Scouting Report

Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 45 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 40 | Overall: 40

In 2023, Kent was the Angels’ big high school pitching over-slot signee, an eighth-round pick from Texas who got close to $1 million. He threw over 100 innings as a teenager in his first full season with Single-A Inland Empire with inconsistent results. He wasn’t able to build off of it as he managed just 35 1/3 total innings in 2025 while battling elbow trouble that resulted in Tommy John surgery in September.

Kent will be able to get back to figuring out how to harness his stuff in 2027. When healthy, he sits in the low 90s with his fastball, topping out at around 96 mph and it tended to be a better offering down in the zone with sink and armside run. He leaned on it too much and he’ll have to work to refine his secondaries to keep hitters off the heater. His mid-80s slider can miss bats and could develop into an out pitch, and he does have some feel for a fading low-80s changeup. There’s a slower, upper-70s curve that he doesn’t use frequently.

While he did miss a fair amount of bats in 2024, the 6-foot-4 Kent will have to find the zone more consistently, with a 4.9 BB/9 rate so far in his career. The first order of business is to get him back healthy in 2027, when he’ll pitch at age 22.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 45 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 45 | Overall: 45

As college-heavy as the Angels' Drafts have been over the last several years, they haven’t shied away from rolling the dice on an over-slot high school pitching signing. In 2019, it was third-rounder Jack Kochanowicz, who got nearly twice over slot. In 2021, they got Mason Albright for seven figures in Round 12. It was Caden Dana’s turn in 2022 ($1.5 million) and the following year came Kent, the Texas prepster who signed for nearly $1 million as an eighth-rounder. His first full season of pro ball was up-and-down, though he topped 100 innings pitched for Single-A Inland Empire as a teenager.

During his first full season, Kent largely used a three-pitch mix to attack California League hitters. He can run his fastball up to 95-96 mph, sitting a little below that, and it might be at its best when he sinks it with decent downhill plane and armside run. He relies on it too much, throwing it nearly 70 percent of the time a year ago, so he’ll have to start throwing his slider and changeup more. The mid-80s slider is inconsistent, but it misses bats and has the best chance to become a true out pitch. He has some feel for his low-80s changeup with fade, and he still has an upper-70s curve but didn’t go to it often.

In addition to varying his pitch mix, Kent needs to work on his overall command after walking 4.9 per nine a year ago. There’s a starting pitching kit in here with some upside as he pitches all of 2025 at age 20.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 45 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 45 | Overall: 45

From the same team that brought you Caden Dana in 2022, here’s another 6-foot-4 high-school right-hander with intriguing stuff to go along with a solid feel for his pitches. While Dana hailed from New Jersey, Kent’s home is in Texas and some scouts thought he could be a top two-round talent after a very strong summer showcase circuit. He was more inconsistent during his senior season leading up to the 2023 Draft and it looked like perhaps he’d end up heading to Arkansas, but the Angels swooped in the eighth round and gave him almost $1 million to sign, much like they did with Dana the year prior in Round 11.

Kent has the chance to have a four-pitch mix if it all comes together. He didn’t throw much with the Angels after signing, but he did showcase a fastball sitting 93 mph and touching 96 and has shown good downhill plane and armside run in the past. He’ll throw his slider up to 84-85 mph now and that could evolve into an out pitch with good two-plane break. He didn’t throw his upper-70s curve during his brief pro debut, but it can have bigger shape when he throws it right. There’s some feel for a fading low-80s changeup that he didn’t need in high school.

With good arm action and a tendency to land his offerings for strikes, Kent has a lot to work with. As he adds strength to his frame, he should be able to hold his velocity more consistently, something that eluded him during his senior year. He should also be able to repeat his delivery with elevated consistency, giving him the chance to become a mid-rotation type starter.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 50 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 45

After his impressive showcase circuit that included a standout performance at the Area Code Games, several scouts believed Kent was poised to take another step forward this spring. With his strong 6-foot-4 frame and the potential for a quality four-pitch mix, he looked like a top-two-rounds talent. But his stuff fluctuated rather than getting better, clouding his Draft stock. The Angels have been college-heavy in recent Drafts but often will go after one or two high school players and go over slot to get them. They did just that with Kent, giving him nearly $1 million in the eighth round to sign him away from his commitment to Arkansas.

Kent's fastball typically ranged from 91-94 mph and peaked at 96 with downhill plane and armside run last summer, but he only flashed that kind of velocity as a senior and hasn't maintained it for more than an inning or two. His most reliable secondary pitch is an 81-84 mph slider with two-plane break and he also sports an upper-70s curveball with bigger shape, though both lacked consistency in 2023. He hasn't had much need or feel for a changeup yet, but his low-80s cambio has nice fade at times.  

Like most prep pitchers, Kent is a work in progress. Gaining more strength would add power to his arsenal and help him repeat his delivery more consistently, though his arm works well and he already does a decent job of throwing strikes. He has the ingredients to become a mid-rotation starter but will need time to develop.

Video scouting report »

Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 50 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 45

After a impressive showcase circuit run that included a standout performance at the Area Code Games, several scouts believed Kent was poised to take another step forward this spring. With his strong 6-foot-4 frame and the potential for a quality four-pitch mix, he looked like a top-two-rounds talent. But his stuff has fluctuated rather than getting better, so it's unclear if he'll get picked early enough to divert him from attending Arkansas. 

Kent's fastball typically ranged from 91-94 mph and peaked at 96 with downhill plane and armside run last summer, but he has only flashed that kind of velocity as a senior and hasn't maintained it for more than an inning or two when he has. His most reliable secondary pitch is an 81-84 mph slider with two-plane break and he also owns an upper-70s curveball with bigger shape, though both have lacked consistency in 2023. He hasn't had much need or feel for a changeup yet, but his low-80s cambio has nice fade at times.  

Like most prep pitchers, Kent is a work in progress. Gaining more strength would add power to his arsenal and help him repeat his delivery more consistently, though his arm works well and he already does a decent job of throwing strikes. He has the ingredients to become a mid-rotation starter but will need time to develop. 

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	04/01/2026	Rancho Cucamonga Quakes placed RHP Barrett Kent on the full-season injured list.
	12/15/2025	Rancho Cucamonga Quakes activated RHP Barrett Kent.
	09/25/2025	Inland Empire 66ers activated RHP Barrett Kent from the 7-day injured list.
	09/07/2025	Inland Empire 66ers placed RHP Barrett Kent on the 7-day injured list.
	07/10/2025	Inland Empire 66ers activated RHP Barrett Kent from the 60-day injured list.
	06/19/2025	Inland Empire 66ers sent RHP Barrett Kent on a rehab assignment to ACL Angels.
	03/31/2025	Inland Empire 66ers placed RHP Barrett Kent on the 60-day injured list.
	03/07/2024	Los Angeles Angels Prospects activated RHP Barrett Kent.
	09/09/2023	RHP Barrett Kent assigned to Inland Empire 66ers from ACL Angels.
	08/10/2023	RHP Barrett Kent assigned to Angels Organization.
	08/10/2023	RHP Barrett Kent assigned to Angels Organization.
	08/10/2023	ACL Angels activated RHP Barrett Kent.
	07/17/2023	Los Angeles Angels signed RHP Barrett Kent.
	06/14/2023	RHP Barrett Kent assigned to College Workout.
	08/24/2022	RHP Barrett Kent assigned to USA Baseball 18U National Team.
	07/12/2022	RHP Barrett Kent assigned to High School Workout.
	07/12/2022	High School Workout activated RHP Barrett Kent.
	07/12/2022	High School Workout activated RHP Barrett Kent.