Angels Sign Son of Two-Time All-Star Following MLB Draft
The Los Angeles Angels missed out on signing Eli Willits, the son of former Angels outfielder Reggie Willits, when he was selected first overall by the Washington Nationals in the 2025 MLB Draft. However, they didn’t let that stop them from signing another familiar name this week.
Jakob Guardado, the 23-year-old son of two-time All-Star closer Eddie Guardado, has been signed by the Angels to a minor league contract. Jakob, who played his senior season at the University of the Pacific, went undrafted in the 2025 draft. The younger Guardado, a pitcher, has had a mixed college career but showed improvements in certain areas this season.
As a pitcher this year, Jakob posted a 2-3 record with a 6.60 ERA across 17 games (eight starts). His strikeout-to-walk ratio improved significantly in his senior season, going from 28 strikeouts and 23 walks as a junior to 40 strikeouts and 20 walks as a senior. However, his 13 home runs allowed, nine hit batters, and nine wild pitches are areas he’ll need to improve to succeed at the professional level.
Guardado also had a brief stint as an outfielder in college. In 48 at-bats as a junior, he posted a .250/.345/.271 slash line, but his senior year was much less productive at the plate, hitting just .087/.192/.130 in 23 at-bats. Before transferring to Pacific, Jakob played two seasons at Pasadena Community College as a two-way player. He originally attended Beckman High School in Irvine before moving to Stockton to complete his college career, where his father grew up.
Eddie Guardado, who retired in 2009 after a 17-year MLB career, appeared in 908 major league games and earned 187 saves. He was an All-Star in 2002 and 2003 and played his final season under current Angels manager Ron Washington. Although Guardado only made one appearance against the Angels in the 2002 American League Division Series, Jakob was just 10 months old at the time and has no memory of the series in which the Angels went on to win their first and only World Series.
Jakob recalled in a 2024 interview, “As I was growing up, around that five to nine age, I remembered watching my father’s games. He was adamant that I do something I love, and it just happened to be baseball.”
It’s not unusual for MLB teams to take a chance on second-generation players whose college stats might not be eye-popping. The mix of natural talent and the experience passed down from their parents often gives these players an edge. The Angels are betting that Jakob Guardado can follow in his father’s footsteps and make a name for himself in the professional ranks.
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