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Ever since he took the pitching mound for the first time at age 17 as a senior at El Paso's Lydia Patterson Institute, Samy Natera Jr. was all about huge potential and trying to overcome that late start.
This week, Natera caught up. The potential became reality when the 26-year-old left-handed reliever from Juárez took the hill for the Los Angeles Angels against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday, June 6, and threw two shutout innings.
More: El Paso Chihuahuas top prospect Garrett Hawkins closes in on Padres dream
That completed a nine-year rise from Lydia Patterson first baseman to left-handed ace to New Mexico State pitcher, through every level of the minors (and a stint with the Mexican national team at the World Baseball Classic in 2025) and on to Los Angeles. This is a path less traveled but one that worked out perfectly for Natera.
"Most get started way earlier, but that's how it was for me," Natera said shortly before the Angels game at the Houston Astros on Wednesday night. "That was my path and I'm grateful it went that way."
Natera was an all-around athlete at LPI, the school's athlete of the year in 2019 and MVP of both the basketball and baseball teams. The best athletes on a baseball team, particularly if he's left-handed, will usually find a way to the mound at some point, and that came at age 17 for Natera.
More: El Paso Chihuahuas set for 2026 home opener; top players, promotions
Just a year and a half ago, when his career was beginning to hit overdrive, Natera told MLB.com: “I remember seeing a newspaper thing and it was like, ‘He’s very green,’” he said. “I agreed with that, but at the same time, it bothered me. I was like, ‘OK, I’m gonna show you I can grow.’ And that’s what I’ve been trying to do.”
That all came true and this is a heady time for Natera, whose final push to the Majors after several injuries turned into a sprint. Natera, who grew up in Juárez and commuted across the bridge every day to LPI, had an injured shoulder his third year at New Mexico State in 2022 but ended up as a 17th-round selection by the Angels in the 2022 draft.
"I was hurt for most of my last year at New Mexico State, that's what made me fall," he said. "But I just wanted the opportunity. I knew what I was capable of, then I worked my way up."
After making a professional debut in Class A ball in 2023, he got injured again in 2024 spring training and didn't return until late in the season. He made a successful return, tore through the Arizona Fall League, then in 2025 dominated in both Double-A and Triple-A.
When that all continued this spring and summer with the Salt Lake Bees, he was on the verge.
"I've been dealing with stuff, I was injured in '24, then coming off that rehab, my arm stopped hurting," Natera said. "It was a moment where my arm didn't hurt anymore and I could know what I could do.
"My arm stopped hurting. I was able to be myself."
What that meant this season was a 5-0 record with Salt Lake with 44 stirkeouts in 30 innings and a 3.00 ERA. What those numbers mean at that level is pretty obvious. On June 5, after the Bees beat Albuquerque, manager Doug Davis started with his normal post-game observations.
"It was after a game, the manager came in, the whole team was at the clubhouse," Natera said. "He talked about the game a little bit, then just said I was going up. It was a very, very unreal moment for me. Years of waiting, hoping, just waiting for that moment. It was great.
"(Getting called up is) always in the back of your head, but I was just trying to be in the moment, be where my feet were, just trying to do my job over. Thankfully I was able to get the call."
It got better. On his first day up, June 6, he faced seven batters against the Dodgers, struck out three and walked one as his only blemish. Two days later he faced two batters and struck out one. Through 2 2/3 Major League innings, he has four strike outs, no hits and a 0.00 ERA.
"It's been a crazy week for me," Natera said. "Unreal all around. I'm super blessed to be here, I'm super excited. ... My family was there, the people who have been part of this journey were there and that was the best part of it. That was special."
There figure to be many more special times to come for a young pitcher who made up for a late start with a charge to the top level of his game.
Bret Bloomquist can be reached at [email protected]; @Bretbloomquist on X.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Juarez native Samy Natera Jr. enjoys ride from NMSU to MLB
Continue reading...
This week, Natera caught up. The potential became reality when the 26-year-old left-handed reliever from Juárez took the hill for the Los Angeles Angels against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday, June 6, and threw two shutout innings.
More: El Paso Chihuahuas top prospect Garrett Hawkins closes in on Padres dream
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Samy Natera Jr. made up for late start
That completed a nine-year rise from Lydia Patterson first baseman to left-handed ace to New Mexico State pitcher, through every level of the minors (and a stint with the Mexican national team at the World Baseball Classic in 2025) and on to Los Angeles. This is a path less traveled but one that worked out perfectly for Natera.
"Most get started way earlier, but that's how it was for me," Natera said shortly before the Angels game at the Houston Astros on Wednesday night. "That was my path and I'm grateful it went that way."
Natera was an all-around athlete at LPI, the school's athlete of the year in 2019 and MVP of both the basketball and baseball teams. The best athletes on a baseball team, particularly if he's left-handed, will usually find a way to the mound at some point, and that came at age 17 for Natera.
More: El Paso Chihuahuas set for 2026 home opener; top players, promotions
You must be registered for see images attach
Just a year and a half ago, when his career was beginning to hit overdrive, Natera told MLB.com: “I remember seeing a newspaper thing and it was like, ‘He’s very green,’” he said. “I agreed with that, but at the same time, it bothered me. I was like, ‘OK, I’m gonna show you I can grow.’ And that’s what I’ve been trying to do.”
Natera overcomes injuries to make charge
That all came true and this is a heady time for Natera, whose final push to the Majors after several injuries turned into a sprint. Natera, who grew up in Juárez and commuted across the bridge every day to LPI, had an injured shoulder his third year at New Mexico State in 2022 but ended up as a 17th-round selection by the Angels in the 2022 draft.
"I was hurt for most of my last year at New Mexico State, that's what made me fall," he said. "But I just wanted the opportunity. I knew what I was capable of, then I worked my way up."
After making a professional debut in Class A ball in 2023, he got injured again in 2024 spring training and didn't return until late in the season. He made a successful return, tore through the Arizona Fall League, then in 2025 dominated in both Double-A and Triple-A.
When that all continued this spring and summer with the Salt Lake Bees, he was on the verge.
"I've been dealing with stuff, I was injured in '24, then coming off that rehab, my arm stopped hurting," Natera said. "It was a moment where my arm didn't hurt anymore and I could know what I could do.
"My arm stopped hurting. I was able to be myself."
Dominant start to 2026 leads to call-up
What that meant this season was a 5-0 record with Salt Lake with 44 stirkeouts in 30 innings and a 3.00 ERA. What those numbers mean at that level is pretty obvious. On June 5, after the Bees beat Albuquerque, manager Doug Davis started with his normal post-game observations.
"It was after a game, the manager came in, the whole team was at the clubhouse," Natera said. "He talked about the game a little bit, then just said I was going up. It was a very, very unreal moment for me. Years of waiting, hoping, just waiting for that moment. It was great.
"(Getting called up is) always in the back of your head, but I was just trying to be in the moment, be where my feet were, just trying to do my job over. Thankfully I was able to get the call."
Samy Natera Jr.: 'Super crazy week'
It got better. On his first day up, June 6, he faced seven batters against the Dodgers, struck out three and walked one as his only blemish. Two days later he faced two batters and struck out one. Through 2 2/3 Major League innings, he has four strike outs, no hits and a 0.00 ERA.
"It's been a crazy week for me," Natera said. "Unreal all around. I'm super blessed to be here, I'm super excited. ... My family was there, the people who have been part of this journey were there and that was the best part of it. That was special."
There figure to be many more special times to come for a young pitcher who made up for a late start with a charge to the top level of his game.
Bret Bloomquist can be reached at [email protected]; @Bretbloomquist on X.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Juarez native Samy Natera Jr. enjoys ride from NMSU to MLB
Continue reading...
