MOUNT OLIVE (Dec. 12) – Former University of Mount Olive left-handed pitcher Garrett McDaniels was selected from the Los Angeles Dodgers by crosstown rivals the Los Angeles Angels in the 2024 Major League Baseball (MLB) Rule 5 Draft on Wednesday.

Following his selection to the Angels, McDaniels is set to join the 2025 active roster for the major league organization for the entire season. Any player selected in the Rule 5 Draft must be kept on the team's big-league roster for the ensuing year and the Angels will compensate the Dodgers $100,000 for the draft selection. McDaniels can be offered back to the Dodgers for a reduced rate of $50,000 if the Angels decide to sacrifice the active roster slot.

McDaniels was one of 15 players picked this year and becomes the first Dodgers player selected in the Rule 5 Draft since 2022. He has spent his entire career with the organization after signing as an undrafted free agent. McDaniels, who turns 25 on Sunday, is coming off another solid season on the mound after starting the year with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga and being promoted up to the Double-A Tulsa Drillers for the season's final stretch. In 49 appearances, he boasted a 3.19 ERA with 84 strikeouts over 73.1 innings pitched while limiting opponents to a .229 batting average. McDaniels is set to bring his pitching arsenal to the big leagues which features a low-90s fastball with a breaking ball and changeup.

After transferring to Mount Olive in 2021, McDaniels made three starts for the Trojans and held an impressive 0.69 ERA with 18 strikeouts and six walks over 13.0 innings pitched. His season was cut short after suffering a season-ending injury that required Tommy John surgery. McDaniels signed his minor league deal with the Dodgers over the summer before making his debut in Rookie Class with the ACL Dodgers in 2022.