Los Angeles Angels Make History With Lineup Chock Full of Homegrown Talent

More than any other team in baseball, the Los Angeles Angels have put faith in their top draft picks.

The Angels' three most recent first rounders – Christian Moore, Nolan Schanuel and Zach Neto – are already everyday members of the lineup. The two first rounders before them – Sam Bachman and Reid Detmers – are both coming out of the bullpen.

Even dating back to Mike Trout, Taylor Ward and Jo Adell, Los Angeles' veteran core all joined the organization in the first round of their respective MLB drafts. All eight took the field Monday against the Boston Red Sox, helping the Angels make history in their 9-5 win.

According to MLB.com's Sarah Langs, that marks the first time that a team has had eight of their own first round draft picks appear in a single game since the Milwaukee Brewers did so on July 3, 1991. The Brewers achieved the feat 10 times between 1990 and 1991, with Paul Molitor, Robin Yount, Gary Sheffield, Dan Plesac, B.J. Surhoff, Dave Sveum, Bill Spiers and Greg Vaughn featuring in each of those contests.

Molitor and Yount made it to Cooperstown after they retired, while Sheffield came up just short when he fell off the ballot in 2024. Plesac and Surhoff combined for four All-Star appearances, as well.