'The ball just jumps off his bat': Nimmala posts first 2-HR game amidst Double-A hot streak
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Arjun Nimmala is ending his 2026 season on a high note.
MLB’s No. 38 prospect tallied his first career multihomer game in Double-A Rocket City’s 7-5 win over Chattanooga on Thursday night at Erlanger Park. The 20-year-old has now swatted six long balls over his past nine games, giving him the most dingers in September of any player on the Double-A circuit.
“He’s now had the ability to get his spikes in the ground here, get comfortable and just be himself," said Rocket City manager Joe Kruzel of Nimmala. "This is just him being him. He’s at the point where his head and feet are in the same spot. He's playing easy right now."
The Angels' No. 1 prospect put his 60-grade power on display against Lookouts pitching. After punching out in the top of the first, the 20-year-old returned to the box looking to do damage in the fourth. Facing right-hander Johnathan Harmon (Reds), Nimmala turned on a 1-0 slider and cranked it over the berm in left field for his first long ball of the night.
Five frames later, with the game tied at 5 in the ninth, Nimmala strode to the dish with a runner on third and two away. Squaring off against righty Cody Adcock, Nimmala blasted a 2-2 fastball and sent it onto the concourse beyond the wall in right-center for his second homer of the night.
“He connects his upper and lower half really well, and the ball just jumps off his bat," said Kruzel. "He’s got tremendous power to the opposite field and a ton of juice to the right-center gap. Don’t get me wrong, he’s pulled some too, but that opposite field power is impressive.”
In truth, 2026 has been anything but normal for Nimmala. After posting an .801 OPS and .360 wOBA in his first 41 games between two Minor League levels, the shortstop hit the IL for nearly five weeks after suffering a right hamstring strain while running to first base.
Then, just over a month after returning from injury, Nimmala was dealt to the Halos at the 2026 Trade Deadline in the deal that sent José Soriano to the Blue Jays. Three days later, in just his second game with Rocket City, he suffered a minor laceration to his hand causing him to miss a week of playing time.
Still, despite the rollercoaster of a season, Nimmala’s tools have continued to shine through. One of just nine players 20 years or younger with 250 or more plate appearances at the Double-A level this year, he hasn’t played like the new kid on the block, posting an .847 OPS with 11 homers and 26 extra-base hits, all while maintaining a walk rate north of 12 percent.
“I think a lot of it has to do with his approach," said Kruzel. "When he’s taking batting practice, he’s working the middle of the field and the other way, just trying to put a good swing on it. He makes good swing decisions in the zone, which allows him to do damage.”
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As for his skills on the infield dirt, Nimmala’s new manager has been impressed by his defense -- specifically his 60-grade throwing arm and strong footwork.
“He puts his feet in a good position and is attacking ground balls. His angles have been good, and I think he has great range,” Kruzel said said. “That arm strength is certainly above-average, and he’s learning how to use it when he needs to use it. He’s really showing the ability to slow the game down on both sides of the ball.”