Angels Keep Setting Themselves up to Lose When Their 24-Year-Old Pitcher Starts
Jack Kochanowicz is having one of the worst seasons of his young career, and the situation that the Los Angeles Angels have put the young right-hander in is affecting him more than most. In his most recent start on August 27th against the Texas Rangers, Kochanowicz gave up 11 runs, on nine hits, three homers, and three walks in just over three innings for the Halos in a 20-3 loss. Immediately after the game, Angels PR stated that the right-hander had been optioned to the Triple-A team, the Salt Lake Bees. That was the third time this season that Kochanowicz had to go back to Salt Lake, and the problem is that it’s not in the best interest of the player, nor the team’s chances for success.
At the end of last season, Kochanowicz finished the second half of the season with a 3.61 ERA, keeping opposing batters to a .262 batting average in 62.1 innings. The numbers gave the Angels' front office confidence to keep him as a member of the starting rotation in 2025. Now deep into the 2025 season, Kochanowicz has struggled mightily, only putting up a few good starts. So far, Kochanowicz has appeared in 23 games for the Angels, with a record of 3-11 with a 6.81 ERA. After back-to-back starts of five-plus earned runs in early August, Kochanowicz was sent down to Salt Lake. During that time with Salt Lake, he had a rough couple of outings, including a six-inning outing where he earned five runs on seven hits before the Angels recalled him to spot start for Tyler Anderson, who was on paternity leave.
Putting Kochanowicz to spot start suddenly puts the Angels in a position to lose. The Angels have arms worth trying within their farm system. Ryan Johnson, Caden Dana, and Sam Aldegheri are all capable options to go to. Sure, both Dana and Aldegheri have seen time in relief roles in past stints with the Angels; they have both been capable of starting on the mound in the minors. Allowing Kochanowicz time to figure things out in Salt Lake may yield benefits for both sides. It's time for Kochanowicz to establish consistency in his development. Then, some major league experience can give the younger players something to look forward to in their respective futures beyond 2025.
Kochanowicz may have very well pitched his last game with Los Angeles this season. It’s up to the Angels' front office to decide whether that will be the case, but with other options available and as rosters expand in September, it shouldn’t be a difficult decision for the Halos. The opportunity for the Angels to showcase their future with players like Johnson, Dana, or Aldegheri is valuable for both parties. This will give some players a less stressful workload and a mental break for others who need to reset.
