jump this upcoming season.

He didn't blow anybody away offensively; posting a .254/.317/.356 (.673 OPS). But he did flash his speed that we all came to know and love when he was in the Minors. It didn't equate to a ton of stolen bases (six), but the Angels weren't necessarily a base-stealing team last year. Runners weren't sent all too much.

The point is that whenever Marsh WAS sent--he arrived safely. He was six for seven on stolen base attempts in 2022. He proved that he can have a powerful swing in the Minors, and he'll be a good starting player for the Halos within a couple of years if we don't trade him.

I'm not sold that any of these players would be definitely traded. They all have a lot of potential to have strong impacts on this franchise, and they're all currently on their way. The future may not be as dim as some suggest it to be for our squad.