2026 May Farm Report: AL West

The Angels have dipped into the reserves for pitching help this season, as both George Klassen and Ryan Johnson, the latter of whom made his MLB debut last season, have appeared in big-league action so far in 2026. However, no pitcher in that farm system has higher upside than Tyler Bremner.

Bremner only threw 1.1 IP in May, so there’s not much to go off from there. But in April, the Angels’ first-rounder was fantastic. The San Diego native struck out 25 over 16.2 IP for High-A Tri-City in April, along with a 35% Whiff% that ranked among the circuit’s best for that month.

Much was made about the changeup, which was the centerpiece of the arsenal. However, he showed a propensity to beat hitters upstairs with the fastball.

Chase Shores struck out 23 over 16 innings, and also had one of the best Whiff% in the Northwest League last month. Shores didn’t pitch in May.

The best story, perhaps, of the Angels’ system this month has been Denzer Guzman. Guzman hit .412 with 15 extra-base hits (10.1% Barrel%) over 20 games in Salt Lake, perhaps a sign that things could move him closer towards a permanent stay in the Majors. A natural middle infielder, Guzman spent time at third with the Bees.

Raudi Rodriguez, one of the highlights from the 2025 Arizona Fall League, had a big month in May with Double-A Rocket City. Twenty-five hits over 20 games, a total tied for second in the Southern League. His swing-and-miss rate was high last year in the California League, and that’s been the case again (30.1%) this month. But there’s power there, with five home runs on the month.

Astros

In a farm upheaval, the Astros will heavily rely on two teenagers, Xavier Neyens & Kevin Alvarez, to take the mantle as potential future assets for Houston.

Both started the year in Low-A Fayetteville, and so far, have had mixed results. Alvarez has been a lower swing-and-miss (24.2%) rate hitter so far in May, and also a lower take rate guy. He does have four home runs and has been elevating the baseball. However, the results (.710 OPS), including an on-base percentage below .300, haven’t been all there yet.

Neyens, meanwhile, struck out a lot to this point with 49 over 34 games (30 came in April). But the power profile was high on him, and so far, he had six home runs with the Woodpeckers as of this writing. Not a lot of swing-and-miss this month for Neyens. Last month, he posted one of the highest take rates in the circuit, and as of May 26, it was up 72%. Also, not a lot of called strikes, either.

As for some of the other prospects in the system, Bryce Mayer picked up a lot of swing-and-miss in his first month of 2026, although he’s been walking a good number of hitters.

Will Bush has shown patience, while Walker Janek missed most of May with an injury. And speaking of catchers, Jason Schiavone, a big swing-and-miss hitter, hit eight home runs in May and 17 overall through 35 contests with High-A Asheville. That earned him a promotion to Double-A.

Both Bush and Joseph Sullivan, by the way, have accumulated a lot of strikeouts in the Minors. However, that’s what you’re going to get with some high-take, disciplined hitters.

Athletics

We already covered the likes of Henry Bolte and Gage Jump, both of whom are now in the Majors. So let’s focus on some other names.

Wei-En Lin, as we noted in our 2025 farm review, was a dynamite last season in the Minors. And he has been again in 2026, as the left-hander sat tied for seventh in the Texas League in total strikeouts (47). And, a lot of swing-and-miss, too, with a 32.7% Whiff% so far in May for Midland.

Jamie Arnold started 2026 in Double-A and, like Lin, has racked up the strikeouts. Unlike Lin, there’s been less swing-and-miss, and the former first-round pick has been “BABIP’d to death,” with a BABIP over .400 after his first nine pro starts. Still, Arnold is one of the most deceptive pitching prospects to exist in the Minors right now.

The A’s could have another smooth-swinging prospect join the club this season, alongside Jacob Wilson. Joshua Kuroda-Grauer left the Texas League with 41 hits in 33 games.

Mariners

Kade Anderson was lights-out at LSU last season. He didn’t pitch in the pros after the Mariners selected him in the first round last year, meaning his pro debut didn’t come until 2026. And his first month was…pretty good, to say the least.

Anderson, with 58 strikeouts over 38 innings, is the current Texas League leader. He might not be long for that level, though.

Lazaro Montes is still striking out at a high clip, not much of a shock. The same can be said for Jonny Farmelo, who is still in High-A after he missed a healthy chunk of time last season. And would you believe that the Mariners could have another young catcher who can contribute offensively? Luke Stevenson entered play on the 26th, one walk shy of the Northwest League lead with 35.

And with his approach, that’s not a shock.

Rangers

We’ve been waiting to see what’s to come for the next wave of Rangers’ pitching prospects. Unfortunately, that wave has stalled in the interim.

Jose Corniell missed the first month of 2026, Kolton Curtis was placed on the full-season IL in March, and 2025 breakout pitcher Caden Scarborough hasn’t pitched in full-season ball yet this season.

But David Davalillo, one of the better stories out of the system last year, pushed his way to Triple-A in May. Davalillo struck out 36 over 23 innings with Double-A Round Rock this season before he forced his way to Triple-A.

Dylan Dreilling, who performed well last year despite the results not being there, has been a revelation in Double-A with 39 hits and six home runs over 33 contests with Double-A Frisco. And Malcolm Moore, with a 1.014 OPS in High-A Hub City, has performed more to expectations. Moore was a first-round pick in 2024.