Los Angeles Angels Call Up Top Pitching Prospect

After being the No. 9 overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft, and still in Double-A, it's been a fast rise to the major leagues for top-10 Los Angeles Angels' pitching prospect Sam Bachman. 

The Los Angeles Angels are calling up right-hander Sam Bachman, one of their top pitching prospects, according to sources familiar with the situation. Bachman was the No. 9 overall pick in the 2021 draft.

— Robert Murray (@ByRobertMurray) May 25, 2023

The 23-year-old will join the Angels' bullpen, however, not the starting rotation. 

The flame-throwing right-hander can hit triple-digits on the radar gun, and the Angels projected him to be a reliever when he was drafted. 

Righty Sam Bachman, the @Angels' No. 6 prospect, fanned three over a pair of scoreless innings.

He hasn't allowed a run over three 🌵 appearances. pic.twitter.com/QSaqPoGV4Y

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) March 25, 2023

He hasn't allowed a run over his last three appearances after a rocky start to the season at Rocket City. Bachman has a 5.81 ERA overall in six starts at AA, but has only surrendered 15 hits in 26.1 innings of work, while striking out about 10 batters per nine innings. 

But it's the walks that had been doing him in, as he's given up nearly seven walks per nine. He'll need to get that under control to make it in The Show.

The Angels have been, and will continue to be aggressive in promoting prospects. Bachman is the latest example, and with a big need for middle-innings relief help—pitchers who can get the ball to set-up man Matt Moore and closer Carlos Estévez—Bachman gets his shot. 

Photo: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports