Walbert Urena #57

Walbert Jhoel Urena...Enters 2026 ranked by Baseball America as Angels No. 16 overall prospect...Following the 2024 season, participated in Angels Fall Instructional League, and pitched at Angel Stadium as part of the Fall Classic Series...Attended Angels Major League Spring Training as a non-roster invitee in 2024...Originally signed by Angels scout Jochy Cabrera.

2025

Pitched entire Double-A season with Rocket City, and led the Trash Pandas with 27 starts and 135.1 innings pitched, while going 6-9 with a 4.39 ERA (135.1 IP - 66 ER) and 115 strikeouts... Led the Southern League in innings pitched, tied for the league lead in starts and ranked ninth in strikeouts... Was the Southern League Pitcher of the Week for Sept. 8-14 after carrying a no-hitter into the eighth inning of his final start of the season on Sept. 13 vs. Chattanooga (W; 8.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 8 SO)... Recorded 11 quality starts, which tied for the most among all Double-A pitchers... Allowed two-or-fewer runs in 14 of 27 starts for Rocket City... Registered a complete game with a 7.0 inning victory over Biloxi on May 29 in Game 1 of a doubleheader (W; 7.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 SO)... Following the Double-A season, was promoted to Triple-A Salt Lake on Sept. 16 and made one start for the Bees, where he tallied a season-high 10 strikeouts in 5.2 innings pitched... Had contract selected by Angels on Nov. 18.

2023

Spent season with Low-A Inland Empire, making 22 appearances (21 starts) and posting a 5.66 ERA (98.2 IP - 62 ER) with 97 strikeouts... Held opponents to three-or-fewer earned runs in 14 of 22 outings, and held opponents to two-or-fewer earned runs in 12 of those games... Pitched at least five innings and held opponents to two-or-fewer runs in five straight starts from June 14 to July 15, posting a 2-1 record and 2.42 ERA (26 IP - 7 ER) with a .184 (16/87) batting average against over that span.... Named California League Pitcher of the Week for week of Aug. 27 following a scoreless start vs. Visalia... Urena held Rawhide batters to just two hits and three walks over seven shutout innings, striking out six.