Garrett Nicholas McDaniels Bio
Garrett Nicholas McDaniels is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization. He made his Major League Baseball debut in 2025 with the Los Angeles Angels before returning to the Dodgers system.
Early Life and Background
McDaniels attended Pee Dee Academy in Mullins, South Carolina, where he played high school baseball. His time at Pee Dee Academy laid the foundation for collegiate play and development as a pitcher.
After high school McDaniels enrolled at Coastal Carolina University and later transferred to the University of Mount Olive to continue his collegiate baseball career with the Mount Olive Trojans. During his college tenure he underwent Tommy John surgery, a notable event that affected his development and rehabilitation timeline.
Path to Baseball
McDaniels progressed from high school ball in South Carolina to the college ranks, pitching first for Coastal Carolina University and then for the University of Mount Olive. The college path provided innings, exposure and the ability to refine his arm following surgery.
His rehabilitation from Tommy John surgery and subsequent performances drew professional interest, and he signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers organization while completing his recovery. The Dodgers provided his entry into professional baseball and initial assignments in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League.
Garrett Nicholas McDaniels Career
Early Career (2022–2024)
The Los Angeles Dodgers signed McDaniels to a free agent contract on May 19, 2022, while he was rehabilitating. He made his professional debut with the rookie-level Arizona Complex League Dodgers and began his climb through the Dodgers minor-league system.
In 2023 McDaniels split the season between the Arizona Complex League Dodgers and the Single-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, posting a 2.50 ERA with 23 strikeouts and two saves over 18 innings. Those outings helped establish him as a strikeout-capable arm in short-leash relief and late-inning roles.
Minor League Progression (2024)
McDaniels spent the 2024 campaign across multiple Dodgers affiliates, appearing for the Double-A Tulsa Drillers, High-A Great Lakes Loons, and the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes. Over 33 appearances in 2024 he compiled a 5–5 record and a 3.19 ERA with 84 strikeouts across 73 1/3 innings, demonstrating the ability to miss bats at higher levels of the minors.
Those results in 2024 positioned McDaniels as a candidate for organizational opportunity and set up his availability in the Rule 5 draft later that year. His workload and strikeout totals across levels were notable markers of his uptick in effectiveness after recovery from surgery.
Major League Baseball Breakthrough (2025)
On December 11, 2024, the Los Angeles Angels selected McDaniels from the Dodgers in the Rule 5 draft. He made the Angels’ Opening Day roster and debuted in Major League Baseball on March 31, 2025, against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Across 10 appearances with the Los Angeles Angels in 2025, McDaniels recorded a 5.91 earned run average with six strikeouts over 10 and two-thirds innings pitched. The Angels designated him for assignment on June 9, 2025, which concluded his first major-league stint.
Los Angeles Dodgers Era (2025–Present)
Under Rule 5 rules, McDaniels was returned to the Los Angeles Dodgers organization on June 14, 2025. The Dodgers assigned him to the Triple-A Oklahoma City Comets, where he continued to pitch in relief roles.
With Oklahoma City he was 3–1 with a 3.30 ERA across 25 games, continuing to show the strikeout ability and run-prevention that had carried him through the minor-league ladder. The assignment to Triple-A placed him in the upper minors as the organization monitored his readiness for further major-league opportunity.
Pitching Style and Strengths
McDaniels profiles as a pitcher who generates swing-and-miss stuff and strikeouts, a strength reflected in his 2024 minor-league strikeout totals and subsequent Triple-A work. His experience returning from Tommy John surgery and working through multiple levels has emphasized short-burst effectiveness in relief appearances.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key milestones in McDaniels’ career include undergoing Tommy John surgery during his collegiate career, signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers in May 2022, being selected in the Rule 5 draft by the Los Angeles Angels in December 2024, and making his MLB debut on March 31, 2025. The return to the Dodgers in June 2025 and his Triple-A performance are also notable points in his early professional timeline.
Garrett Nicholas McDaniels Career Wins
McDaniels’ verified professional record includes minor-league decisions and early Triple-A results, while his 2025 major-league record through the end of that season shows no decisions at the MLB level. His minor-league totals reflect steady contributions in relief and occasional decisions.
MLB Highlights
In his 2025 MLB appearances for the Los Angeles Angels McDaniels compiled a 0–0 record with a 5.91 ERA and six strikeouts over 10 and two-thirds innings. His debut on March 31, 2025, marked his first major-league appearance and remains the primary MLB milestone recorded through the 2025 season.
Other Wins & Perfromances
McDaniels posted a 5–5 record in 2024 across three Dodgers affiliates with a 3.19 ERA and 84 strikeouts in 73 1/3 innings, and his 2023 minor-league work included a 2.50 ERA with 23 strikeouts and two saves in 18 innings. His Triple-A assignment in 2025 produced a 3–1 record with a 3.30 ERA across 25 games.
Garrett Nicholas McDaniels Family
Family Background and Baseball Roots
Public records within his baseball biography focus on McDaniels’ development through Pee Dee Academy and collegiate programs rather than extended family details. His progression from high school in Mullins, South Carolina, into college ball laid a conventional path toward professional opportunity.
Personal Life
McDaniels attended Pee Dee Academy, played at Coastal Carolina University, and transferred to the University of Mount Olive during his collegiate career. He maintains a public social presence and continues to develop within the Dodgers organization as he balances professional demands and rehabilitation history.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season was a pivotal year for McDaniels, featuring his MLB debut with the Los Angeles Angels, ten appearances at the major-league level, and subsequent designation for assignment in June. After his return to the Dodgers organization on June 14, 2025, he was assigned to Triple-A Oklahoma City and produced a 3–1 record with a 3.30 ERA in 25 games.
The arc of his 2025 season combined initial major-league exposure with a return to the high minors for refinement. Organizational control through the Dodgers and the experience of MLB innings position him for consideration as a depth option and potential call-up depending on performance and roster needs.