Angels News: MLB Expert Names Surprise LA Pitcher’s Debut Among Best in 2023

The Halos 2020 first-rounder made some noise in his season debut

The Los Angeles Angels entered the 2023 season as having the 28th-best farm system in the league. Only two of their prospects are in the top 100 this season; however, one of their previous top prospects is making some noise thus far in 2023. 

The Halos 2020 first-round pick and number-two prospect from 2021, Reid Detmers, made his season debut on Monday and was shown some love by MLB writer Brent Maguire. 

Maguire put Detmers as one of his 11 pitchers who impressed in their 2023 debuts. 

Detmers had command problems and issued too many walks in his 2023 debut, but it's hard to ignore the uptick in stuff. Originally viewed as a safer, potential mid-rotation starting pitcher, Detmers showed up to Spring Training with a huge velocity increase in part due to his offseason work at places like Driveline. That velocity carried over into his season debut when his 95.3 mph average fastball velocity was 2.1 mph faster than last year while his slider (+3.7 mph), curveball (+1.8 mph), and changeup (+1.2 mph) also showed sizable velocity increases. As a result, Detmers now looks like a guy who can pair big-time stuff with the strong command that he's shown in his professional career. If Detmers can maintain this stuff, the Angels could have one of the best starting rotations in the Majors.

Detmers went 4.2 innings, allowed four hits, three runs, two earned runs, three walks, and seven Ks.

Overall, Detmers has logged over 154 innings and got some great runs last season, pitching in 25 games and recorded an ERA of 3.77.  The lefty pitcher was lights out in spring training recording a 2-1 record with a 3.60 ERA in six games and 20 innings pitched. 

Thus far, the Angels' rotation has looked quite solid, led by superstar Shohei Ohtani and lefty Tyler Anderson. Reid looked good and earned the spot in the top 11; if he can sustain this, the Angels pitching will be a severe threat.