Slow Burn, Big Payoff: The Angels’ Path for Reid Detmers
January 19, 2025 - Written by Jas Singh
Reid Detmers is making his return to the rotation in 2026!
— Thomas Nestico (@TJStats) December 31, 2025
He flashed vastly improved command last season which led him to an elite 20.7 K-BB%. His fastball traits are strong and his slider is a whiff machine. I am excited to see how he looks this Spring!pic.twitter.com/wN9NT8Eld9
Any diehard Angels fan will tell you how much of a fan favorite Reid Detmers is. Detmers has had highs and lows over the previous three years, including a no-hitter and a fantastic bullpen arm, as well as being demoted down to Triple A after losing his starting rotation spot. Now heading into spring training, questions about this rotation still loom, even after the addition of Grayson Rodriguez. The three-headed monster of José Soriano, Yusei Kikuchi, and Rodriguez will be something the team will continue to lean on; however, the four and five spots remain up for grabs. With the retirement of Kyle Hendricks and the departure of Tyler Anderson, the expectation is the emergence of Caden Dana to fill one hole and Reid Detmers to fill the other. In my eyes, Detmers should be the guy to command the fourth spot; however, it should be a slow, deliberate transition back.
Anyone around the Angels and fans who watch this team closely know it's definitely not a talent problem with Detmers. The former first-round pick has already demonstrated moments of dominance at the major league level, including a no-hitter in 2022 and periods when his slider and curveball rendered him nearly unhittable. His ability to miss bats is scary, and on paper his stuff profiles as a top of the rotation like arm. But the last two seasons have clearly exposed a pattern of inconsistency, mechanical drift, and command issues that suggest he needs refinement, not pressure.
When Detmers is performing at his peak, he appears to be among the top pitchers in the division. His breaking ball is known to generate ugly swings, while his fastball can reach plus 14 inches of vertical movement compared to the MLB average. However, when Detmers falls off his game, the problems tend to snowball with elevated pitch counts, loss of command, too many free passes, and innings that spiral out of control. An underrated stat I noticed as well is that Detmers has clear struggles in the first inning with an ERA that is significantly higher than his overall ERA. Talent is clearly not the issue, but the true foundation of his game needs to be found in timing, rhythm, and sustained mechanics. Detmers is still considered a young arm, and he is dealing with something many young arms experience. The difference between a starter with loads of potential versus a reliable one is the ability to repeat mechanics, trust sequencing, and make in-game adjustments. This habit is only built when given structured situations. Instead of being thrown back into high-pressure situations and hoping for success, low-pressure refinement is essential.
The organization should have a clear understanding of how to manage Detmers' trajectory this season. It should start with him continuing to carve a role in the bullpen, showing success there, and then transition into the starter role with no pressure. To keep the pressure off of a guy who feeds off of confidence, the team needs to invest in another high-quality starter if Detmers needs more time in the bullpen. Rushing Detmers back into the rotation before he's ready runs the danger of more than simply poor performances; it also runs the risk of undermining his self-esteem and impeding his development. Pitching requires both mental and physical skills. Every fifth day, a struggling young arm may start to push, overthrow, and quit the procedure in an attempt to "prove it." The reality is the organization is not in a position where they need to force wins at the expense of long-term continuity. Instead, the team needs to embrace setting themselves up for future winning with a guy like Reid. He is precisely what this organization cannot fail on. We should not fumble or take lightly a young pitcher with control and the potential to anchor the rotation. Giving Detmers the ability to refine mechanics, become consistent, and earn his way back to the rotation sends a message to him and the entire system. Performance matters. Process matters. Growth matters.
The goal should be clear: it is not only to have Detmers return to the rotation but also to ensure he remains there for an extended period while solidifying his consistency and confidence. An approach that consists of data-informed innings limits, bullpen transitions, and scheduled workload increases protects both his future and the team’s investment. With a slower, data-driven approach, the Angels can bring out the best from him with his elite spin rates, breaking ball effectiveness, and strikeout capability.
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