The Los Angeles Angels made a few roster adjustments before starting their three-game set at Fenway Park, but one move stood out. With Robert Stephenson landing on the injured list, the Angels called up Samuel Aldegheri—ranked as their No. 5 prospect by MLB Pipeline—to take his place.
While fans would love to be excited about seeing Aldegheri, a promising young pitcher, get his shot in the majors, it’s hard to feel optimistic given how the team plans to use him. Manager Ron Washington admitted Aldegheri was brought up for the sole purpose of eating innings—a short-term solution with little regard for the pitcher’s growth.
#Angels transactions:
•Recalled OF Matthew Lugo from Triple-A Salt Lake
•Recalled LHP Sam Aldegheri from Double-A Rocket City
•Placed RHP Robert Stephenson (right biceps inflammation) on 15-day injured list (retro to May 31)
•Placed INF Yoán Moncada (right knee inflammation)…— Angels PR (@LAAngelsPR) June 2, 2025
It’s decisions like this that highlight the Angels’ ongoing struggles. Rather than focusing on player development, they continue to prioritize short-sighted fixes, which only seem to hold them back.
Angels couldn’t care less about developing prospects, and that’s a big reason why they’re in this position
The Angels appear headed for their tenth straight losing season and their eleventh consecutive year without a playoff berth. While there are several reasons behind this prolonged stretch of mediocrity, chief among them is the organization’s unwillingness to commit to a proper rebuild. Mishandling player development is a major part of the issue.
One example is Aldegheri, who was surprisingly given three starts at the MLB level last season shortly after being acquired in a midseason trade with the Phillies. This came despite the fact that he had just six Double-A appearances and none at Triple-A. Unsurprisingly, he struggled in two of those starts. This year, after an inconsistent stretch of nine starts in Double-A, he’s been called up again—likely just for a brief bullpen appearance before being sent back down.
This is Ron Washington today. IMO, this is absolutely NOT how the Angels should be handling their top prospects.
Why do this in a season where they have a 1 percent chance to make the playoffs? Makes no sense to me.
Via @JeffFletcherOCR: https://t.co/nwXlDE0W9E https://t.co/TorT7Ngip6 pic.twitter.com/4NqeyKfQQX
— Sam Blum (@SamBlum3) June 2, 2025
Why can’t the Angels allow Aldegheri to develop at a normal pace? Let him pitch every five or six days in Double-A, grow at his own rate, and move up when he’s actually ready. There’s no need to rush him—yet they continue to do so. What’s more frustrating is that this isn’t even the first time they’ve done this in 2025.
Angels have already seen what they’re about to do with Samuel Aldegheri backfire
The Angels have called up Caden Dana, their No. 2 overall and top pitching prospect, twice this season to pitch in long relief. Predictably, he struggled both times—giving up two runs in three innings against the Guardians in April and another three runs over three innings versus the Marlins.
What benefit did these brief, unsuccessful stints provide for Dana’s development? Likely none. In fact, they probably hurt his confidence. Whether Aldegheri performs better or not, the plan to use him for a single relief outing before sending him back down is just as indefensible.
At the end of the day, the Angels continue to show a troubling disregard for how these sporadic call-ups impact their top prospects. That’s a serious issue.
This Angels debacle proves not everything is on Arte Moreno
Arte Moreno is widely disliked by Angels fans—and with good reason. He hasn’t spent enough on the team and frequently interferes with the work of the people he hires. While fans are justified in calling for him to sell the team, decisions like this show that the organization’s problems go beyond just Moreno.
Ron Washington’s comment is telling: “We never thought that far ahead,” he said. “Right now, we need the length here. If for some reason he’s not needed anymore, we’re gonna send him back and let him get back on schedule.”
It’s important to note that Washington isn’t the one making roster decisions. That responsibility falls on Perry Minasian, who deserves criticism for mishandling the development of young talent.
If Minasian believes Aldegheri is ready to pitch in the majors, he should be used as a starter. If he sees him as a reliever, Aldegheri needs more than just a single outing to prove himself. And if Minasian thinks Aldegheri isn’t prepared for either role, he should remain in the minors. What Minasian absolutely shouldn’t do—but keeps doing—is call up prospects for one-off bullpen appearances, which only serve to hurt their confidence.
Angels aren’t a team good enough to make a move like this
If the Angels were actually in a playoff chase, calling up someone like Aldeghieri to eat innings in long relief wouldn’t be great for his development, but at least it would be for a team with something on the line. Right now, what exactly are the Angels playing for?
At 26-32, they sit in fourth place in the AL West and own the fourth-worst record in a very weak American League. They’ve had brief flashes of promise, but there’s little reason to believe they’ll be contending for a playoff spot come August or September — even if I have faith in their young talent.
It’s frustrating for fans to watch a struggling team mishandle its prospects, but sadly, this is a familiar pattern. That’s the unfortunate reality of being an Angels fan in 2025.
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