Hot Halos hurlers: Which Angels pitching prospects are on the rise?

This story was excerpted from Rhett Bollinger’s Angels Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

BOSTON -- The Angels have been trying to improve their pitching depth in recent years and believe they’re finally starting to develop pitching that will help them become more consistent winners going forward.

Of the club’s Top 30 prospects, 18 are pitchers, including three of their top five and six of their top 10. Lefty Sam Aldegheri, ranked as their No. 5 prospect per MLB Pipeline, was the latest to get called up to the Majors on Monday, but after allowing two unearned runs in 2 1/3 innings on Wednesday, he was sent down to Triple-A Salt Lake on Thursday. It’s much like the Angels have done with their No. 2 prospect Caden Dana twice this year.

With that in mind, here’s a look at a pitcher at each Minor League level who has been pitching well recently:

Triple-A Salt Lake: RHP Victor Mederos
Mederos, 23, is no longer among the club’s Top 30 prospects, as he’s seen brief action in the Majors in each of the last three seasons with a 9.53 ERA in 11 1/3 innings but is finally starting to put it together in the Minors this season. After recording a 3.52 ERA with 14 strikeouts in 15 1/3 innings at High-A Tri-City, he was moved up to Triple-A Salt Lake where he's excelled despite pitching at high altitude in a hitter-friendly league. He's posted a 3.22 ERA with 41 strikeouts and 15 walks in 50 1/3 innings to put himself back on the club’s radar. He remains on the 40-man roster and could be a candidate for long relief or to start later this season.

Double-A Rocket City: RHP Walbert Urena
Urena, just 21 years old, has held his own in Double-A, posting a 4.30 ERA with 47 strikeouts and 31 walks in 52 1/3 innings. He's nearly three and a half years younger than the average competition and has pitched much better since a rough April. Urena, who is ranked as the club’s No. 17 prospect, has registered a 2.45 ERA over his past eight starts, including throwing six scoreless innings on Wednesday. Like his teammate Joel Hurtado, he can reach triple-digits with his fastball and now it’s about learning how to harness his plus-stuff.

High-A Tri-City: RHP Austin Gordon
At first glance, Gordon's 5.90 ERA jumps out, but it's due to two rough starts out of 11, and he's been pitching much better recently. Gordon, ranked as the club's No. 30 prospect, was recently named the Northwest League Pitcher of the Week. He allowed just one hit over 5 2/3 innings with six strikeouts on May 28 and followed that up by giving up one run over 6 1/3 innings with seven strikeouts on Tuesday. Gordon, a fourth-round pick out of Clemson University last year, is still only 21 years old and has struck out 61 and walked 17 in 50 1/3 innings.

Single-A Inland Empire: RHP Benny Thompson
Thompson, 23, isn’t among the club’s Top 30 prospects, but he has put up an impressive strikeout rate as a reliever this season but will need to cut down on his walks. Thompson, signed as an undrafted free agent out of Troy University in ’23, has posted a 3.33 ERA with 45 strikeouts and 23 walks in 27 innings. He’s also displayed an ability to go multiple innings, as 12 of his 16 appearances this year have been more than one inning. He’s been a bright spot for the 66ers, who have a 6.27 ERA as a team.