Family, faith, & friendship help guide Los Angeles Angels prospect Caden Dana
Jun 3, 2026, 1:16 PM | Updated: 6:39 pm
Salt Lake Bees pitcher Caden Dana delivers a pitch during a game at The Ballpark at America First Square on April 18, 2026. (Photo courtesy Salt Lake Bees Photography)
(Photo courtesy Salt Lake Bees Photography)
SOUTH JORDAN, Utah – Former Los Angeles Angels top prospect Caden Dana developed his competitive streak the old-fashioned way.
With three older siblings already excelling in sports, Dana grew up chasing everything older brothers Cullen and Casey, and older sister Kyleigh, were doing. The youngest in a high-achieving family, he learned early to compete.
“Growing up, I was trying to one-up my brothers in anything we did,” Dana remembered. “Whether it’s football, basketball, baseball. My competitive drive comes from them.”
That edge showed up in more than just baseball. The debate over the best athlete in the Dana family remains a lively one, with even their father making his case.
“My dad will start sending articles from like 1980 with his high school stats,” Dana said with a laugh. After some hesitation, Caden admitted Kyleigh is probably the best athlete in the family.
Caden Dana set the tone on the mound last night, holding the Rainiers without a hit or run in his three innings of work…tune in to find out what was key to his success. pic.twitter.com/EwTCvgw54w
— Sammy Miller (@sidelinesammy) May 24, 2026
Still, baseball always felt like the natural path.
Cullen, six years Caden’s senior and also a right-handed pitcher, gave him an early blueprint. Drafted by the San Diego Padres in 2018, Cullen became both an example and a resource.
“It probably started in Little League, just talking to him about pitching, he’d always give me tips,” Dana said. “I still talk to him to this day after all my outings.”
While Cullen’s brief professional journey wound down, Caden was emerging as a flame-throwing standout at New Jersey’s Don Bosco Prep. His rise ended with a state championship — and set up a day the Dana family will never forget.
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Angels select Dana brothers in the 2022 MLB Draft
Heading into the 2022 MLB Draft, Caden was already a prominent prospect after a standout high school career. Casey, meanwhile, had just completed an accomplished collegiate run at Seton Hall and UConn, where he earned 2021 & 2022 All-Big East Second Team honors.
The Angels selected Caden in the 11th round, then made the family celebration even bigger by taking Casey in the 16th.
“One of the best days of my life for me and my brother and my family,” Caden said. “It was a blessing.”
Dana’s Day🔥
Caden Dana collects a career-high 13 strikeouts in a dominant performance, marking the second-most strikeouts in franchise history! pic.twitter.com/323stJ7UV2
— Salt Lake Bees (@SaltLakeBees) August 23, 2025
Because the brothers were three years apart, they had never played together competitively while growing up. That made their first professional experience on the same field even more meaningful.
In 2023, Caden’s first High-A start came with Casey in the lineup at third base — a moment the family still treasures.
“That was one of my top moments for sure,” Caden said.
Casey’s career ended in 2024, but Caden continues to carry the family name forward.
How faith and an uncommon maturity keep Caden Dana grounded
Leaving home at 18 to play professional baseball is difficult for anyone. In Dana’s case, though, those around him describe a player whose maturity has stood out almost immediately.
“He’s moving around the country, living on his own as a young kid and responsible for things that most 18, 19, 20-year-olds aren’t responsible for,” Salt Lake Bees pitching coach Shane Loux said. “He’s so mature for his age.”
That maturity shows up most clearly in how Dana prepares.
Whether he is on the mound, in a side session, or watching from the dugout, Dana stays engaged. He studies what he sees, observes batter tendencies, and builds a game plan before his start day arrives.
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“He is always sitting here watching the guys that are throwing throughout the week,” Bees catcher Zach Humphreys said. “He’s taking notes on his little notepad, and he’s making a game plan of what he sees. He’s ready for a start before his start day is even here.”
Dana sees that discipline as part of what it means to be a professional.
“Being a professional, it’s knowing the difference between when to act like a kid and when to act like a professional,” Dana said when asked how his focused nature developed. “Discipline in day-to-day life, that makes you mature.”
His growth has also been reinforced by the people around him. Dana points to roommate and MLB veteran Shaun Anderson as someone whose faith has helped strengthen their relationship on and off the field.
Brotherhoods are made in baseball, especially between Shaun Anderson and Caden Dana who are built from the same mold. Two of the most disciplined and hard working athletes who created this bond back in Spring Training. pic.twitter.com/7NzAGUk9vi
— Salt Lake Bees (@SaltLakeBees) September 4, 2025
“We hold each other accountable,” Dana said. “He’s always opening up the scriptures every morning and reading. It helps to have guys around that motivate you.”
“The openness he has for learning kind of drew me to him,” Anderson said of when they first met in spring 2025. “That’s kind of the joy of the relationship we’ve built together, helping each other.”
Final start of 2025 gives Caden Dana a boost before the offseason
At 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds, Dana looks the part on the mound.
“He’s built like Thor,” Humphreys joked. “He’s a power pitcher. He’s got power stuff. He’s got the stuff to overpower any hitter.”
The physical tools have never been in question. What may ultimately determine Dana’s ceiling, though, is the continued growth of his mental approach.
That lesson crystallized in his final appearance of 2025.
After surrendering three home runs and falling behind 5-0 against the Houston Astros, Dana realized he had drifted away from his plan.
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Caden Dana set the tone on the mound last night, holding the Rainiers without a hit or run in his three innings of work…tune in to find out what was key to his success. pic.twitter.com/EwTCvgw54w
— Sammy Miller (@sidelinesammy) May 24, 2026
“There came a point where I felt like I was second-guessing myself, and I didn’t have enough conviction at the plate,” the 22-year-old said.
Making the eighth MLB start of his career, Dana knew what he wanted to throw. The challenge was trusting it — and being comfortable enough to overrule a veteran catcher when necessary.
“At the end of the day, you’re in control,” Dana said. “You’re the man with the ball. You’ve got to do what’s best for you.”
He didn’t allow another run and completed seven innings for the first time in his big league career.
“That final line didn’t reflect how well you pitched today,” veteran Angels catcher Logan O’Hoppe told him after the game.
Dana has yet to appear in an MLB game in 2026 and continues refining that mindset in Triple-A. For a pitcher with his arm talent, the next step may come down to fully trusting what is already there.
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Brian Preece is a sports.ksl.com insider covering Locals in MLB and the Salt Lake Bees. Follow Brian’s Bees and Beehive baseball here. Find Brian on X, Instagram, and BlueSky at @bpreece24.
