The Los Angeles Angels are inviting their No. 3 prospect, Nelson Rada, to Major League camp.
Rada signed with the Angels for $1.85 million out of Venezuela when he was only 16 years old. The Athletic's Sam Blum was the first to report the news.
The 5-foot-10 lefty has a ton of speed, especially on the bases. In Single-A Inland Empire last season, he swiped 55 bags and batted .276 with 121 hits.
Rada is primarily a contact hitter but can spray the ball to all fields. He debuted in the Dominican Summer League and finished with a .311/.446/.439 line.
One year in Single-A won't have Rada ready to make an Opening Day roster, and his invite should be considered an opportunity to develop his game further. He needs to get stronger and be able to deliver extra base hits. Of his 121 hits, only 13 were doubles, six were triples and two were home runs.
He walks almost as often as he strikes out but does find ways to get on base. While playing for Inland Empire, he scored 94 runs in 115 games.
The big question mark is where Rada will end up to begin the 2024 season. Taylor Blake Ward of The Sporting Tribune thinks Double-A could be the proper development path for him.
Regardless of the outcome, getting the first invite to Big League camp is exciting and allows him to learn from some of the best in the game.
More must-reads: