Derick Powell Blasts His Way to Triple-A Salt Lake
May 5, 2025
Salt Lake City, Utah — The Salt Lake Bees are getting an injection of elite power, and his name is Derick Powell.
The Los Angeles Angels’ top first base prospect has been promoted to Triple-A after a jaw-dropping 27-game stretch with the Rocket City Trash Pandas. Powell’s numbers were beyond video-game level: he hit .597 with 27 home runs and 77 RBIs over just 124 at-bats, pairing that with a 2.056 OPS and a slugging percentage north of 1.460.
“We’ve never seen anything quite like this,” said Trash Pandas skipper Andy Schatzley. “Every time he came to the plate, you felt like something special could happen — and most of the time, it did.”
Powell also collected 26 doubles, 74 hits, and 34 runs scored in that torrid stretch, all while striking out just 10 times and not drawing a single walk — a testament to his aggressive approach and uncanny ability to square up nearly everything thrown his way.
A former first-round pick out of TCU, Powell entered the season ranked as one of the nation's top prospects and quickly worked his way up to being named the #2 overall prospect in baseball, the #1 prospect in the Angels' system, and the top-rated first base prospect in the game. His massive frame, explosive bat speed, and uncanny barrel control have translated at every level, but his start to 2025 has been nothing short of historic.
Powell will now join the Salt Lake Bees, where he’s expected to debut in their game on Tuesday against the Sugar Land Space Cowboys. The move puts him just one step away from The Show.
“I’m just trying to stay locked in and do what I love,” Powell said. “I know Triple-A brings a new set of challenges, but I’ve worked for this. I’m ready.”
With the Angels eyeing long-term solutions at first base, Powell’s arrival in Salt Lake could mark the beginning of a fast track to the majors. If he continues mashing the way he has in Double-A, it’s only a matter of time before Powell’s thunderous bat makes its debut in Anaheim.
