Angels round out Draft Day 1 with 3 more hard-throwing pitchers

ANAHEIM -- The Angels again went heavy on pitching on Day 1 of the 2025 Draft, selecting four pitchers with their first four selections, including UC Santa Barbara right-hander Tyler Bremner with the No. 2 overall pick.

They then went with Louisiana State University right-hander Chase Shores with the No. 47 overall pick in the second round, lefty Johnny Slawinski from Lyndon B. Johnson High School in Texas with the No. 79 selection in the third round and University of Tennessee right-hander Nate Snead with the No. 105 pick in a compensation round. They seemed to prioritize velocity, as Shores and Snead both touch 101 mph, Bremner can run it up to 98 mph and Slawinksi touches 95 mph as a prep lefty.

“We're excited,” said scouting director Tim McIlvaine. “We got four good arms, four guys we’re excited about, four guys that we think are gonna be able to get a lot of outs in the big leagues for us.”

McIlvaine, though, said it wasn’t the plan to only go with pitchers, like the organization famously did in 2021, and to expect Los Angeles to target position players on Day 2 with rounds 4-20 on deck.

“I would love to get some hitters, so I don't foresee that happening,” McIlvaine said. “We talked about just as many hitters today, if not more hitters today, than we did pitchers, but it's just kind of how the Draft rolls.”

Bremner, ranked as the No. 18 Draft prospect by MLB Pipeline, was a surprise selection, but the Angels love his fastball and elite changeup and the way he handled adversity with the death of his mother last month after she battled breast cancer for five years. He also is likely to sign under the slot value of $10.25 million, which allows the organization to use that pool money later in the Draft. Los Angeles has a $16,656,400 bonus pool, which is the third highest in the Majors.

The Angels continued that run by taking hard-throwing Shores, who was ranked as the No. 77 Draft prospect. He has a fastball that regularly reaches triple digits but is working to refine his command.

They went the high school route in the third round, selecting Slawinski. He has a four-pitch mix (fastball, slider, curveball and changeup) and is a four-sport athlete (baseball, football, basketball and track).

The Angels went back to the college ranks for the final pick of the day in Snead, who is a rare reliever with a five-pitch arsenal that includes a fastball, curveball, slider, cutter and changeup, which is why they're going to try him out as a starter initially.

Chase Shores, RHP (Second Round, No. 47 overall)

• Bats/throws: R/R
• School: Louisiana State University
• Calling Card: Shores, a 6-foot-8, 245-pounder, can light up the radar gun, as he threw 47 pitches faster than 100 mph during this year’s College World Series and earned the save in the clinching victory in the title game. He had a 5.09 ERA with 70 strikeouts and 31 walks in 63 2/3 innings this year, as the 21-year-old has worked to regain command after Tommy John surgery in April 2023.
• Quote: “He's really athletic for 6-foot-8. He's originally from Colorado. We actually had a lot of interest in him out of high school. He hit his stride down the stretch and got some big outs for LSU along the way.” -- McIlvaine

Johnny Slawinski, LHP (Third Round, No. 79)

• Bats/throws: L/L
• School: Lyndon B. Johnson High School (Texas)
• Calling Card: Slawinski comes from Johnson City, a small Texas town of around 2,000 that had never produced a Major Leaguer or a Draft pick within the first 60 rounds. But the 18-year-old broke the mold with a 6-foot-3 frame and a fastball that touches 95 mph to go along with a slider, curveball and changeup. Also a talented hitter in high school, he’s committed to Texas A&M.
• Quote: “He’s a really good athlete and actually led the state in home runs. He's got a good fastball, throws a ton of strikes, and he struck out 177 guys this year with only 14 walks.” -- McIlvaine

Nate Snead, RHP (Compensation Round, No. 105)

• Bats/throws: R/R
• School: University of Tennessee
• Calling Card: Snead is another hard thrower with a fastball that touches 101 mph, but he’s pitched almost exclusively out of the bullpen the past two seasons, with 52 relief appearances and two starts. But much like they did with No. 8 prospect Chris Cortez (second round in 2024 Draft), who pitched in relief with Texas A&M, the Angels are going to try him out as a starter.
• Quote: “We're gonna give him a chance to start. Get a little more familiar with his pitch package. But with Tennessee, he would come in a lot of times with guys on and get the big outs or shut down games.” -- McIlvaine