The Angels Draft Day 1 Recap
July 11, 2026 - Written by Alex Sukyas
Highschooler Jared Grindlinger, #Angels 12th overall pick, taking some BP.
— 2002WSChamps (@2thousandand2WS) July 11, 2026
They’ve announced they’ve signed him as an OF but is declared as a two-way player pitching from the left side. pic.twitter.com/6EEzqc26er
The Angels' Day 1 has officially been completed, with the Angels making four picks across the first four rounds.
Before the draft, Mozeliak stated that he would leave most of the draft responsibility to scouting director Tim McIlvane and his staff. Additionally, Mozeliak stated that he intends to take the best available player at each slot, regardless of the timeline required to reach the majors.
This approach to the draft is viewed as highly different from former Angels GM Perry Minasian, who had a history of drafting players based on slot value and shorter timelines to the MLB, as seen with selections such as Zach Neto, Tyler Bremner, and Nolan Schanuel.
With all of that in mind, let's dive into today's draft picks and what they mean for the franchise.
Round 1, Pick No. 12: OF/LHP Jared Grindlinger, Huntington Beach HS (CA)
Writer's Grade: A
Grindlinger, 17, the younger brother of Tennessee freshman catcher Trent Grindlinger, reclassified from the 2027 class to the 2026 class back in February. He presents enormous upside and potential as both a pitcher and an outfielder.
Let's start with his pitching.
Grindlinger's arsenal consists of a fastball that has been clocked as high as 95 mph, though he typically sits around 90-93 mph, along with an 80-82 mph kick changeup and two variations of a slider. While his arsenal may appear ordinary compared to some of the other pitchers in this year's draft class, it offers plenty of room for development and projection.
As for his abilities as an outfielder, Grindlinger shows solid defensive skills in left field and possesses a contact-oriented swing with the potential to develop additional power as he matures.
While Grindlinger played left field in high school, Jeff Fletcher of the OC Register reported that McIlvane would like him to eventually transition to center field for the Halos.
Overall, Grindlinger presents significant upside but will likely require a longer developmental timeline before reaching the MLB. He is also viewed as highly likely to sign with the Angels, having grown up as an Angels fan.
As for my grade, I gave him an A because I like the flexibility the Angels have with his development path. He will likely eventually commit to either pitching or hitting full-time, but there is always the possibility that a two-way role could work out for him at the major league level.
Round 2, Pick No. 45: 2B Jarren Advincula, Georgia Tech (GA)
Writer's Grade: A-
Advincula, 21, has established himself as one of the best contact hitters in this draft class, as well as one of the best hitters in all of college baseball this past season.
He began his collegiate career at Cal, where he hit .334 over two seasons while posting an impressive 9% strikeout rate. He then transferred to Georgia Tech, where he led all of NCAA Division I in hits and finished second nationally in batting average with a .434 mark during his lone season with the Yellow Jackets.
These numbers are largely the result of his elite ability to read defenses and consistently find gaps in the field.
The two primary concerns with Advincula are a tendency to chase pitches outside the strike zone and a lack of power production. However, both areas appear highly fixable through professional development.
In addition to his exceptional contact skills, he provides solid defense at second base, though his below-average arm strength likely limits his ability to move elsewhere on the infield.
Overall, Advincula offers plenty of upside along with a realistic chance to reach the majors relatively quickly. While he still needs to improve his power and chase rate, he remains an elite contact hitter with defensive value at second base.
Round 3, Pick No. 81: 3B Gavin Grahovac, Texas A&M (TX)
Writer's Grade: A+
Grahovac, 21, was initially projected as a late first-round or early second-round selection but ultimately fell all the way to pick No. 81 in the third round.
While that kind of slide may appear concerning at first glance, there is a clear explanation.
Grahovac suffered a left shoulder injury that sidelined him for much of the 2025 season, but he bounced back quickly in 2026, hitting .339 with 22 home runs in 57 games for the Aggies.
Grahovac possesses some of the best bat speed and raw power in this draft class, with the potential to eventually produce 30-home run seasons in the majors.
However, he still has swing-and-miss and chase concerns. He posted a 16% strikeout rate during the 2026 season and carried a 29% strikeout rate across his first two collegiate seasons.
Defensively, he played third base and the outfield as a freshman and sophomore before moving to first base during his junior season. At third base, he displayed good arm strength but struggled with consistency and reliability at the position.
Overall, this is an outstanding selection.
Grahovac still possesses late first-round talent, and the Angels were able to land him in the third round. If his development goes well, he has the potential to become a very productive power hitter at the major league level.
Round 4, Pick No. 109: OF Rylan Lujo, Georgia (GA)
Writer's Grade: B
Lujo, 21, was one of the better hitters in the SEC during the 2026 season.
He rarely swings at pitches outside of the strike zone, makes plenty of contact, and possesses above-average speed. However, he offers below-average power and does not draw many walks.
Lujo's approach is highly aggressive. If a pitch is in the strike zone, he is likely to swing at it. Combined with his excellent contact skills, that aggressiveness could allow him to become a high batting average hitter at the major league level.
The biggest concern surrounding Lujo is his defense.
Originally an infielder at Dayton, Lujo excelled at getting to balls quickly, but his fringy arm strength prevented him from remaining on the infield after transferring to Georgia and led to a move to center field.
Even in the outfield, his defense remains somewhat raw, and evaluators generally view him as having the potential to become a solid defender at best.
Despite those concerns, this is still a good pick.
Lujo will require development in the minors, but he has the potential to reach the majors, whether as a starting outfielder or in a smaller role that utilizes his speed and contact ability off the bench.
Overall Thoughts
Overall, the first day of the 2026 MLB Draft can be viewed as a major success for the Angels.
Every player selected possesses legitimate major league upside, and Mozeliak's best-available-player approach has laid the groundwork for a more sustainable, high-upside pipeline.
By prioritizing talent acquisition over immediate timelines, the front office has added significant potential to the Angels' farm system.
Disclaimer : (1) Links of players are property of MLB, MiLB, and Baseball Reference. (2) InsideHalos is a fan-made site not affiliated with Angels Baseball.
