HOUSTON -- The Angels finalized their 26-man roster to start the 2026 season on Opening Day on Thursday, and it included a few surprises, especially with pitching prospects Ryan Johnson and Walbert Urena both making the club.
Johnson, the club’s No. 2 prospect per MLB Pipeline, is in the rotation, while Urena (No. 19) is in the bullpen as a long reliever. Infielders Adam Frazier and Jeimer Candelario, who were both signed to Minor League deals, also made the club with Anthony Rendon (left hip surgery) and Robert Stephenson (right elbow inflammation) placed on the 60-day injured list. Reliever Kirby Yates also landed on the IL with left knee inflammation, and the Angels signed lefty Joey Lucchesi to a one-year deal to join the roster.
The club also decided to go with five outfielders, led by Mike Trout’s return to center field and Bryce Teodosio earning a spot as an extra outfielder due to his defensive prowess. Oswald Peraza, who is out of options, also made the club and looks primed to start at second base.
Catcher (2): Logan O’Hoppe, Travis d’Arnaud
O’Hoppe returns as starting catcher and could be primed for a big year after parts of four seasons in the Majors. It’s also the second year as the backup for d’Arnaud, who signed a two-year, $12 million deal before 2025.
First baseman (1): Nolan Schanuel
Schanuel, 24, is heading into his third full season as the club’s starting first baseman, and he could be in for a breakout, especially if he can tap into some power.
Second baseman (2): Oswald Peraza, Adam Frazier
Peraza had an impressive spring, including displaying some unexpected power to play his way into the starting job at second. Frazier, who was signed to a Minor League deal, will also share time at the position, but it’s not a strict platoon between the left-handed hitting Frazier and the right-handed Peraza. Vaughn Grissom was in the mix until he injured his left hand on a swing on March 11 and will open on the injured list.
Shortstop (1): Zach Neto
Neto has emerged as the club’s best player over the last two seasons and could be an All-Star for the first time in 2026. He also had a great spring at the plate and avoided a potential wrist injury.
Third baseman (2): Yoán Moncada, Jeimer Candelario
Moncada was brought back on a one-year deal worth $4 million with Rendon out for a second straight year, but the Angels also signed veteran Candelario to a Minor League deal to add depth because of Moncada’s injury concerns in recent years. Candelario was the breakout star in camp and also offers depth at first base.
Outfielders (5): Mike Trout, Jo Adell, Josh Lowe, Jorge Soler, Bryce Teodosio
Trout indicated he wanted to play center field this season, and he’s getting his wish, which allows Lowe to play left and Adell to play right. Soler trimmed down in the offseason to play more outfield and was excellent at the plate and ran well during spring. Teodosio made the club as an extra outfielder because of his elite defense, especially with Lowe coming off a left oblique injury.
Starting pitchers (5): José Soriano, Yusei Kikuchi, Reid Detmers, Ryan Johnson, Jack Kochanowicz
Soriano started on Opening Day for the first time in his career and will be followed by Kikuchi and Detmers in the rotation. Right-handers Grayson Rodriguez and Alek Manoah were slated to be in the rotation but are both opening on the injured list, with Rodriguez battling dead arm and Manoah dealing with a broken fingernail. Johnson made the Opening Day roster as a longshot for a second straight season, but this time he will be in the rotation after pitching in relief last year before ever pitching in the Minors. Kochanowicz also had an impressive spring to claim the final rotation spot.
Relief pitchers (8): Drew Pomeranz, Jordan Romano, Brent Suter, Ryan Zeferjahn, Chase Silseth, Sam Bachman, Walbert Urena, Joey Lucchesi
Yates, Pomeranz, Romano and Suter were all signed to one-year deals, but Yates is opening on the IL and Romano seems most likely to close. Silseth, who is out of options, pitched well this spring after a shaky first appearance, while Zeferjahn and Bachman also impressed. Urena is the biggest surprise; the 22-year-old’s stuff is so tantalizing that he made the team as a long reliever.
Right-hander Robert Stephenson suffered a setback with his pitching elbow and will see Dr. Keith Meister for an evaluation, while flamethrower Ben Joyce is coming off right shoulder surgery last May and is expected to return at some point early in the season.