The Los Angeles Angels hold the 12th overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft and are expected to select a college player, likely a power hitter from the SEC. The team's recent draft history suggests a preference for college talent over high school prospects.
Angels projected to take elite SEC power hitter in latest mock draft originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Los Angeles Angels were awarded the 12th overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft. While they just missed out on a top-ten pick, there will be plenty of talent to choose from when they are on the clock.
There is a good mix of high school and college talent on the board. However, the Halos have enjoyed taking college talent, with their last high school pick being Jo Adell back in 2017.
So, it could be safe to assume that the front office is leaning toward taking a college athlete. Now the question is, pitcher or hitter?
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There have been a few mock drafts that have already come out, but with the baseball season in full swing, some prospects are rising while others are dropping.
Mississippi State third baseman Ace Reese is rising. He has hit well this spring, and Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter believes he could be a great match for the Angels.
"Reese is a bat-first prospect, but an awfully good one with some of the best raw power in the 2026 class and enough hit tool to make the most of it. The 6'4", 220-pound slugger posted a 1.140 OPS with 21 home runs last season after transferring from Houston, and he is swinging it well once again this spring with a .312/.404/.630 line and 10 long balls in 36 games."
Reese has a sweet swing from the left side and has no problem launching the ball over the fence to all parts of the field. The big question is whether or not the slugger can handle third base, especially at the next level.
Despite that, he has a big offensive ceiling and could be the best hitter in this draft class.
Several elite SEC power hitters are projected to be available, but specific names have not been disclosed in the latest mock draft.
The 12th overall pick allows the Angels to select from a strong pool of talent, particularly favoring college players, which aligns with their recent drafting strategy.
The last high school player the Angels selected was Jo Adell in 2017, indicating a shift towards college talent in their recent drafts.
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