The Los Angeles Angels have opted not to rush their top pitching prospect, Caden Dana, despite needing a starter for Wednesday's game against the Kansas City Royals.
Instead of calling up Dana, the team chose veteran Johnny Cueto , a former Royal and World Series champion.
Dana, 20, has been impressive in Double-A, posting a 2.74 earned run average over 21 starts.
The Angels' management is focused on his long-term development rather than immediate results.
They believe that pushing him into the major leagues too soon could hinder his growth and confidence.
“This kid is 20 years old in his first full season,” manager Washington told Jeff Fletcher of the Southern California News Group . “We want him to be successful. As far as him getting here, I’m not going to say he might not get here, but we’re not having a conversation about it.
"One thing we don’t want to do is destroy minds, and this game, at the major league level, can destroy minds. He’s on the radar, but I don’t know what’s going to happen because it’s beyond my decision-making.”
Dana, an 11th-round pick in 2022 who received a seven-figure signing bonus, has shown his potential this season.
He recently threw a complete game with 10 strikeouts and followed it up with another strong outing, striking out five over 6.2 innings. His performance has made him the organization’s top prospect.
"Feeling good right now," Dana said . "I'm throwing pitches with conviction instead of just throwing them to throw them. There is actually meaning behind what I'm doing."
"I'm just trying not to be stupid," he said . "I'm a big gym rat, and I can easily get carried away in the weight room and do something stupid. So I try not to sometimes. The whole recovery process is about being smart, knowing how your body handles things, and taking it day by day."
Currently, Dana leads the Southern League in both strikeouts and innings pitched, with 140 strikeouts and 129.2 innings under his belt. He has maintained a solid 2.64 earned run average and is averaging around 91 pitches per game.
While the Angels have a history of promoting players quickly, they are taking a cautious approach with Dana, especially with the team out of playoff contention. If he continues to perform well, he could make his major league debut next season.
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