Griffin Canning

Griffin Canning's Biography

Griffin Alexander Canning, born on May 11, 1996, is a well-known pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels in the Major League Baseball (MLB). Canning, a Southern California native, found his love for the sport at an early age, which led him down a path filled with significant accomplishments and milestones. His journey has been marked with numerous challenges and triumphs, all contributing to his ascension as a professional player in the MLB.

Canning attended Santa Margarita Catholic High School in Rancho Santa Margarita, California, where he showcased his pitching talent for the school’s baseball team. During his senior year, he delivered an impressive performance, earning an 11-3 win-loss record and maintaining a 1.51 earned run average (ERA) with 123 strikeouts. These achievements led to him being named the ‘Orange County Register Pitcher of the Year.’

His exceptional form continued in his final game in High School, where he led Santa Margarita to a triumphant victory in the 2014 California Interscholastic Federation SS Division I Championship. He recorded 11 strikeouts, allowed only two hits and demonstrated a level of skill beyond his years.

Despite being drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the 38th round of the 2015 Major League Baseball Draft, he decided not to sign. Not swayed away from his choice for further education, Canning proceeded to play college baseball at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) for the Bruins.

Canning started as a freshman at UCLA in 2015, where he made 15 appearances with 11 starts. He concluded the season with a record of 7-1, a 2.97 ERA, and 66 strikeouts. In his sophomore year, he ascended the team’s ranks to become UCLA’s number one starter. His performance was consistently strong throughout the season, with 15 starts, a 5-8 win-loss record, a 3.70 ERA, and 95 strikeouts. He returned as UCLA’s ace in 2017, making 17 starts with a 7-4 win-loss record, a 2.34 ERA, and 140 strikeouts.

His exceptional performance in college baseball did not go unnoticed. In 2017, the Los Angeles Angels selected Canning with the 47th pick in the second round of the Major League Baseball draft. He signed with the Angels for a significant signing bonus of $1,459,200. Although he did not make any appearances in the field in 2017, this year proved significant as it marked the start of his professional MLB career.

Canning had his professional debut in 2018 with the Inland Empire 66ers of the Class A-Advanced California League. After eight scoreless innings, he was promptly promoted to the Mobile BayBears of the Class AA Southern League. His performance only improved and led to his promotion to the Salt Lake Bees of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League in June. This debut season in the professional leagues demonstrated his potential, with Canning going 4-3 with a 3.65 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP across 25 starts with the three teams.

For the 2019 season, Canning returned to the Salt Lake Bees. However, this stint was cut short when he got promoted to the major leagues by the Angels. On April 30, 2019, he made his debut in the major leagues against the Toronto Blue Jays, recording six strikeouts over 4+1⁄3 innings pitched.

Despite enduring multiple injuries, he showcased a strong performance throughout the season, carrying a win-loss record of 5-6 with a 4.58 ERA and 96 strikeouts. Unfortunately, due to elbow inflammation, the Angels decided to terminate Canning’s 2019 season on August 22.

In 2020, Canning showcased a remarkable comeback, leading in defensive runs among pitchers in the American League. His record stood at 2-3 with a 3.99 ERA and 56 strikeouts in his 11 starts, earning him the Gold Glove Award, his first of many anticipated accolades.

However, 2021 was a challenging year for Canning. Despite starting strongly with a 5-4 win-loss record with a 5.60 ERA and 62 strikeouts in 13 starts, he was optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake on July 3, 2021. He endured further hardship when the Angels announced on August 10, 2021, that a low back stress fracture would keep him out for the rest of the season.

Unfortunately, his injury carried into the 2022 season, placing him on the 60-day injured list at the beginning of the year. Multiple setbacks in his recovery led to the disappointing decision to shut down Canning for the season, resulting in no professional appearances for the year.

Despite the challenges, Canning’s determination to continue at the top of his game was demonstrable in his determination to make a comeback. He signed a one-year, $850K contract with the Angels on January 13, 2023, avoiding salary arbitration. Canning, an ardent Angels fan since childhood, envisages a fruitful and rewarding career with his childhood team.

Canning’s journey is a testament to his unyielding spirit, resilience, and dedication to the sport. His narrative is the story of a rising star forced to battle setbacks, ready to come back stronger, poised to make his mark on the Major League Baseball scene.