Halos Today

Angels Moncada and Ramirez Shine in World Baseball Classic

Angels players stood out on the tournament's opening day.
Jeff Joiner|
Sep 19, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Los Angeles Angels third baseman Yoan Moncada (5) breaks his bat in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
Sep 19, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Los Angeles Angels third baseman Yoan Moncada (5) breaks his bat in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images | Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

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Los Angeles Angels

Angels players took center stage on the opening day of the World Baseball Classic. None more so than a 20 year old A ball player with famous bloodlines. From Cuba to Brazil to Mexico, players in the Angels organization had big moments for their national teams. Two in particular had shinging moments.

Yoan Moncada started it off with a huge blast.

Moncada was brought back as the Angels starting third baseman and is representing his homeland of Cuba. In an early game Friday Moncada flashed some nice glovework then stepped to the plate in a 1-0 game and delivered this 2 run shot.

It is nice to see Moncada hitting from the right side again. Last year the switch hitter could only hit lefty due to a core injury. When healthy Moncada was a plus bat for the Angels last year as evidenced by his wRC+ of 117.

And then Lucas Ramirez shocked the baseball world.

Lucas is the 20 year old son of Manny Ramirez. He is playing for Team Brazil because his mother was born and raised in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The younger Ramirez was born in the United States and his dad is from the Dominican Republic, but there's no way the youngster could crack either one of those stacked rosters.

Stepping up to bat against Logan Webb with his team down 2-0, the young Ramirez wasted no time making his presence felt.

Hitting a leadoff home run off one of the best pitchers in the world was incredible and have the baseball twitterverse abuzz. The cameras panned to his dad while the broadcasters touted Lucas baseball bloodline.

But he wasn't done. With the game still somewhat in reach, Ramirez faced lefty Gabe Speier in the 8th inning. In 2025, Speier posted a 2.61 ERA and struck out 82 MLB hitters in 62 innings. He was simply dominant against lefties as well.

Ramirez went yard one again. His second home run of the night, against the tournament favorites, meant Ramirez had the most notable night of all. On a field full of All Stars and future Hall of Famers, the 20 year old Angels farmhand made a name for himself.

Spring training stats need to be taken with a huge grain of salt, but the players in the World Baseball Classic are playing against good to elite competition. Logan Webb is an ace in every sense of the word. Gabe Speier is a left specialist who shuts down left handed hitters. And the atmosphere at the Classic is far more intense than the atmosphere in a Spring Training game.

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Jeff Joiner
JEFF JOINER

I'm a lifelong Angels fan who majored in journalism at CSU, Bakersfield and has previously covered the team at Halos Heaven and Crashing the Pearly Gates. Life gets no better than a day at the ballpark with family and friends.