| Year | G | IP | ERA | WHIP | K | BB | W-L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 AA | 23 | 135.2 | 2.52 | 1.07 | 147 | 38 | 9-7 |
| 2024 MLB | 3 | 14.1 | 9.42 | 1.95 | 8 | 9 | 1-2 |
| 2025 MLB | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2026 ST | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
He's 22. He's Already Been Here. The Hard Part Is Staying.
When Caden Dana debuted on September 1, 2024 — at 20 years and 259 days old — he became the youngest pitcher to start a game for the Angels since Francisco Rodriguez in 2002 and the youngest starter since Frank Tanana in 1973. That context matters. This is a franchise that has not developed a homegrown frontline starter in a very long time. Dana is the closest thing to one they have.
The 2024 Double-A season was the statement. A 2.52 ERA in 135 innings, 147 strikeouts, 23 starts, Trash Pandas Pitcher of the Year, Futures Game selection. His ERA led all of MiLB starters with qualifying innings. He was 20 years old doing it against players five and six years his senior. The Angels moved him aggressively and he earned every promotion.
The arsenal is a 93-95 mph four-seamer, a plus slider, a developing curveball, and a changeup that lags behind. That changeup is the whole ballgame for his ceiling. If it becomes a reliable third pitch, Dana profiles as a workhorse number three who can give you six innings. If it stays inconsistent, he's a number four or five who has to work carefully around platoon matchups.
What nobody disputes is the mentality. Dana came into big league camp for the first time in 2024 and impressed everyone. He came back in 2025 as someone who knew he belonged, which is a different and more dangerous version of him. Interim manager Montgomery said before he left: "He doesn't feel like he is striving to get somewhere. He is somewhere." That is the frame for 2026. He's here. Now it's about holding the rotation spot and developing the third pitch.