MLB Pipeline — Braden Montgomery, OF, Texas A&M
”This pick may be as simple as who drops to the Angels. In this scenario, it’s Montgomery. In others, Wetherholt, one of the college arms or Kurtz could be in play. Don’t rule out Rainer either. Several clubs believe Los Angeles could look for a discount deal with a college bat such as Tennessee second baseman Christian Moore, Oklahoma State outfielder Carson Benge or Kentucky outfielder Ryan Waldschmidt.”
New York Times — Hagen Smith, LHP, Arkansas
”I see a scenario where Caglianone gets here, as some teams have been scared off by his chronically high chase rates and some other factors like his previous Tommy John surgery. The Angels have only been linked to college players and of course the rumor is they’ll take someone they can rush to the majors this year — if it’s not Smith or Caglianone, it’s Burns or pitcher Trey Yesavage or outfielder Ryan Waldschmidt or even outfielder James Tibbs III. There’s a rumor going around now that Jurrangelo Cijntje, the switch-pitcher at Mississippi State, could end up in the top 10. The Angels seem like the most obvious fit if that’s the case.”
USA Today — JJ Wetherholt, 2B/SS, West Virginia
”Perhaps the most fluid prospect in the first 10 picks, Wetherholt could land anywhere in the top or bottom of that range; ultimately, he lands with a franchise that adds another quick-to-the-majors talent in the footsteps of Nolan Schanuel and Zach Neto. Wetherholt was dogged most of this season by a hamstring injury, but his power-speed combo profiles similarly to Bazzana’s.”
SNY — Hagen Smith, LHP, Arkansas
”The Angels have gone for quickest to the big leagues type of talent the last couple of years. They could go under-slot with someone like Tennessee’s Christian Moore or Kentucky’s Ryan Waldschmidt. I just wonder if they could pass on Smith, who can be a quick rising arm.”
Sporting News — Nick Kurtz, 1B, Wake Forest
”The Angels put Nolan Schanuel on the fast track from the 2023 MLB Draft to the majors a year ago and did the same with Zach Neto the year before. If Los Angeles is looking to do that again, Kurtz could be exactly the type of process for that movement. He combines an advanced approach with explosive power and Gold Glove-caliber defense at first base.”
As mentioned in some of these draft breakdowns, there’s a chance the Angels draft someone further down the prospect rankings to save money up front for some over-slot bonuses in later rounds. In that case, it’s hard to predict who exactly that will be.
