Angels Rookie Sets Stolen Bases Record

The Los Angeles Angels have an exciting talent in their minor league system, and he’s just getting started.

Juan Cespedes, who is only 17 years old, has already made headlines by breaking a record. Playing for the Angels in the Dominican Summer League, he achieved the remarkable feat of stealing eight bases in a single game. This is notable, as it marks the highest number of stolen bases in one game by a minor leaguer since at least 2005.

Interestingly, this kind of agility hasn’t been seen often. For some perspective, Billy Hamilton stole seven bases in a major league game way back in 1894 with the Philadelphia Phillies.

In the game where he set the record, Cespedes began with a walk, then stole second, followed by third, before hitting a homer. He reached base again due to a throwing error in his next at-bat, swiping second but failing to advance further. Later on, he successfully stole second and third again on two more occasions.

Cespedes is an outfielder and joined the Angels as an international free agent from the Dominican Republic. He signed with the team during the 2025-26 international signing period, reportedly receiving a $300,000 bonus. In just 13 games, he boasts an impressive .395 batting average and an OPS of .975, along with 25 stolen bases in just 56 at-bats—being caught stealing only twice.

If he continues at this pace, Cespedes’ extraordinary speed will surely attract interest from other major league teams. It’s definitely going to be interesting to see how his career unfolds.