Angels' Top Pitching Prospects Poised for Breakout in 2026

Klassen, Johnson, and Gregory-Alford set to make their mark on the mound

Apr. 12, 2026 at 9:09pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A cubist, multi-perspective painting depicting the motion of a baseball pitcher, broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in the Angels' team colors of red, white, and navy blue.The Angels' pitching prospects offer a fractured, geometric glimpse into the future of the franchise's rotation.Anaheim Today

The Los Angeles Angels' minor league system is brimming with pitching talent, with three right-handed prospects - George Klassen, Ryan Johnson, and Trey Gregory-Alford - primed for potential breakout seasons in 2026 that could earn them a shot at the big league rotation.

Why it matters

While the Angels' major league starting rotation has some question marks heading into spring training, the development of these three young arms in the minors offers hope for the team's long-term pitching future. Their success could provide a boost to the big league club sooner rather than later.

The details

George Klassen, at Triple-A, overcame an early-season injury in 2025 to finish the year strong, showcasing his ability to overpower hitters. Ryan Johnson, who made his MLB debut in 2025 despite never pitching in the minors, has refocused at the lower levels and is now set to begin 2026 in Double-A. Trey Gregory-Alford, the youngest of the trio at just 19 years old, dominated at Single-A in 2025 and has the raw tools, including a fastball that can reach 100 mph, to potentially have the highest ceiling.

  • Klassen made his Triple-A debut in the final start of the 2025 season.
  • Johnson was called up to the Angels' major league roster in 2025 but was sent down to Single-A to refocus on his development.
  • Gregory-Alford, a 2024 11th-round draft pick, had an impressive 2.86 ERA across two minor league levels in 2025.

The players

George Klassen

A right-handed pitcher at Triple-A who overcame an early-season injury in 2025 to finish the year strong, showcasing his ability to overpower hitters.

Ryan Johnson

A right-handed pitcher who made his MLB debut with the Angels in 2025 despite never pitching in the minors, and is now set to begin 2026 in Double-A after refocusing his development as a starter.

Trey Gregory-Alford

A 19-year-old right-handed pitcher at Single-A who dominated in 2025, with a fastball that can reach 100 mph, and has the raw tools to potentially have the highest ceiling of the trio.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

The Angels will be closely monitoring the progress of these three pitching prospects throughout the 2026 minor league season, with the potential for one or more of them to earn a call-up to the major league roster if they continue to develop and perform at a high level.

The takeaway

The Angels' minor league system is stocked with promising young pitching talent that could provide a boost to the big league club's rotation in the near future, offering hope for the team's long-term pitching outlook despite some current question marks.