Caden Dana has experienced a challenging May that has cost him his standing in Baseball America’s Top 100 prospect rankings. Initially kicking off the 2025 season as the No. 86 prospect in MLB, the 21-year-old right-hander saw his name omitted from the latest list released this past Wednesday, marking a notable decline as one of five prospects dropped by noted analyst J.J. Cooper. Dana stands out as the sole representative from the Angels in this regard.
The Angels have called on Dana at the major league level twice this season, but both outings have left much to be desired. On April 4, he faced the Cleveland Guardians, where he struggled through three innings, allowing two earned runs. Over 12 batters, he surrendered four hits—including a home run and a double—and issued one walk, setting a difficult tone for his subsequent appearances.
Fast forward to May 24 when Dana took the mound again, this time against the Miami Marlins. He struck out four batters but walked an equal number, allowed three hits, including a homer, and saw two stolen bases in another three-inning stint. These appearances highlight the ups and downs of Dana’s transition to the big leagues, contrasting sharply with what he was able to accomplish at Triple-A Salt Lake earlier in the season.
In April, Dana gave fans a glimpse of his potential with an impressive 2.49 ERA over four starts, racking up a 2-1 record across 21.2 innings, all while limiting opponents to a .235/.303/.358 batting line. This performance was particularly notable, considering the hitter-friendly environment of the Pacific Coast League. However, things took a downturn in May.
Dana’s performances in his four starts during the month were starkly different; opponents managed a .338/.419/.554 line against him. Statcast data confirms this regression, indicating it wasn’t purely circumstantial, with an expected performance of .335/.420/.540. His outing on May 13 at Sacramento epitomized his struggles: he walked two batters, allowed three hits, and gave up four runs, managing to record only one out.
This decline comes at a time when the Angels had high hopes for Dana, who was selected as their 11th-round pick in the 2022 draft and earned his first call-up last September. As Cooper noted, Dana has heavily relied on his four-seam fastball. However, it’s a pitch that hasn’t been effective in generating swings and misses, leading to concerns over his ability to evolve into a viable mid-rotation starter.
While his fastball averages a commendable 94.3 mph, it has yielded a troubling .313 opponents’ batting average, becoming a weak point for him thus far in 2025. Conversely, his secondary offerings—a slider and curveball—have shown significant promise, suggesting there’s room for improvement if he can utilize these pitches more effectively.
While a shift out of the Top 100 rankings might sound alarm bells, it’s essential to recognize that this development is not entirely surprising for those involved with the Angels. It serves as a reminder that Dana has work ahead of him to solidify his place as a consistent major league contributor.
