Angels Expected to Promote Top Prospect Sam Bachman; Will Serve as Multi-Inning Reliever
Amidst a crowded AL West Division, the Los Angeles Angels will look to more of their youth to make an impact in the major leagues as yet another top prospect is headed to The Show.
After promoting Logan O’Hoppe – sidelined indefinitely with a torn labrum – and Zach Neto, the Angels are reportedly calling up right-hander Sam Bachman from double-A Rocket City, according to FanSided’s Robert Murray. The 23-year-old is expected to be active ahead of Friday’s series opener versus the Miami Marlins.
Los Angeles must first create room on its 40-man roster before Bachman can be added to the big-league squad.
Bachman, the Angels’ No. 5 top prospect at MLB Pipeline, has worked exclusively as a starter in the minors since making his professional debut in 2021. But he will be utilized in the bullpen during his first major-league stint, featuring as a multi-inning reliever.
The 6-foot-1 righty was selected ninth overall by the Angels in 2021, the same draft where they went a record-setting 20-for-20 in pitchers throughout the event. Now, less than two years later, the club’s first hurler chosen from that draft class is nearing his MLB debut.
Despite compiling just 84.1 career innings, Bachman possesses a high-octane arsenal, headlined by his 100-mph fastball and elusive swing-and-miss slider. Where he has run into trouble, though, is commanding his plus pitches.
This season, in particular, the young flamethrower has walked 20 batters in 26.1 innings at double-A, resulting in a career-high 16.9 percent walk rate. He’s also recorded four hit batters and four wild pitches, both of which are also the highest of his minor-league career.
It’s important to note that double-A pitchers have been experimenting with MLB’s new ‘enhanced grip’ baseballs, which have had a negative effect, leading to significant increases in walks and wild pitches. So that could help explain a bit of Bachman’s control issues.
Still, Los Angeles will need him to perform far better than the pitcher who posted a 5.81 ERA and 5.48 FIP over six starts with the Trash Pandas.
“If we get down to the middle or late in the season and need an arm like that — you’ve seen it many times,” Angels manager Phil Nevin said in February when asked if Bachman could pitch for the Angels as a reliever. “Guys come up from wherever they’re at, in a playoff run, you pick a big arm that’s going to help you late.”
Despite his command woes, Bachman has excelled at generating swing-and-miss in 2023, earning a 24.6 percent strikeout rate at double-A. That, combined with his .160 OPP AVG, likely makes the talented righty an intriguing relief arm.
The Angels’ bullpen features three early standouts thus far, including Carlos Estevez, Matt Moore and Jaime Barria. Bridging the gap to them, however, has been challenging for Nevin and his staff.
Thus, the hope is that Bachman can quickly emerge into a high-leverage reliever to elevate some of the pressure off that reliable trio.
-Thomas Hall
Twitter: @ThomasHall85
Photo: HerSilverHammer. Public Domain license.