ANAHEIM, Calif. — With the second overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft, the Angels selected right-handed pitcher Tyler Bremner from UC Santa Barbara.

Bremner has put together back-to-back impressive seasons for the Gauchos as he pitched to a 2.54 ERA with 104 strikeouts in 88.2 innings (10.6 K/9) with a 0.880 WHIP as a sophomore and a 3.49 ERA in 14 starts and 111 strikeouts in 77.1 innings (12.9 K/9) with a 1.022 WHIP this year. 

This comes as a surprise because most outlets did not expect Bremner to go this high in the draft, but his mid-90s fastball and elite changeup helped him jump up the board. 

“We really like Tyler’s changeup,” scouting director Tim McIlvaine said was what separated Bremner from other pitchers in the draft. “We think it’s a pitch that whenever he’s in trouble, he can go to that changeup. He can get outs with that. We like his fastball outs with the 98 (miles per hour). He’s 6-foot-4 and he’s gonna put on more weight still.

“There’s a lot that you can really dream on.”

McIlvaine also noted that the second half of Bremner’s season helped separate him from the other arms in consideration. Bremner attributed his confidence in knowing how he can dominate any lineup to the clicking moment for him in the second half, as well as some mechanical adjustments.

“I think a big thing for me was just getting the arm on time and keeping the fastball riding through the zone,” Bremner said. “I think the only time I ran into some trouble this year was when the arm was a tick late but once I got the arm in sync and started to see the four seam go by bats, you just compete out there and it starts flowing and you start rolling and you feed off the energy of those positive starts.” 

Some scouting reports have questions on his durability, given that this year was his first full season as a starting pitcher. The Angels, however, aren’t concerned.

“When you sit and you talk to him, and you realize the weight that he had lost over the summer, dealing with everything, and then being able to finally put it back on and get going,” McIlvaine said. “Once you sit down and you talk through the whole situation with him, it kind of puts all those worries to bed for us.”

In recent history, the Angels have been a team that exports their first-round picks through the minor leagues and into the big leagues quickly. While that’s certainly on the table with Bremner, the Angels aren’t focused on it.

“The players dictate their own pace,” McIlvaine said. “If he’s ready physically, mentally, and he’s hitting everything that he needs to, he’ll move along quickly. If he needs a little more time, which is totally fine, then we’ll take a little time with him.”

McIlvaine said that the Angels will bring Bremner in and do basic testing to see where he’s at and will assess whether Bremner will pitch at all this season or shut him down.

Being the second overall pick in any circumstance is special, but for the Bremner family, it means so much more.

Bremner tragically lost his mother to breast cancer in June after a five-year fight. Just last week, the Bremner family held her celebration of life.

“Just overwhelmed with shock and emotions,” Bremner said. “I don’t think this was really something that we thought was a possibility up until really recently so it was definitely a shock and that’s the emotions coming out but it’s also just a really emotional time for me and my family right now and just overwhelmed with excitement and ready to get to the next step.”

Given the tragic situation with his mother, it makes it all the more impressive for a 21-year-old kid to juggle that with playing baseball and staying on top of academics. But Bremner was able to use the external factors for good on the mound.

“Funny enough, as she got worse, that’s when I got stronger on the field,” Bremner said. “I feel like I did a very good job of using that negative energy and channeling it into pitching, and pitching angry, or pitching for her, or pitching for something bigger than myself.”

Needless to say, today was a whirlwind of emotions for Bremner. As excited as he is to get started on his professional baseball career, today is a reminder of one of the most important people in his life.

“I know she’s watching over me, and I know she’s so proud of me,” Bremner said. “She was honestly one of my biggest supporters. She came out to all the games, and all the way up to the point where her body wouldn’t let her anymore, but she’s a fighter, and I know she’s out there watching, and in a weird way, you know, I went to the Angels. It’s weird how life works, you know, so it’s a special moment for sure.”