Who is first? Not so for the Angels, who entered the All-Star break in fourth place in the AL West with a 41-55 record.
Yet their roster is filled with No. 1s. There are currently a dozen Halos who are first-round draft picks who possess extraordinary talent but have yet to translate it into wins.
So forgive Angels fans for not doing cartwheels when they select second baseman Christian Moore with the eighth pick in this year’s draft on Sunday. That’s not a blow to Moore, who is batting .375 with 34 home runs, 74 RBIs and a 1.248 OPS this season for College World Series champion Tennessee.
It’s just that they’ve seen this happen before. Moore will likely be fast-tracked to the majors, with first baseman Nolan Sanur to his left, shortstop Zach Neto to his right, and other first-rounders rushing to Anaheim, so far. They were all frantically using dog paddles to keep their position.
Moore, for his part, has shown a confidence befitting a No. 1 pick.
“I hope to be able to compete at the highest level as soon as possible,” he said after being selected. “I haven’t really talked to [the Angels] There’s a lot about it. But there is no doubt that if I get the chance, I will try and take advantage of it.
He is not alone. The Angels could field a first-round draft pick. With wit:
Catcher Matt Thaiss was the Angels’ 2016 first-round pick (16th overall) University of Virginia. Theis is the backup behind Logan Ohope, a promising young player who was drafted in the 23rd round by the Philadelphia Phillies in 2018 and acquired via trade.
First baseman Chenour is from the Angels first round Elected in 2023 (No. 11) florida atlantic. He was the first player taken in last summer’s draft to reach the majors, but hasn’t shown the power he showed in college.
Second baseman Keston Hiura milwaukee brewers first round Selected in 2017 (ninth place) University of California, Irvine and Valencia High School. He had a stellar 2019 season with a .303 batting average and .948 OPS as a rookie, but his production declined significantly and the Angels signed him to a minor league contract in June in support of Brandon Drury Brandon Drury is the second baseman and Schanuel is the first baseman.
Shortstop Neto is the Angels’ first round 2022 Pick from the Tiny (No. 13) Campbell University. He has proven he can handle the position defensively and show strength on the boards. Neto, 23, will stay as he searches for the No. 1 spot.
“I like to have a lot of fun there,” he said. “You could call it confidence. You could call it arrogance. You can say whatever you want. That’s how I live my life every day. I just go out and try to have some fun.
Washington Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon rarely seems to be enjoying himself on the field. first round Selected in 2011 (sixth place) rice. Rendon is an oft-injured enigma who is simultaneously the most accomplished and most disappointing player on the Angels’ active roster. At least he’s healthy (for now).
Left fielder Taylor Ward is an Angels first round 2015 draft out of Fresno State (26th overall). Since earning the starting job in 2021, Ward has been a consistent performer and clubhouse leader. However, his production is down this year and he could be traded before the July 30 deadline.
Center fielder Mickey Moniak, the No. 1 pick in 2016, heads to the Phillies la costa canyon high school in Carlsbad and signed with a $6.6 million bonus. Moniak put up decent numbers for the Angels last season, but otherwise has struggled, batting .209 this season and hitting .209 in parts of three seasons in Philadelphia. 0.144.
Right fielder Joe Adell is an Angels first round Elected in 2017 (No. 10) Ballard High School in Louisville, Kentucky. In parts of five major league seasons, Adell has yet to prove he can hit or pitch enough. He’s playing every day this season, batting .190 and hitting 15 home runs.
Utility player Cole Tucker is pittsburgh pirates first round Elected in 2014 (No. 24) mountain pointe high In Phoenix. He batted .180 for the Angels and only made headlines for being married to “High School Musical” and “Princess Switch” actress Vanessa Hudgens.
Pitcher Tyler Anderson is a pitcher for the Colorado Rockies first round Elected in 2011 (20th place) Oregon. The left-handed starter was an All-Star starter for the Angels and had a 2.97 ERA in 19 starts this season. Anderson was also an All-Star in 2022, when he went 15-5 with a 2.57 ERA for the Dodgers before signing a three-year, $39 million deal with the Angels.
Pitcher Carson Fulmer is chicago white sox first round Selected in 2015 (eighth place) Vanderbilt. The right-hander, considered a can’t miss, was designated for assignment six times, selected to the minors nine times and claimed six waivers before remaining with the Angels last season. Fulmer, 30, is having his best season yet, with a 3.45 ERA in 47 innings.
Of course, one can’t forget outfielder Mike Trout, who is expected to return from the injured list in August after recovering from surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee. Future Hall of Fame slugger is Angels’ first round Elected in 2009 (No. 25) Millville (NJ) High School.
Oh, wait, there’s another top pick. It’s a warning. The left-handed pitcher appeared in just 14 minor league games and started five games in 2021 before being called up to Anaheim. Regressed a bit and is currently pitching poorly in triple play. At just 24 years old, Detmers still has plenty of time to figure things out.
It doesn’t sound like the Angels plan to slow down Moore. Shortly after the selection was made, scouting director Tim McIlvain mentioned that the power-hitting second baseman would benefit from having Angels manager Ron Washington around him.
“I think once he gets into this environment, the way Wash and his guys are running everything, I think he’s going to be great here,” McElwain said.
One thing is for sure. When (if?) Moore gets promoted to the Angels, he’ll have plenty of company as a first-round pick.
