This Sunday at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California, the Los Angeles Angels will showcase a fresh face on the mound. Right-hander Caden Dana, just 20 years old, is set to make his major league debut.
The Angels (56-80) will be facing off against the Seattle Mariners (69-67) in the deciding game of their three-game series.
Dana’s debut is a historic moment for the Angels.He will be the youngest pitcher to play for the Angels since Francisco Rodriguez in 2002 and the youngest to start a game since Frank Tanana in 1973, who was also 20 years old.
Dana has proven himself worthy of this opportunity. The young right-hander recorded a 9-7 record with a 2.52 ERA over 23 starts for Double-A Rocket City. In those appearances, he struck out 147 batters in 135 2/3 innings and was clocked at 100 mph on the radar gun.
His major league start comes right after left-hander Sam Aldegheri made his debut for the Angels. Aldegheri allowed seven runs in five innings on Friday, which led to a 9-5 loss. The Angels bounced back with a narrow 5-4 win on Saturday to even the series.
“They’re two of our best players, and given our current situation, they’re getting their opportunity,” said Angels manager Ron Washington. “There’s nowhere else to go. We need to see what they’ve got to offer. They have good arms and, hopefully, a bit of maturity.”
Standing 6-foot-4, Dana was drafted in the 11th round out of Don Bosco Preparatory High School in New Jersey in 2022. The Angels offered him a $1.5 million signing bonus to prevent him from taking a college scholarship, a sum that was notably higher than usual for an 11th-round pick.
On the other side, Seattle’s right-hander Bryce Miller (10-7, 3.23 ERA) will take the mound. Miller is coming off a stellar performance against the Tampa Bay Rays, where he allowed just one run and two hits, striking out ten without issuing a walk over seven innings. However, his stats vary significantly based on location; he boasts a 2.03 ERA at home, but on the road, it’s a different story with a 4.75 ERA.
Miller has also had trouble in hot weather, and Sunday’s forecast in Anaheim is calling for 89-degree temperatures. “It’s kind of strange,” Miller admitted. “When my hands get too sweaty, it actually gives me too much grip on the splitter, making it tough to control.”
Still, Miller has excelled against the Angels. He holds a 1-0 record with a 0.50 ERA in three career starts, allowing just one run over 18 innings with 24 strikeouts and only one walk. This season, he’s thrown 13 scoreless innings against them.
In other team news, Angels shortstop Zach Neto was pulled from the game after the fifth inning on Saturday. Washington commented that Neto “wasn’t into the game” and needed “to be taught a lesson.”
As Sunday approaches, all eyes will be on Caden Dana, the young pitcher looking to make his mark in the big leagues against a seasoned Seattle squad.
