Angels looking for a franchise player in the draft

March 31, 2026

The draft is this July in Atlanta, Georgia. Angels pick 12th in this year’s draft and could possibly find their next franchise player. Last couple years the angels have drafted mainly pitchers. Will this be the year where they draft differently?

Here are my top 3 hitters that they should consider drafting:

3. Vahn Lackey – CA Georgia Tech

Vahn Lackey has been arguably the best hitter in college baseball. He’s dominating with 10 home runs and batting a 423/541/845, with an OPS of 1.386. Angels can have their selves talented catcher just not defensively, but at the plate as well.

2. Chris Hacopain – SS Texas A&M

Chris is off to a great start with 3 home runs and batting 339/448/536 with an OPS of 983. Chris will probably get 10+ home runs after the season and bat near 350. This will be good cornerstone guy to build around at shortstop.

Sawyer Strosnider – OF Texas Christian (TCU)

Sawyer has been on a roll so far with 10 home runs batting 330/465/753 with a 1.217 OPS. Last year Strosnider had 11 home runs and batted 350, he already has 10 this season. I can see him hitting 20+ home runs and near 350 average. This guy is legit and will have huge impact for the Angels if they draft him.

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Turk's Teeth

21 days ago

Just to highlight some other California kids that are likely first day picks:

I’ve already mentioned that I like Blake Bowen from JSerra HS. Think the Padres have their eye on him at #21. He just looks like the type with a 5% chance to become a Trout or Roman Anthony, with the body and tools to become something useful if the unicorn scenario doesn’t play out.

Should Minasian follow last year’s strategy, and harvest the prep arms, keep your eye on Jared Grindlinger out of Huntington Beach. He’ll be a very young 17 on draft day, and is already up to 96 with good command. Top prep pitcher in the state.

More of a 2nd or 3rd round target, but Gavin Grahovac is good follow. Grew up in Orange, Villa Park HS alum, he’s healthy this year after shoulder surgery last year, playing at the infield corners for Texas A&M. Showing good bat speed, exit velo and raw power.

I like Anthony Murphy from Corona HS as another local prep bat with good power projection. Likely top 100 guy, interesting round 2-3 target.

And here’s a Palos Verdes alum having an outstanding season for USC: Grant Govel. On traditional tools, he’s more of a 3-5 rounder, but he’s really put it altogether this season, and I can imagine him getting looks in the #50-80 pick range based on current season performance.

BTW, it’s not always my MO (I tend to prefer college pitching in round one), but I favor more bets on prep bats for the Halos this draft, given last year’s prep arm heavy draft, and where the Angels are in their development timeline.

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FungoAle

21 days ago

Reply to Turk's Teeth

Yeah TT, you brought Bowen’s name up earlier on this board and I began tracking him. His profile sounds like it could be special, a franchise player and what Landon’s post was hitting on. Possible Millville Meteor No.2?

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Turk's Teeth

21 days ago

Reply to FungoAle

I mean, one can never predict these things, and I wouldn’t be caught trying.

But it’s fairly clear that the prospect top ten list of recent years has been densely filled with prep bats (Anthony, Griffin, McGonigle, Emerson – the list is long), and several were selected well out of the top dozen picks.

Since the Angels have middling draft position this year, and committed heavily to long-horizon (4-5 year timeline) pitching selections last draft, hunting for high school bats would seem to be timely and fit the recent pattern.

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cookmeister

21 days ago

Reply to Turk's Teeth

FWIW:

My buddy is the pitching coach at Huntington Beach. Asked him about Gringlinger, said he’s probably the best of the bunch he’s had there (Danner, Prato, etc).

Other buddy coached Grahovac at VP, said he kind of a dick (moreso that his dad was a cocky dick and sometimes it trickled down).

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Turk's Teeth

20 days ago

Reply to cookmeister

As we get into late spring, it’ll be interesting to see if there’s any observed connection between the Angels and Grindlinger.

I’m not overly fixated on Grahovac – but he seems like decent value if he were available in the 3-5 rounds.

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cookmeister

19 days ago

Reply to Turk's Teeth

fwiw again lol:

texted my buddy, said he would be surprised if he didn’t go to Tennessee. Says it would have to be an ideal fit/situation, but ultimately a family decision, but wants to play with his brother

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Turk's Teeth

19 days ago

Reply to cookmeister

Meanwhile, Tennessee is the deepest well that the Angels scout and draft from. (Angels scouting director Tim McIlvaine lives in Nashville.)

So the team probably has a close eye on him, as any Tennessee commits are likely well on McIlvaine’s radar. But the Angels are also not going to go prep in the first round unless that have absolute certainty they can sign.

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Eric_in_Portland

21 days ago

I enjoy following Oregon State baseball. Last year the Beavers had two outstanding hitters available in the draft. This year I’d say none. The best pitcher isn’t eligible until 2027. The other two starters are anywhere from excellent to uh-oh in any weekend. The relievers remind me of Don Stanhouse, as in “hold on, they might get out of the inning “. I need to watch other college ball

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HalosFanForLife

21 days ago

Reply to Eric_in_Portland

Canham chased away a lot his team because he lost credibility with the players. He might be a decent coach, but he’s no Pat Casey.

Last edited 21 days ago by HalosFanForLife

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Turk's Teeth

21 days ago

Reply to HalosFanForLife

Well, to be fair, the Beavers were absolutely poached in last year’s draft – they had ten players selected, between active players, recruits and portal commits – a testament to the talent level there.

Yet still they’re 21-5 this season, currently ranked top ten nationally. That’s plenty good. While Canham lost some good players to the portal last year, he recruited some new blood as well, and the results show.

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HalosFanForLife

21 days ago

Reply to Turk's Teeth

Definitely can recruit. Definitely knows how to win. And they supposedly have a reasonable NIL pool for top players. Have to give him credit for a pretty fast rebuild. Still give me Pat Casey.

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Turk's Teeth

21 days ago

Reply to Eric_in_Portland

No love for Kleinschmit? Seems like a solid second or third round draft target for a number of teams.

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Eric_in_Portland

21 days ago

Reply to Turk's Teeth

I have more faith in Segura, the #3 starter.

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Eric_in_Portland

21 days ago

Reply to Turk's Teeth

Kleinschmit’s ERA is 3.93. Segura is at 1.77, Whitney I think is at 1.55. Kleinschmit leads the staff in HRs given up. But he’s pitched better lately. They got swamped today

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Newbie

21 days ago

The obvious answer is Vahn.

Statistics show that when we call up a Lackey to the team we win a World Series, so I’m sticking to the data.

pegitom

21 days ago

Reply to

Can not argue with that logic!

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Turk's Teeth

21 days ago

Reply to

Ironclad logic, but alas, probably the second bat off the board after Cholowsky. Top five selection, most likely.

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cookmeister

21 days ago

Reply to Turk's Teeth

Lebron has a good case to be the 2nd college bat gone (and Emerson has a chance too, who knows), but Lackey definitely up there

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Turk's Teeth

21 days ago

Reply to cookmeister

I think the positional flexibility and bat control are working in Lackey’s favor. He’s had as many as 18 MLB teams reps in attendance at recent games.

I’m actually just ventriloquizing Baseball America here in the 2nd bat prediction, as they’ve made that prediction two weeks running, and they’re as locked in to front office chatter as any publication. They bumped him up to #4 in their last college player rankings, and selected him at #5 overall in their staff draft.

In any case, I don’t think he’ll slip out of the top ten barring injury or some black swan event.

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HalosFanForLife

21 days ago

Reply to Turk's Teeth

Cholowsky seems like a dang good bet. I’ve watched some UCLA games just to watch him hit. Last guys I followed like that were Bazzana and Wetherholt.

Last edited 21 days ago by HalosFanForLife

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Turk's Teeth

21 days ago

Reply to HalosFanForLife

If he doesn’t go #1, I’m sure 90% of the industry will drop their jaws to their knees.

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HalosFanForLife

21 days ago

Reply to Turk's Teeth

I personally think Grady Emerson will slip. Just talking to multiple coaches that have played against him. They said – great player – but didn’t see top of the draft. Heard the same thing from multiple guys. Of course, they aren’t scouts, but they are guys who have seen a lot first hand. He is playing for Rusty Greer – so his input will carry more weight.

Last edited 21 days ago by HalosFanForLife

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Turk's Teeth

21 days ago

Reply to HalosFanForLife

Could be, but he has all the tools and makeup that a number of draft rooms like. If he slips, I imagine it’s more to the 6-8 range than out of the top dozen picks altogether.

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HalosFanForLife

21 days ago

Reply to Turk's Teeth

Yes – agreed on your floor. He’s supposed to be a super character kid. He’s been earmarked in that position for so long. Somebody will jump on him being available. I’m totally speculating he falls some though. He’s still going to have a great pay day.

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HalosFanForLife

21 days ago

Reply to

Awesome. But here’s what a lot of people see in a college season, “hot guys can get exposed” and slow down. He’s looking great. The best part of the draft being in July – you can see how they finish the season and the draft can shift a lot in the next few months. Right now, a good chance he doesn’t get to us.

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cookmeister

21 days ago

I’ll do a full write up when we get closer, but I like the list.

Lackey is athletic enough to play the OF as well, in case one of Montero, Flores, etc works out.
Hacopian I’m not as high on, mostly because he hasn’t produced as much as I was hoping transferring to an SEC school
Strosnider is ideal atm. Corner outfielder, with pop, and a good overall hitter.

I’ll add to the list some other guys I like/could envision:

Derek Curiel: Local kid, reminds me of Kwan with more pop at the same age. Would probably be a $ save too.Tyler Spangler: Not the Angels MO for sure, but i just really like his game (reminds me a lot of Seager)Ace Reese: not sure he would fall this far, but he’s a stud, in a good conference, at a position we have struggled with for yearsCaden Sorrell: injury concern, but the kid mashesAJ Gracia: another I’m not sure he would fall, but I’d run to the podium. Patient but doesn’t strike out. Swing is a carbon copy of Michael Brantley.

Last edited 21 days ago by cookmeister

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cookmeister

21 days ago

Reply to cookmeister

idk why the names didnt spread out in bullet point form like I set up. Oh well

Curiel
Spangler
Reese
Sorrell
Gracia

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Turk's Teeth

21 days ago

Reply to cookmeister

l like the Gracia fit most in that list for the Angels, with Sorrell up next. Strong likelihood that Curiel is available at #12, but I’m just not enamored of the profile for an organization that needs more ceiling and power across the farm.

Yes, Curiel is hitterish, and has a good chance at sticking in CF, but he’s more above-average than plus in footspeed, and how much value does he deliver as outfield bat who hits for average and puts up 10-12 HRs per year? The Angels probably hope to get that from Rada, and more from Alvarez. That profile sounds great for rounds 3-5, but it’s more floor than ceiling for a first round pick.

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cookmeister

21 days ago

Reply to Turk's Teeth

i agree. Just added him for the local connection + possibility of going underslot (and I can’t get the Kwan comp out of my head)

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Turk's Teeth

21 days ago

Reply to cookmeister

I added a few Cali draft prospect follows upthread, since I also keep my eye on the local kids, though the Angels in the past decade really don’t seem to draft heavily from the west coast.