Welcome to the Angels' prospect update, where you’ll find news, promotions and standout performances, all year long.

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Bush turns in another strong outing (May 14)
Left-hander Ky Bush, ranked as the Angels' No. 4 prospect by MLB Pipeline, continued his impressive start to the season at Double-A Rocket City with a solid outing against Pensacola. Bush, who was Los Angeles' second-round pick in the 2021 MLB Draft out of Saint Mary's, went 5 2/3 innings and allowed two runs on four hits with six strikeouts. The 22-year old has posted a 3.54 ERA with 26 strikeouts over 28 innings across six starts with Rocket City. -- Rhett Bollinger

Bachman fires four hitless innings in Double-A (May 13)
In his second start back with Double-A Rocket City after missing the first month due to back spasms, top-ranked prospect Sam Bachman was unhittable.

The 22-year-old tossed just 33 pitches in four hitless innings while allowing one walk and striking out two. Bachman needed just six pitches to get through the first inning and fanned Marlins No. 22 prospect Jerar Encarnacion, who had recorded hits in seven of his last eight at-bats going into the night. The righty allowed a walk and a steal in the third, but induced a popout to escape the jam.

The ninth overall pick of the 2021 Draft, Bachman has allowed one hit and two walks in seven frames this season with three strikeouts. -- Stephanie Sheehan

Placencia logs five-hit outing; Quero gets four knocks (May 11)
An ideal trait for a leadoff hitter is the ability to get on base. With that in mind, No. 9 prospect Adrian Placencia performed his duties to a tee for Single-A Inland Empire against Modesto, as the 18-year-old went a perfect 5-for-5 at the dish in a 5-4 defeat.

Placencia opened the game with an opposite-field double, although he was thrown out trying to secure an additional base. From there, he just kept on hitting.

The Dominican native collected opposite-field singles in the third and seventh innings, while pulling base hits in the fifth and ninth frames. After a slow start to 2022 that saw Placencia collect three hits in his first 26 at-bats, the middle infielder not only delivered his first multihit effort of affiliate ball, but he set a threshold that will be difficult to exceed as a professional.

Placencia’s performance set the table for Edgar Quero, the club’s No. 8 prospect, who delivered a four-hit outing in his own right. Quero’s big knock was a then-game-tying two-run double in the sixth, which plated Placencia for his lone run.

After a brief 10-game stint with the 66ers last year, Quero has excelled in 24 games thus far, posting a .381 on-base percentage with nine of his 22 hits having gone for extra bases. -- Jesse Borek

Bachman strong in season debut (May 6)
Sam Bachman, who is ranked as the Angels' No. 1 prospect by MLB Pipeline, made his season debut with Double-A Rocket City on Friday after missing the first month with back spasms. Bachman didn't disappoint, as he threw three scoreless innings with one hit, one walk and one strikeout against Chattanooga. The No. 9 overall selection in the 2021 Draft, Bachman will continue to build up strength with Rocket City. There is a chance he could make his Major League debut later this season. -- Rhett Bollinger

Kerry dazzles again for Trash Pandas (May 3)
Double-A Rocket City fans may want to circle Brett Kerry's start days on their calendars. Chances are they're going to get a good show.

Kerry went a season-long seven innings, striking out six while allowing just two singles and two walks, to lead Rocket City to a 5-0 win over visiting Chattanooga.

The No. 30 Angels prospect has been lights-out so far for the Trash Pandas, and the 23-year-old was at his best against the Lookouts, earning a win in his first decision of the campaign. Kerry threw 89 pitches, 64 for strikes. Through five games, the former South Carolina Gamecock sports a 2.52 ERA. Perhaps most impressive has been his command. Kerry has struck out 38 while walking only four in 25 innings, posting an 0.88 WHIP and a .200 average against.

For the second time in his last three home starts, Kerry contributed to another moment of fun for Trash Pandas fans when a play on a foul ball inspired a fan to imbibe a beverage in celebration. Full story »

Diaz in total control on the mound for Bees (April 28)
In one of the better pitching performances in the Minors this year, Jhonathan Diaz allowed one hit over eight innings as Triple-A Salt Lake blanked Round Rock, 2-0. The 25-year-old struck out seven, hit a batter and did not issue a walk in his longest outing since tossing a nine-inning complete game last Juy 29 with Double-A Rocket City.

Diaz surrendred a two-out single in the first, plunked a batter in the second and then retired 17 consecutive hitters before a out-out error in the eighth. The southpaw worked aroundt the miscue and completed his eight frames on 92 pitches, 63 for strikes. Diaz lowered his ERA to 1.96 and his opponents' average to .150 in four starts spanning 23 innings.

The Venezuela native made his Major League debut in 2021, posting a 4.15 ERA in three outings (two starts). -- Michael Avallone

Paris, Adams lead the way offensively for Tri-City (April 24)
Kyren Paris and Jordyn Adams were not alone in helping High-A Tri-City roll to an 18-2 win over Everett, but the duo was instrumental in getting things rolling from the top of the lineup.

Paris, the fourth-ranked Angels prospect, doubled twice, scored three runs and drove in a pair during his second consecutive multihit performance. The 20-year-old is batting .233 with a .738 OPS in 12 games.

Adams (No. 7) continued his hot start to the season with his third three-hit effort in his first 10 contests. The 22-year-old doubled, scored three runs and tallied an RBI while swiping his fifth bag in six attempts. Adams is batting .378/.442/.568 with five extra-base hits in 37 at-bats.

The Dust Devils recorded season highs with 18 runs on 22 hits, including 10 for extra bases. -- Michael Avallone

Davis tallies three XBH for Triple-A Salt Lake (April 17)
Brendon Davis launched his first home run of 2022 in his second three-hit game of the season.

The 24-year-old went 3-for-5, adding two doubles and three RBIs to his final line in Triple-A Salt Lake’s 12-3 win. Davis is batting .318 with an .862 OPS and five extra-base hits through 12 games this season.

Last year, the No. 22 Angels prospect broke out in a big way. He set career highs in nearly every offensive stat, slamming 30 homers, six triples and 29 doubles with 91 runs scored, 83 RBIs and a .290/.361/.561 slash line. -- Nick Trujillo

Kerry strikes out 12 for Double-A Rocket City (April 14)
What’s better than setting a career high in strikeouts to start the season? Breaking that record the very next start.

That’s what Brett Kerry did. The right-handed Angels prospect fanned 12 while allowing one run on one hit over five innings in Double-A Rocket City's 5-3 loss to Pensacola. In his first start of the season against Birmingham on April 8, he racked up eight whiffs over five shutout innings.

“I was definitely able to get behind the ball well and feel myself being vertical down the mound so I could get some good ride up in the zone, just utilizing that fastball up in the zone,” Kerry said. “Getting that up-and-away fastball for the swing-and-misses definitely helped, and having good feel on my breaking stuff to get them off the fastball helped.” Full story »