Scouting Report

Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 40 | Run: 60 | Arm: 55 | Field: 55 | Overall: 45

Ever since the Angels signed Rada, considered one of the best outfielders in the 2022 international signing class, for $1.85 million in January of that year, they’ve pushed the outfielder aggressively. After a solid Dominican Summer League debut after signing, they skipped him over the Arizona Complex League and sent him to full-season Inland Empire. Then in 2024, he leapfrogged over High-A ball to spend the year with Double-A Rocket City at age 18. In both seasons, Rada started very slowly -- which is understandable -- then made some adjustments and held his own in the later parts of each season.

While there were things to be excited about from Rada’s second half in 2024, hitting .323 in July and posting a .984 OPS in 12 September games to close things out, it’s clear the young outfielder has a lot to work on. Perhaps unfair given that he was the youngest player in Double-A last year, but he’ll need to make more consistent contact for his profile after seeing his strikeout rate tick over 23 percent last year. He also needs to add strength so he can impact the ball more. He’s never going to be a big power guy at 5-foot-8, but if he can be the kind of guy who finds the gaps and uses his speed for extra bases, it might work.

Rada will also have to be sure to maintain his athleticism. He has outstanding instincts in all aspects of the game, especially defensively, and his ability to use his speed to steal bags and stick in center field is his best chance at being an every day guy in the big leagues. Just 19 for nearly all of this season, there’s still plenty of time for him to figure it out.

Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 40 | Run: 60 | Arm: 55 | Field: 55 | Overall: 45

Rada came in at No. 29 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 50 International prospects list ahead of the 2022 signing period and the Venezuelan outfielder signed right when it opened for $1.85 million. Since then, he’s continued to show a feel for the game that belies his youth, posting a .311/.446/.439 line during his debut in the Dominican Summer League, then handling an aggressive push to full-season ball in 2023, where he led the California League in stolen bases (55) and finished sixth in on-base percentage (.395) while playing nearly all of the season at age 17.

The Angels knew that it might take a little time for Rada to get his feet under him when they sent him to Inland Empire, and he had a .531 OPS at the end of April. But then he started to figure things out, hitting .295 with a .411 OBP the rest of the way. He takes very professional at-bats and can use the whole field with his line-drive approach, drawing walks and seldom striking out (just 18.1 percent in 2023). He’s capable of hitting the ball hard, but he has to get stronger -- without sacrificing his athleticism -- to continue his upward trajectory. He’s never going to be a huge power guy, but he should be able to grow into some extra-base impact.

While Rada isn’t a burner, his plus instincts make him a legitimate threat to steal. They also help him play a very good center field and he should be able to stay up the middle for a long time. He’s way ahead of the curve in terms of his age and level, and if he can add some impact as expected, he could turn into a really exciting top-of-the-lineup type of hitter who plays every day in center.

Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 40 | Run: 50 | Arm: 55 | Field: 50 | Overall: 45

One of the best outfielders and youngest players in the 2022 international class, Rada signed with the Angels for $1.85 million out of Venezuela when he was only 16 years old. He didn’t play like he was nearly two years younger than the average hitter in the Dominican Summer League during his debut, finishing with a .311/.446/.439 line and walking as often as he struck out.

Rada came over from the Angels’ Dominican academy and immediately made an impression during instructional league play with his tools and feel for the game. A left-handed hitter who makes a ton of contact -- he struck out in just 12.6 percent of his plate appearances during his debut -- Rada can use all fields with a line-drive approach. He needs to add strength to impact the ball, something that was a focus for him during the offseason, and while he’s going to be hit-over-power, there’s the chance for him to grow into enough extra-base authority.

Just 17 for nearly all of the 2023 season, the age of a typical high school junior in the States, Rada runs well and can steal a base. He also can play a solid center field with excellent instincts and a chance to stay there long term. His ceiling is tied in with what kind of offensive impact he can grow into, but his bat-to-ball skills, speed and instincts give him a shot to be a big league regular patrolling center.

Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 45 | Run: 50 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Overall: 45

The Angels handed out eight bonuses of six figures or more when the 2022 international signing period opened in January, with two outfielders getting north of a million to sign. Rada, ranked No. 29 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 50 international prospects list, topped the list with a $1.85 million bonus.

The left-handed hitting Venezuelan outfielder has the chance to have solid tools across the board. He makes consistent hard contact from the left side of the plate, with more of a line-drive gap approach right now. He’s likely to be hit over power, but there is raw pop that he will learn to tap into as he matures. 

While he’s an average runner, Rada is an excellent athlete with the chance to stay in center field for a very long time. He has good range with solid instincts, already showing the ability to make good reads and run good routes, to go along with good arm strength. He’ll make his pro debut this season and doesn’t turn 17 until the end of August. 

Video scouting report »

Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 55 | Run: 50 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Overall: 50

Rada has a chance to be a special player in center field.

The teenager from Venezuela continues to develop and his skills are improving at a similar pace. For now, the left-handed hitter makes consistent hard contact and is showing flashes of emerging power. Like most prospects his age, he is working on pitch recognition and plate discipline and continues to make progress in both of those areas.

Rada projects to be an above-average defender in center field. He’s extremely athletic and covers a lot of ground, in large part because of his ability to get good jumps and read balls off the bat. He already shows good range in center and is on track to stay at the position.

Rada trains with Carlos Olivo, a member of MLB’s Trainer Partnership Program, at the OL Baseball Academy. He is expected to sign with the Angels.

Awards

Rawlings MiLB Gold Glove

Year	Team
2023

MiLB.com Organization All-Star

Year	Team
2023
2022

DSL Mid-Season All-Star

Year	Team
2022

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	10/28/2025	CF Nelson Rada assigned to Navegantes del Magallanes.
	08/02/2025	CF Nelson Rada assigned to Salt Lake Bees from Rocket City Trash Pandas.
	08/02/2025	Salt Lake Bees activated CF Nelson Rada.
	03/06/2025	activated CF Nelson Rada.
	02/04/2025	Los Angeles Angels invited non-roster CF Nelson Rada to spring training.
	04/03/2024	CF Nelson Rada assigned to Rocket City Trash Pandas.
	03/07/2024	Los Angeles Angels Prospects activated CF Nelson Rada.
	02/09/2024	Los Angeles Angels invited non-roster CF Nelson Rada to spring training.
	04/04/2023	CF Nelson Rada assigned to Inland Empire 66ers from DSL Angels.
	09/28/2022	CF Nelson Rada and assigned to Angels Organization.
	07/23/2022	CF Nelson Rada, and assigned to DSL AL All-Stars.
	04/03/2022	CF Nelson Rada assigned to DSL Angels.
	01/15/2022	Los Angeles Angels signed free agent OF Nelson Rada to a minor league contract.