ANAHEIM — Look around at the best teams in the majors, and pretty much all of them have one common denominator: a big left-handed slugger in the middle of the order.
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The Angels just finished a series against the Houston Astros and saw the havoc that Yordan Alvarez can create. Alvarez is at the top of the class, but there are others all over the majors, from Nick Kurtz to James Wood to Ben Rice to Kyle Schwarber.
Since the playoffs expanded in 1995, 82% of all postseason teams have had at least one everyday lefty or switch-hitter with at least a .450 slugging percentage. The Angels have not had anyone do that since Shohei Ohtani headed up the freeway.
Forget about finding another Ohtani. The Angels currently don’t even have a prospect who could be another Kole Calhoun. He averaged 22 home runs and a .424 slugging percentage in his six full seasons with the Angels.
Outfielder Jared Grindlinger, their No. 1 draft pick earlier this month, is a left-handed hitter, but he’s just 17 and hasn’t yet shown his power. Just-drafted infielder Jarren Advincula is also more of a table-setter than a run producer. Outfielder Nelson Rada, who has been at the top of the Angels’ prospect lists for a couple of years, is also a speedy singles hitter.
Otherwise, all of the Angels’ best hitting prospects are righties.
Over the next few days, though, the Angels have an opportunity to go shopping through the farm systems of other teams. If they are willing to trade pitchers Reid Detmers or José Soriano or shortstop Zach Neto, they could realistically ask for (almost) anyone.
Interim general manager John Mozeliak specifically mentioned “left-handed thump” when discussing the team’s needs last week, so it’s clearly high on his wish list.
What follows is a list of some of the best left-handed power hitters who could conceivably be acquired now. It’s limited to players on teams who might be currently be in the market for Soriano, Detmers or Neto.
(The Dodgers, for example, have several lefty power bats, but they’re not likely to be shopping for what the Angels have to sell, so they’re not included.)
The Angels might not be able to pry away any of these players. Any of them also might turn out to be busts. For now, it’s a list worth monitoring.
OF Theo Gillen, Rays
Gillen is ranked No. 9 overall in Baseball America’s most recent top 100. (We’ll use Baseball America for all subsequent rankings, for simplicity.) Gillen is too good for Tampa Bay to move him as part of a three- or four-player package for one of the Angels’ players. However, it might be worth it to the Angels to get fewer prospects in order to get Gillen. Or perhaps the Angels could make a bigger deal that sends the Rays multiple players.
Gillen, 20, was recently promoted to Double-A. Between high-A and Double-A, he’s hit .327 with 18 homers and a 1.012 OPS. He’s also stolen 36 bases.
OF Josh Adamczewski, Brewers
Adamczewski is No. 78 overall, but he’s only No. 5 in Milwaukee’s loaded system, so they could be more willing to part with him than some of their other prospects.
Adamczewski, 21, was originally drafted as an infielder, but the Brewers moved him to the outfield this season. He was recently moved to Double-A. And he’s hitting .316 with a .979 OPS and 14 homers this season. He’s struck out only 64 times, compared with 56 walks, in 351 plate appearances this season.
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OF Emmanuel Rodriguez, Twins
Rodriguez is No. 41 overall and No. 4 in the Twins’ system. It didn’t look like Minnesota would even be buyers until recently. They have played better and GM Jeremy Zoll said clearly on Tuesday that they will buy. The Twins need pitching, starting and relief, so they could be in the market for Detmers or Soriano, and perhaps a reliever like Ryan Zeferjahn in a bigger deal.
Rodriguez, 23, signed for $2.5 million out of the Dominican Republic in 2019. He’s had injury issues that have kept him from progressing quickly. This season he’s played only 27 games. Still, he has elite power and speed. His career minor league OPS is .912 with a .490 slugging percentage.
OF/1B Josiah Hartshorn, Cubs
Hartshorn is No. 29 overall and No. 1 in the Cubs’ system. He might very well be untouchable, but Chicago is desperate for starting pitching help. Having Detmers or Soriano for two more seasons could be enough to sway them.
Hartshorn, 19, is a product of Orange Lutheran High, so there’s a local appeal. The Cubs took him in the sixth round in 2025 and signed him for an over-slot bonus of $2 million. He’s already playing at High-A, and he’s hit 11 home runs in his first 51 games at that level. For the season, he’s produced a .903 OPS in his first full pro season. He’s drawn 62 walks, compared with 76 strikeouts.
OF Eric Hartman, Braves
Hartman is a similar case to Hartshorn. Hartman is the No. 24 overall prospect, and he’s No. 1 in the Braves’ system. Atlanta wouldn’t part with him easily.
The Braves drafted Hartman, 20, with their final pick in the 2024 draft. He was an unheralded player out of Western Canada. Since he signed, he has shot up prospect lists. He’s already hit 24 homers with a .903 OPS at High-A in his first full season. He’s also stolen 37 bases.
OF/C Ike Irish, Orioles
Irish is ranked No. 76, and No. 2 in Baltimore’s system. The young core the Orioles built has been a disappointment, and now they need some retooling at the major-league level, so Detmers or Soriano could be a fit for their rotation.
Irish, 22, was the 19th overall pick in the 2025 draft, as a catcher. Lately, he’s been getting more time in the corner outfield or even first base. He’s playing at High-A this season, hitting .286 with 16 homers and a .916 OPS.
OF Spencer Jones, Yankees
Jones has been in and out of prospect lists, because of tantalizing tools and an inability to channel into performance. The Angels tried to get Jones at the deadline last year, but he was unavailable. Now that he’s had another year of failing to live up to the hype, he’s certainly much more attainable.
The Yankees could be in the market for Detmers, Soriano or Neto.
A deal for Jones would be similar to when the Angels picked up outfielder Mickey Moniak after his prospect star had faded. There is a belief in the industry that Jones could still blossom if given a better opportunity than he’s had in New York.
Jones, 25, has hit .226 with a .697 OPS in 35 major-league games this season. At Triple-A, he hit .273 with a .942 OPS and 14 homers.
UP NEXT
Brewers (LHP Shane Drohan, 5-4, 3.51 ERA) at Angels (RHP Ryan Johnson, 2-5, 7.34 ERA), 6:38 p.m. Friday, ABTV, 830 AM
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