Angels No. 2 prospect Nelson Rada selected to 2026 All-Star Futures Game
Jul 2, 2026, 2:00 PM
Los Angeles Angels No. 2 prospect Nelson Rada will participate in the 2026 All-Star Futures Game. (Photo courtesy Salt Lake Bees)
(Photo courtesy Salt Lake Bees)
SOUTH JORDAN, Utah – Los Angeles Angels’ outfield prospect Nelson Rada has been selected for the 2026 All-Star Futures Game.
Rada is one of 50 players from American and National League teams to receive the honor.
The 20-year-old is considered the Angels’ No. 2 prospect behind Futures Game teammate Tyler Bremner.
RELATED: Angels recall former 1st round pick Christian Moore from Bees
The future is NOW
Nelson Rada is headed to the 2026 All-Star Futures Game
Read more: https://t.co/d78P5hrk3v pic.twitter.com/N90LY0q8pM
— Salt Lake Bees (@SaltLakeBees) July 1, 2026
Rada is hitting .280 with two homers and 26 RBI. The 5’9″, 185-pound speedster has added 26 stolen bases.
He is the first Bees player selected to the Futures Game since LHP Nate Smith in 2016. Albuquerque’s Charlie Condon (Colorado Rockies) is the only other Pacific Coast League player invited to the event.
The 2026 All-Star Futures Game will be played at Citizens Bank Ballpark in Philadelphia, PA, on Sunday, July 12. First pitch is at 10 a.m. MT.
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Nelson Rada: The Angels’ centerfielder of the future
Widely regarded as the organization’s top position-player prospect, Nelson Rada is a 20-year-old Venezuelan-born center fielder and currently the No. 2 prospect in the Los Angeles Angels organization, per MLB Pipeline.
Rada signed as a 16-year-old international free agent in January 2022 for $1.85 million, ranking as the 29th-best prospect in that international class. His trajectory through the Angels’ system has been aggressive:
- 2022 (DSL): Hit .311 in 50 games in his pro debut.
- 2023 (Single-A Inland Empire): Slashed .276/.395/.346 with 55 stolen bases and 73 walks, showcasing an advanced approach rare for a teenager.
- 2024 (Double-A Rocket City): Played 123 games and continued refining his game.
- 2025 (Double-A → Triple-A Salt Lake): Slashed a combined .292/.398/.360 with 54 stolen bases across 135 games, reaching Triple-A at just 19 years old.
- 2026 (Triple-A Salt Lake): Through 71 games this season, he’s hitting .284 with 26 stolen bases and tapping into more gap-to-gap power, including an eye-catching inside-the-park home run on April 16.
Nelson Rada with an INSIDE-THE-PARK home run 👀
The @AngelsPlayerDev No. 4 prospect flashes his plus speed for the Triple-A @SaltLakeBees.
(🎥@SaltLakeBees) pic.twitter.com/YGYAsC9xYq
— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) April 16, 2026
Since debuting with Salt Lake, he leads the PCL with 46 stolen bases and 93 runs scored.
Rada is the archetype of a prototypical leadoff hitter — a player type that has become increasingly rare.
He shows elite plate discipline with a career 12.7% walk rate and 18.8% strikeout rate, both well above average.
At just 20 years old and knocking on the door of the majors, Rada looks like a player Bees fans in Salt Lake will see called up sooner rather than later.
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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.
