- Salt Lake Bees return to action this week.
- Young talent, like Christian Moore and rising Angels prospects, are on the roster.
- Notable veterans like Trey Mancini and Jose Siri are also on the team to start the season.
SOUTH JORDAN — It didn't take long for the Salt Lake Bees' top sluggers to turn the team's newest promotional item into a target practice when the team returned to Daybreak this week.
Larry H. Miller Sports and Entertainment officials installed a massive inflatable Swig soda cup in right-center field over the offseason, as part of becoming the Utah Dirty Sodas.
Fans this season can win a free drink if a player hits one during a game.
"We got it a couple of times in (batting practice), and it seems to bring a lot of energy out of the dugout, so I'm excited to see if we can do it in a game," said Bees infielder Niko Kavadas, cracking a grin.
There's no internal prize on who will hit it first, at least not yet, but outfielder Wade Meckler said he wouldn't be surprised if it's Kavadas, who hit 28 homers for the Bees last season.
Doug Davis, the team's new skipper and a fan of a dirty soda with coconut in it, isn't thinking too much about who hits the cup, but he is excited about the young talent on his roster.
Christian Moore, the Angels' top draft pick in 2024, returns to Salt Lake to start his 2026 campaign after turning heads during his first stint with the Bees last year and spending some time in the big leagues. The Los Angeles Angels optioned him and Kyren Paris who were battling for the second base starting job this spring, following the departure of Luis Rengifo.
Outfielder Nelson Rada, the Angels' top position player prospect per MiLB.com, also opens the season with the Bees, after the 20-year-old received a promotion to Salt Lake late last year. Denzer Guzman, the team's eighth-best prospect, broke camp with the Bees, as well.
Sure, some of them have a goal of hitting the inflatable cup, but they all have a goal to win here and also get to the majors. Some of them have already practiced in different fielding positions this week in case the need arises at the major league level, providing Los Angeles with additional roster options throughout this season.
"I think that getting them in multiple positions, being able to play down here and develop the skills that they need to play at the major league level in those positions is super important, and that's kind of what our role is," Davis said, adding that having all this young talent bodes well for the Angels.
Some of the club's top pitching prospects will also begin the season in Salt Lake, led by George Klassen, the Angels' fourth-best pitching prospect and fifth overall prospect.
This year's team also features some notable veterans who could offer the Angels major league experience at a moment's notice. Trey Mancini, who was named American League comeback player of the year in 2021 after overcoming his battle with colon cancer, comes to Salt Lake with seven years of big league experience. He also won a World Series with Houston in 2022.
Jose Siri and Donovan Walton also have several seasons of major league play, while the pitching staff includes the likes of Angel Perdomo, Nick Sandlin and Tayler Saucedo.
"Everyone's here to try and improve in some way, to get a little bit better and make their careers a little bit more major-league ready," Davis said. "I think that's where a lot of these guys are right now."
The Bees will begin this season at Las Vegas for a short series, beginning on Friday. Their home opener will be next week against Sacramento, with the first game as the Dirty Sodas taking place on April 1.
