Trash Pandas’ trio named Southern League All-Stars

MADISON – It’s said that “two’s company and three’s a crowd.”

However, in the case of a trio of Rocket City Trash Pandas, three’s company is a better choice after Minor League Baseball announced its Southern League Postseason All-Star team.

Rocket City pitcher Caden Dana, outfielder Gustavo Campero and infielder/outfielder Eric Wagaman were named to the team in a vote of Southern League managers.

The honors cap off MiLB campaigns that each ended with Major League call-ups. The Los Angeles Angels, the MLB affiliate of the Trash Pandas, promoted the trio to the club’s roster in September. 

Dana was the consensus top prospect within the Angels organization heading into the season. The 20-year-old righthander finished his Trash Pandas tenure with a 9-7 record and 2.52 ERA in  23 starts. He struck out 147 batters in 135.2 innings, leading the league in strikeouts, innings pitched, batting average against, and WHIP at the time of his promotion.

He led all of MiLB with 14 quality starts and picked up one more in Anaheim. The win came Sept. 1 in his first MLB start against Seattle – he allowed two runs in six innings.

Campero, who has since celebrated his 27th birthday, was the Trash Pandas 2024 Hitter of the Year in his breakout season. In 93 games, hit .279 with 14  home runs, 45 RBI, and stole 29 bases. A seven-year professional, he made his MLB debut with the Angels on Sept. 15 and has gone 8-for-28 (.286) through his first eight games. 

Last month, Campero was named Player of the Month for July. He was the first Trash Pandas player to win a monthly award this past season and is the eighth player in team history to win a monthly award.

The path was a bit more winding for Wagaman. Selected by the Angels from the Yankees prior to the season in the Triple-A Rule 5 Draft, the 27-year-old occupied the corner outfield and infield spots for manager Andy Schatzley this season.

In 94 games, Wagaman, who grew up a fan of the Angels, hit .260 with 14 home runs and  46 RBI. He was promoted to Triple-A Salt Lake on Aug. 4 and was leading the league with 23 doubles and 39 extra-base hits. He pinch-hit in his MLB debut for his hometown team on Sept. 10 and started the club’s next 11 games at third base.