Angels Sign Seventh-Round Draft Pick to Under-Slot Deal

Oregon State right-handed pitcher Bridger Holmes was selected in the seventh round, 202nd overall, by the Los Angeles Angels on Monday in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.

Holmes signed with the Angels on Thursday for $215,000, less than the projected $286,200 slot value, per Carlos Collazo of Baseball America.

With their 7th-round pick (No. 202 overall), the @Angels select @BeaverBaseball right-handed pitcher Bridger Holmes, No. 192 on the Top 250 Draft Prospects list.

Watch LIVE: https://t.co/tzt8Hes2Rj pic.twitter.com/sT5I14VJHp
— MLB Draft (@MLBDraft) July 15, 2024

Holmes was the fourth Oregon State player selected in this year's draft. The first three were Travis Bazzana (No. 1 overall, Cleveland Guardians), right-handed pitcher Aiden May (No. 70 overall, Miami Marlins), and right-handed pitcher Jacob Kmatz (No. 157 overall, Tampa Bay Rays).

🔥 @BeaverBaseball reliever Bridger Holmes @bridger_holmes comes in at No. 17 on @d1baseball's Top 50 Relievers list.

8 APP, 4 SV, 12 IP, 0.00 ERA, 0.58 WHIP, 19 K, 3 BBpic.twitter.com/V0B4xgXucK https://t.co/DC7nEgZH0e
— PNW College Baseball Report (@PNW_CBR) March 28, 2024

The North Bend, Oregon native had a fantastic season for the Beavers. He transferred from Feather RIver Junior College and was named an All-American by four different outlets. He was also an All-Pac-12 first-team selection.

Future #GoBeavs pitcher Bridger Holmes got especially drifty today.

He finished with 10 K and didn't give up a hit until the 5th. Looks like Oregon State found a gem out of Feather River Community College in Calif.#GetDrifty https://t.co/HlHaWAnMSv pic.twitter.com/zcyMeTnE3y
— Trevor Denton (@trevordenton37) June 24, 2023

The right-hander is a special pitcher. He releases from a sidearm slot and his slider is what put him on OSU's radar. The pitch sits in the high 70s to 80 mph range and generates up to 29 inches of horizontal break and up to 3,000 RPMs, as reported by Oregon State’s Dam Analytics Twitter account.

Beavs get a B1G series win over the fan club on the back of a B1G outing from Jacob Kmatz and a B1G save by Bridger Holmes. On offense, Elijah Hainline had a B1G go-ahead 2 rbi single in a the bottom of the 8th in front of a B1G Goss Stadium crowd. pic.twitter.com/FlOmiXoAP5
— beaverswag (@realbeaverswag) April 28, 2024

The 6-foot-4 reliever made 26 appearances, the most of any Beaver pitcher during the 2024 season. Holmes held a 1.93 ERA out of the bullpen for OSU, striking out 47 batters in 32.2 innings. He finished with a 3-4 record and 13 saves.