Caden Dana

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #3 prospect in 2024
  BA Grade: 50/High
  
  Track Record: Dana was an advanced New Jersey prep with physicality when the Angels drafted him in the 11th round in 2022. They signed him for a post-10th round record $1,497,500 bonus. They also drafted older brother Casey in the 16th round. Caden performed well in his pro debut in the Arizona Complex League with one late-season start in Low-A, where he returned to start 2023. He earned a late-April promotion to High-A Tri-City, where he performed modestly as the youngest pitcher in the northwest League before the Angels shut him down in mid July because of workload limitations and arm fatigue.
  
  Scouting Report: Dana is a physical, 6-foot-4 righthander who has taken a step forward toward his midrotation upside. With an uncanny ability to backspin his fastball, he added carry to its natural high spin while sitting 93-95 mph and touching 97. It’s a swing-and-miss weapon for Dana, who improved his arm strength to hold velocity through outings. He added a mid-80s slider in pro ball that is now his best offspeed offering with good sweep and depth that hitters from both sides of the plate swung through. He uses his curveball against lefthanders in lieu of his changeup. It is a high-spin breaker that he sometimes struggles to feel. His fading changeup was believed to be his best future offspeed offering, though he barely used it in 2023. Dana has advanced ability to regain feel for his pitches when his command lapses. An easy operator on the mound, he works in and out of the zone well with a build and physicality for long-term rotation projection.
  
  The Future: Dana has the ingredients to be an innings-eating no. 4 starter. He needs to continue building his workload, adding touch to his repertoire and getting comfortable in different situations.
  
  Scouting Grades Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 50 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 50
• 
  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #13 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme
  
  Track Record: Dana stood out on the summer showcase circuit for his size and arm strength and was drafted by the Angels in the 11th round of the 2022 draft. He signed for $1,497,500--a record for a player selected after the 10th round--to forgo a Kentucky commitment. Dana pitched well in the Arizona Complex League in his pro debut, making three starts and allowing his only run in a do-or-die elimination game for a playoff berth. He earned a promotion to Low-A Inland Empire for his final start of the season.
  
  Scouting Report: Dana has a strong, 6-foot-4 frame and power stuff. He throws his high-spin fastball at 91-95 mph and holds his velocity and command deep into starts. His best secondary is a high-spin, downer curveball in the mid-70s with a high arch and late vertical drop. The pitch flashes plus potential, but he'll need to locate it and stay on top of it better to make it more consistent. Dana rounds out his arsenal with a firm, mid-80's changeup with late fade that is fringy but improving and a developing slider that is below-average. Dana has a clean and repeatable delivery and should remain a starter, but his control is inconsistent.
  
  The Future: Dana needs to refine his general command and arsenal, but already has polish and the present frame of a potential back-of-the-rotation starter. He'll open back at Inland Empire in 2023.
  
  Scouting Grades Fastball: 50. Curveball: 55. Slider: 40. Changeup: 45. Control: 45

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #76 prospect in 2022 draft
  School: Don Bosco Prep HS, Ramsey, N.J. Committed/Drafted: Kentucky
  Age At Draft: 18.6
  BA Grade: 50/Extreme
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 60 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 45 | Cutter: | Control: 50
  Dana has a strong, physical build already at 6-foot-4, 215 pounds, pitching from an upright delivery with a fastball that sits at 92-95 mph and has hit 96. It’s a high-spin fastball, and Dana’s innate feel for spin shows up on both of his breaking pitches as well. He throws a 77-80 mph curveball that draws plus grades at times. It’s a hard, big-breaking curve with top-to-bottom action and lots of depth. There are times where it pops up out of his hand and it becomes easier for hitters to pick up, but it has tight rotation and projects as an out pitch. Dana has dropped his arm slot slightly this year to be less over the top and also introduced a slider into his mix. It’s typically in the 83-87 mph range, with feel for spin but not as much polish as his curve. Dana shows feel for generating fading action at times on his 84-87 mph changeup, but it’s not consistent and a pitch he will need to bring along the most. Dana has pitched well at times but given some scouts pause because he has been more hittable at other times this spring. A team with upper-level decision-makers who came in to see him on the right day could draft him in the top two rounds.

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme
  
  Track Record: Dana stood out on the summer showcase circuit for his size and arm strength and was drafted by the Angels in the 11th round of the 2022 draft. He signed for $1,497,500--a record for a player selected after the 10th round--to forgo a Kentucky commitment. Dana pitched well in the Arizona Complex League in his pro debut, making three starts and allowing his only run in a do-or-die elimination game for a playoff berth. He earned a promotion to Low-A Inland Empire for his final start of the season.
  
  Scouting Report: Dana has a strong, 6-foot-4 frame and power stuff. He throws his high-spin fastball at 91-95 mph and holds his velocity and command deep into starts. His best secondary is a high-spin, downer curveball in the mid-70s with a high arch and late vertical drop. The pitch flashes plus potential, but he'll need to locate it and stay on top of it better to make it more consistent. Dana rounds out his arsenal with a firm, mid-80's changeup with late fade that is fringy but improving and a developing slider that is below-average. Dana has a clean and repeatable delivery and should remain a starter, but his control is inconsistent.
  
  The Future: Dana needs to refine his general command and arsenal, but already has polish and the present frame of a potential back-of-the-rotation starter. He'll open back at Inland Empire in 2023.
  
  Scouting Grades Fastball: 50. Curveball: 55. Slider: 40. Changeup: 45. Control: 45
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme
  
  Track Record: Dana stood out on the summer showcase circuit for his size and arm strength and was drafted by the Angels in the 11th round of the 2022 draft. He signed for $1,497,500--a record for a player selected after the 10th round--to forgo a Kentucky commitment. Dana pitched well in the Arizona Complex League in his pro debut, making three starts and allowing his only run in a do-or-die elimination game for a playoff berth. He earned a promotion to Low-A Inland Empire for his final start of the season.
  
  Scouting Report: Dana has a strong, 6-foot-4 frame and power stuff. He throws his high-spin fastball at 91-95 mph and holds his velocity and command deep into starts. His best secondary is a high-spin, downer curveball in the mid-70s with a high arch and late vertical drop. The pitch flashes plus potential, but he'll need to locate it and stay on top of it better to make it more consistent. Dana rounds out his arsenal with a firm, mid-80's changeup with late fade that is fringy but improving and a developing slider that is below-average. Dana has a clean and repeatable delivery and should remain a starter, but his control is inconsistent.
  
  The Future: Dana needs to refine his general command and arsenal, but already has polish and the present frame of a potential back-of-the-rotation starter. He'll open back at Inland Empire in 2023.
  
  Scouting Grades Fastball: 50. Curveball: 55. Slider: 40. Changeup: 45. Control: 45