Obviously, every commentary about the Angels' farm system must be led by Jo Adell, the power hitting, speedy future star who will hopefully help Mike Trout actually get into the playoffs. Outside of him, it's actually a fairly imbalanced farm system, with a deep crop of maybe-could-be starting pitching, athletic but raw outfielders, and actually-pretty-interesting middle infielders, while the system is almost completely devoid of corner infielders and catching. Guys like Brandon Marsh, Will Wilson, Jeremiah Jackson, Hector Yan, and Jose Soriano have interesting upside, though only Marsh has actually played above Class A from that group. It's a really interesting system that has a good chance of turning out very little (beyond Adell, of course), but a lot of guys are just an adjustment or two away from becoming potential impact players.
Affiliates: AAA Salt Lake City Bees, AA Mobile BayBears*, High A Inland Empire 66ers, Class A Burlington Bees, rookie Orem Owlz, complex level AZL and DSL Angels
*AA affiliate will move from Mobile, AL to Huntsville, AL in 2020
Catcher
- Jack Kruger (2020 Age: 25): There's very little catching talent at all in this system, so potential backup Jack Kruger stands out as perhaps the best. A former 20th round pick out of Mississippi State, he had a strong 2018 season and slashed .299/.357/.413 between High A Inland Empire and AA Mobile, but a return to Mobile this year saw him slash just .240/.300/.309 with three home runs and a 69/24 strikeout to walk ratio over 92 games. He's supposedly a strong defender, and by stealing 13 bases in 2018, he showed some speed and athleticism that you don't see in every backstop. Rediscovering his 2018 swing could help him land as the Angels' backup catcher at some point. As a bonus, he grew up in Westlake Village, just northwest of Los Angeles.
Corner Infield
- Jared Walsh (2020 Age: 26-27): As with catching, the Angels are pretty shallow here in the corner infield too. Jared Walsh absolutely mashed in hitter-friendly AAA Salt Lake City in 2019, slashing .325/.423/.686 with 36 home runs and a 115/59 strikeout to walk ratio over 98 games, though those numbers were inflated a bit by the juiced balls and thin air. He also slashed .203/.276/.329 in a 31 game major league call-up, and he comes with plus raw power from the left side of the plate that should play in the majors once he gets acclimated. He'll likely never be more than a bench bat though, as his hit tool isn't strong enough to provide enough offense to start at first base, but the fact that he hits both lefties and righties well is a good sign. Walsh has also dabbled in pitching, and as a lefty reliever this year, he put up a 4.15 ERA, a 1.62 WHIP, and a 9/5 strikeout to walk ratio over 13 innings in AAA and even a 1.80 ERA and a 5/6 strikeout to walk ratio in five major league innings. A fastball/curveball guy with so-so command, he likely provides more value as a hitter but should be a useful mop-up reliever as well.
- Kevin Maitan (2020 Age: 20): Maitan was one of the top prospects in recent memory coming out of Venezuela, and he was compared to Chipper Jones and Miguel Cabrera from the time he was barely a teenager. Signed by the Braves at 16 for $4.25 million, he was freed in the team's bonus scandal and signed with the Angels for another $2.2 million. However, he has yet to really tap into that tremendous upside, and he slashed .214/.278/.323 with 12 home runs and a 164/39 strikeout to walk ratio over 123 games at Class A Burlington. He shows big raw power from both sides of the plate, but poor strike zone judgement and less feel for the barrel than expected has kept him from tapping it with any consistency. Originally projected to be a 30+ homer bat with on-base percentages north of .350, his upside is now more in the 20-25 home run range with mediocre on-base percentages, but the good news is that Maitan will play all of 2020 at 20 years old and he has plenty of time to reclaim that lost luster. He should stick at third base with a cannon arm and decent glovework.
- Keep an eye on: Jose Rojas, Jordan Zimmerman, Adrian Rondon
Middle Infield
- Jahmai Jones (2020 Age: 22-23): Jones was a second round pick out of an Atlanta-area high school in 2015, and he's followed up big 2016 and 2017 seasons with mediocre 2018 and 2019 seasons. This year, Jones slashed .234/.308/.324 with five home runs, nine stolen bases, and a 109/50 strikeout to walk ratio over 130 games at AA Mobile. He's a supreme athlete (if you're a football fan, you might know of his brother wide receiver T.J. Jones) with plenty of speed and quick hands that can help him avoid strikeouts. However, he's struggled to barrel the ball up much over the last couple of seasons, and he'll have to rediscover his all fields, line drive stroke if he wants to be a starting second baseman on this team, as there are a lot of middle infielders coming up behind him.
- Will Wilson (2020 Age: 21-22): The Angels' first round pick out of NC State in 2019, Wilson had a solid pro debut with rookie level Orem by slashing .275/.328/.439 with five home runs and a 47/14 strikeout to walk ratio over 46 games. He's an exciting talent with some serious pop to the pull side despite being a skinny six footer, and he's got enough bat speed and feel for the barrel to get the ball out to any field. Where he'll need to work offensively is on his plate discipline, as he's aggressive and that pull-oriented approach could be exploited in the minors. If he learns to trust his bat speed and improve his strike zone judgement, he could be a 20 homer, .350 on-base percentage type of hitter. Defensively, he's a bit raw at shortstop and may be able to stick, but his decent arm and quick reactions fit better at second base, where his decent range won't be as stretched.
- Jeremiah Jackson (2020 Age: 20): Originally thought of as a hit-over-power guy in high school in Mobile, Alabama, Jackson has bought into the launch angle revolution and while his hit tool has regressed slightly, his power has exploded. Spending 2019 in rookie ball, he slashed .266/.333/.605 with 23 home runs and a 96/24 strikeout to walk ratio in just 65 games with Orem. No other Pioneer League hitter had more than 19 home runs, and only two others hit more than 13. He gets great extension at the plate and his plus feel for the barrel has enabled 100% of his raw power to play up in games, though his home run-oriented swing led to a 33% strikeout rate against pitching that wasn't all that advanced. The good news is that when he gets a crack at full season ball in 2020, he can see if that home run swing works or if he'll need to dial it back a bit, which he is fully capable of doing. He'll be 20 for all of 2020 and he could play an above average second or third base if he moves off of shortstop, so he has time to figure it out.
- Kyren Paris (2020 Age: 18): One of the youngest players in the 2019 draft, Kyren Paris didn't turn 18 until shortly before this article was published and he therefore will have two full seasons in the minor leagues as a teenager. A second rounder out of high school in Oakley, California (about 30 miles west of Oakland), Paris is a natural ballplayer with smooth actions at shortstop as well as a smooth swing at the plate. He's so young and skinny that it's hard to know exactly what kind of power he'll grow into, but for now, he's hit over power with some speed and plate discipline. In the end, he could be a guy who hits 10-20 home runs per season with high on-base percentages and good defense at shortstop, though he obviously has a long, long way to go to get there.
- Arol Vera (2020 Age: 17): Even younger than Kyren Paris is Arol Vera, a Venezuelan shortstop who only turned 17 in September. He signed with the Angels for $2 million and hasn't played a professional game yet, but just watching some video of his swing, it's easy to see what the Angels like about the switch hitter. He's a wiry 6'2" with a very athletic frame, and he produces a ton of torque from both sides of the plate with good feel for the strike zone and barrel already. Of course, he has an even longer way to go than Paris, but he's definitely a name to watch as he begins play in the Dominican Summer League as a 17 year old in 2020.
- Keep an eye on: Roberto Baldoquin, Leonardo Rivas, Livan Soto, Justin Jones
Outfield
- Jo Adell (2020 Age: 21): If it weren't for Jo Adell, the Angels might have the worst farm system in the game. Adell is not only their headliner, but he might be the best outfield prospect in all of baseball. Injuries kept him off the field to start 2019, but he still came back and slashed .289/.359/.475 with ten home runs, seven stolen bases, and a 94/30 strikeout to walk ratio over 76 games for High A Inland Empire, AA Mobile, and AAA Salt Lake City. Those aren't the loudest numbers, but he reached AAA just a few months after turning 20 years old despite injuries keeping him off the field. He has light tower power, gets to it much more consistently than was originally expected when he was a first round pick out of high school in Louisville in 2017, and shows plenty of speed to make him an all-around offensive threat. Defensively, he uses his speed well in the outfield and could play center field if it weren't for Mike Trout, but his cannon arm makes him more than a fit for right field, where he could win Gold Gloves. Overall, he has the upside of a Christian Yelich-type player with a stronger arm, and even without hitting his ceiling he could still hit 25 home runs per season with solid on-base percentages, speed, and good defense.
- Brandon Marsh (2020 Age: 22): A second round pick out of an Atlanta-area high school in 2016, Marsh has been in Adell's shadow a little bit, but he's performed well under the radar. This year, he slashed .300/.383/.428 with seven home runs, 18 stolen bases, and a 92/47 strikeout to walk ratio over 96 games at AA Mobile. He has a quick barrel and generates good power from his 6'4" frame, but he's also been pounding the ball into the ground a lot and that has kept his power from playing up in games. Learning a thing or two from fellow Angels prospect Jeremiah Jackson could help him unlock a ton of power by lifting the ball more, though there's just enough swing and miss in his game that it wouldn't be an easy shift. He also has speed and a strong arm that helps him steal bases and play good defense, so Marsh provides close to a complete package, though obviously not with tools as loud as Adell's. If he can tap into that power, he probably ends up with 20-25 home runs per season, decent on-base percentages, and some speed.
- Jordyn Adams (2020 Age: 20): A two sport star who was committed to UNC as a four star wide receiver, Adams spent most of 2019 at Class A Burlington and slashed .257/.351/.369 with eight home runs, 16 stolen bases, and a 111/56 strikeout to walk ratio over 109 games. He has a quick barrel and a smooth swing, and his plate discipline ability to find that barrel has improved as he's developed. He doesn't have a ton of pop and likely never will have more than 15-20 home run power, but he does have the ability to spray balls into the gaps and use his plus-plus speed on the bases. Overall, he still has a lot to work on including continuing to refine his hit tool as well as his reads in the outfield, but he will also spend the entire 2020 season at just 20 years old.
- D'Shawn Knowles (2020 Age: 19): One of two toolsy Bahamian outfielders to play for rookie-level Orem this year, D'Shawn Knowles has outperformed Trent Deveaux so far. In 2019, playing the whole season at just 18 years old, Knowles slashed .241/.310/.387 with six home runs and a 76/26 strikeout to walk ratio over 64 games, numbers that were down slightly from 2018 but still respectable given his age. He's an explosive player who is still maturing physically, so it's hard to say exactly how much power he'll have down the line, but it's easy to see him at least spraying plenty of doubles and triples into the gaps while his plus speed does the rest. There are a lot of center fielders in this system, but Knowles can stick there as well. Overall, he projects as a run producing, high-ish on-base hitter who can pop anywhere from 15-30 home runs per season.
- Trent Deveaux (2020 Age: 19-20): While Knowles' feel for the game is more advanced at his age, Trent Deveaux is more tooled up. The Bahamian slashed .238/.320/.422 with with seven home runs, 15 stolen bases, and a 91/26 strikeout to walk ratio over 60 games this year, mostly in the complex level Arizona League but with a few games up at Orem. He's definitely got some raw power to tap into, though it's mostly to the gaps now, and his blazing speed rivals that of Jordyn Adams for the best in the system. However, it hasn't really translated onto the field yet, and he struck out in 31.1% of his plate appearances against lower level competition in the Arizona League and in 48.4% (15/31) in his small sample in the Pioneer League. If Deveaux wants to catch up to the other outfielders in this system, he has to start to learn the nuances. Fortunately, he reportedly has a strong work ethic and he's working hard to learn.
- Keep an eye on: Michael Hermosillo, Bo Way, Gareth Morgan, Nonie Williams, Alexander Ramirez
Starting Pitching
- Patrick Sandoval (2020 Age: 23): Sandoval dominated across three levels in 2018 with a 2.01 ERA and a 0.96 WHIP across 122.1 innings, though he wasn't quite as effective in 2019 when he pitched in more advanced, hitter-friendly environments. Between AA Mobile and AAA Salt Lake City, mostly at the latter, he had a 5.71 ERA, a 1.74 WHIP, and a 98/42 strikeout to walk ratio over 80.1 innings, then he was called up to the Angels in August and posted a 5.03 ERA and a 42/19 strikeout to walk ratio in 39.1 innings. Sandoval has plenty of classic starter traits, sitting in the low 90's with his fastball and adding three offspeed pitches in a curveball, a slider, and a changeup, all of which can be above average at times, and he showed great command in 2018. That command regressed a bit against better hitters in 2019, but he still has a good chance to be a solid left handed #4 starter as early as 2020.
- Oliver Ortega (2020 Age: 23): Ortega has improved slowly and steadily throughout his time in the minors, and this year he reached the upper minors after posting a 3.34 ERA and a 121/49 strikeout to walk ratio at High A Inland Empire. Because he struggled at AA Mobile (8.64 ERA), he finished the season with a 4.14 ERA, a 1.32 WHIP, and a 135/57 strikeout to walk ratio over 111 innings in all, but he's showing more and more that he could be able to stick as a starter. He's a fastball/curveball guy that sits in the mid 90's and needs to work on his changeup and command, though the command has been improving to the point where it's nearly average and could get there in time. Ultimately, it will be the changeup that determines whether he remains a starter, and for now he looks like a #3 or #4 guy at best.
- Kyle Bradish (2020 Age: 23): A fourth round pick out of New Mexico State in 2018, Bradish didn't pitch professionally that year but skipped all the way to High A Inland Empire for his pro debut this year. The results weren't spectacular, but he still exceeded expectations with a 4.28 ERA, a 1.42 WHIP, and a 120/53 strikeout to walk ratio over 101 innings against advanced competition in a hitters' league. Originally projected as a reliever, he delayed that potential move with his performance this year and by doing a better job of maintaining low 90's heat late into his starts. While nothing he throws grades out as a plus, his tilt and go delivery makes everything play up as it's hard to time and see his pitches. His command was a bit better than expected in 2019, and while a move to the bullpen is still possible due to the effort in his delivery, he might just be able to throw enough strikes to stick as a potential #4 starter.
- Aaron Hernandez (2020 Age: 23): Drafted a round before Bradish out of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Hernandez was also pushed aggressively to Inland Empire to begin his pro career. He didn't quite get the same results as Bradish, but the numbers were still solid as he had a 4.46 ERA, a 1.67 WHIP, and an 81/46 strikeout to walk ratio over 72.2 innings. He's 6'1" but his drop and drive delivery causes him to release the ball fairly low from the ground, which actually reduces his deception and makes it easier to pick his stuff up. That, combined with shaky command, has held him back somewhat, though his sinking low to mid 90's fastball and deep array of strong secondary pitches give him the chance to start in the majors. He's more durable than you'd expect given his slight frame, so there's less reliever risk than you'd think, but he might be forced into that role if he can't figure out a way to get better angle and/or deception on his pitches.
- Hector Yan (2020 Age: 21): Yan has gone completely under the radar up until this year, having thrown just 76.1 unremarkable innings over the first three years of his pro career. However, upon reaching full season ball in 2019, he took off in a huge way, posting a 3.39 ERA, a 1.16 WHIP, and a 148/52 strikeout to walk ratio over 109 innings in his age-20 season at Class A Burlington. He sits in the low 90's with his fastball and adds a good two-plane curveball, coming from a crossfire left handed delivery that makes it very difficult to pick up his stuff. His command improved to nearly average in 2019 as well, which made all the difference in the world, and he's now a legitimate mid-rotation starter if he can continue to improve that command and add a changeup. A year from now, he could be the best pitching prospect in this system – I like him.
- Jose Soriano (2020 Age: 21): Soriano dominated in his first two years of pro ball before getting knocked around a bit in his first taste of full season ball in 2018, but he bounced back in 2019 by posting a 2.51 ERA, a 1.32 WHIP, and a 92/51 strikeout to walk ratio over 82.1 innings, mostly at Burlington. While Yan is only 5'11", Soriano is 6'3" and sits in the mid 90's with his fastball with the promise of more velocity to come. He also throws a good curveball and a decent changeup, though his command has held him back to this point. He's got better raw stuff than Yan, and he has a higher ceiling if he can figure out his command, but I personally like Yan better as a prospect.
- Robinson Pina (2020 Age: 21): Pina was another breakout star in 2019, posting a 3.83 ERA, a 1.35 WHIP, and a 146/61 strikeout to walk ratio over 108 innings at Burlington. His fastball is down in the low 90's but he shows the potential for more at 6'4", and his hammer curveball helped him rack up the strikeouts. As has been the story with most of these Angels pitchers, command is what holds him back, and he carries a bit more reliever risk than Yan and Soriano.
- Jack Kochanowicz (2020 Age: 19): Drafted in the third round out of a Philadelphia-area high school in 2019, Kochanowicz has not pitched professionally yet but brings a low 90's fastball and a big curveball from a 6'6" frame while adding a changeup he has some feel for and solid command. He's fairly similar as a prospect to Stiward Aquino, except that he's a year and a half younger and doesn't come with the same injury history. For now, he's a rather generic projectable high school arm that's slightly more advanced than most kids his age, but it's still hard to say exactly what kind of starting pitcher he'll become.
- Keep an eye on: Andrew Wantz, Chris Rodriguez, Stiward Aquino
Relief Pitching
- Luis Madero (2020 Age: 23): Madero took a huge step forward in 2018 (3.49 ERA, 95/27 K/BB) to establish himself as one of the better arms in the Angels' system, though he was knocked around a bit this year and finished with a 5.03 ERA, a 1.54 WHIP, and a 98/31 strikeout to walk ratio over 105.2 innings, mostly at AA Mobile. Madero sits in the low 90's with his fastball and adds a good curveball, and while his command has improved up to average, his lack of a changeup or anything that really sets him apart caused him to get hit in AA. Taking a step forward with that changeup could help him remain a potential back-end starter, though a move to the bullpen could help his fastball/curveball combination play up and get him to the majors in 2020.
- Jeremy Beasley (2020 Age: 23): Beasley was excellent across three levels in 2018 (2.66 ERA, 104/32 K/BB), then came down to Earth with a 4.49 ERA, a 1.45 WHIP, and a 115/48 strikeout to walk ratio over 122.1 innings, mostly at Mobile but also with a few innings up at AAA Salt Lake City. He's more of a fastball/changeup guy with largely ordinary stuff across the board and average command, and he may still profile as a #5 starter if he can get that command to a tick above average, but ultimately the whole package might be a bit light for starting in the majors. He profiles well as a long reliever.
- Keep an eye on: Joe Gatto, Connor Higgins, Chad Sykes
Showing posts with label Patrick Sandoval. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Patrick Sandoval. Show all posts
Saturday, November 16, 2019
Sunday, November 18, 2018
Reviewing the Los Angeles Angels Farm System
Fortunately, the Angels' farm system is in a much better place than it was just a few years ago, when it was the worst in baseball. Now, headliner Jo Adell has given it a facelift and there are some nice names behind him, but it still lacks much impact talent once you get past the first few names on the list. It's an offense-heavy list with a lot of high-upside bats scattered throughout, with the few notable arms in the system mostly concentrated in the upper-minors.
Affiliates: AAA Salt Lake City Bees, AA Mobile BayBears, High A Inland Empire 66ers, Class A Burlington Bees, Rookie level Orem Owlz, complex level AZL and DSL Angels
The Headliner: OF Jo Adell
Drafted in the first round (tenth overall) out of a Louisville-area high school in 2017, 19 year old Jo Adell has already made a name for himself on a national scale and is arguably one of the top ten prospects in baseball after a huge 2018. Over 99 games, he slashed .290/.355/.543 with 20 home runs, 15 stolen bases, and a 111/32 strikeout to walk ratio across three levels, reaching all the way up to AA Mobile as a teenager. He shows power, speed, the ability to get on base, and good defense in the outfield, so the only knock on his game is some swing and miss. Otherwise, he looks like a future All Star that could be an annual 30 homer, 20 stolen base threat, and it doesn't take a huge stretch of the imagination to imagine him holding up an AL MVP Award. If the Angels can figure out a way to keep Mike Trout, a core of Trout, Adell, and Shohei Ohtani will be fun to watch.
Other High-Upside Hitters: OF Brandon Marsh, 2B Jahmai Jones, OF D'Shawn Knowles, SS Kevin Maitan, OF Jordyn Adams, and SS Nonie Williams
Adell isn't the only high-upside hitter in this system, though many of the others have been disappointing and look farther from reaching their lofty ceilings than originally thought. We'll start with 20 year old Brandon Marsh, who hasn't been a total disappointment. The outfielder slashed .295/.390/.470 in 34 games at Class A Burlington, but put up a more pedestrian .256/.348/.385 line in 93 games at hitter-friendly High A Inland Empire, combining for ten home runs, 14 stolen bases, and a 158/73 strikeout to walk ratio. Marsh is still young and it's nice to see the power/speed/patience combination as a hitter, but the strikeouts are a little high and we're still waiting on a breakout. If anything, I do think the power will come along, though I'm not sold on the contact. 21 year old Jahmai Jones was cruising through the low to mid minors until his bat regressed in 2018, where he slashed .239/.337/.380 with ten home runs, 24 stolen bases, and a 114/67 strikeout to walk ratio over 123 games between Inland Empire and AA Mobile. If you can get past the handedness, his offensive profile is not too dissimilar to Marsh's, as both show moderate power, good speed, and patience at the plate while struggling a bit with the strikeout. I think Marsh has a more power potential and therefore more breakout potential while Jones is a little faster and has a better track record, and on defense Jones plays second base. Overall, he looks like a utility infielder at this point but could surprise if he rights the ship in AA next year. 18 year old Kevin Maitan has been a big disappointment so far, and that's difficult to do at that age. Regarded as potentially the next Chipper Jones when he signed for over $4 million with the Braves in 2016, he slashed .248/.306/.397 with eight home runs and a 66/19 strikeout to walk ratio over 63 games at rookie level Orem last year, showing the prodigious raw power that originally got him that big signing bonus but struggling to make contact and get to his power. He has plenty of time to right the ship and still has some of the best upside in the system, but he's going to take longer to develop and has a lower chance of reaching that ceiling than originally expected. 19 year old Jordyn Adams was a first rounder (17th overall) out of high school in the Raleigh area in 2018, and he hit .267/.361/.381 with no homers but five stolen bases in 29 games between complex ball and Orem this year. He's raw, with his best attribute being his blinding speed (he could have been a wide receiver at UNC), but he has the chance to grow under pro coaching and become a leadoff man with some pop. However, he has a long way to get there and first has to prove he can make contact against higher level pitching. Turning the tide a little bit, 17 year old D'Shawn Knowles has actually been a pleasant surprise so far, slashing .311/.391/.464 with five home runs and nine stolen bases across 58 games between complex ball and Orem in 2018, showing an advanced bat for someone so young and holding up well in his first taste of pro pitching. Knowles is known more as a strong defensive outfielder with a raw bat, but it might not be as raw as expected and he has a chance to be one of the better prospects in this system come next season. Watch this name. Lastly, 20 year old Nonie Williams has been a huge disappointment since being drafted in the third round (96th overall) out of the Kansas City area in 2016. Through three seasons, he still has not gotten above Orem and has slashed .219/.279/.301 with three home runs and 20 stolen bases over 121 games, his 143/36 strikeout to walk ratio holding him down. The Angels knew he was raw when they drafted him, but he's going to have to right the ship soon if he wants to become the all-around player the Angels thought they drafted.
High Floor Hitters: 1B Matt Thaiss, SS Luis Rengifo, OF Michael Hermosillo, OF Brennan Lund, SS Leonardo Rivas, SS Jeremiah Jackson, and SS Livan Soto
The players on this list don't necessarily have star upside, but they have less bust risk than on the previous list. Some have a chance to become starters, but ultimately they're likely to bench assets. Most of these guys are naturally closer to the majors but some are a little farther down. 23 year old Matt Thaiss has the most name recognition as a first round pick (16th overall) out of UVA in 2016, showing some power and plate discipline but not doing what he needs to do to stand out as a first base only prospect. In 2018, he slashed .280/.335/.467 with 16 home runs and a 103/44 strikeout to walk ratio at AA Mobile and AAA Salt Lake City, his walk rate dropping from 2017 but otherwise not losing any production. The Angels want to project him as Albert Pujols' replacement at first base, but I think he'll end up somewhere around a league average hitter, which is okay for most positions but not great for a first baseman. 21 year old Luis Rengifo is also knocking on the door as a potential utility player, having slashed .299/.399/.452 with seven home runs, 41 stolen bases, and a very nice 75/75 strikeout to walk ratio over 127 games between High A Inland Empire, Mobile, and Salt Lake City. The bat is just a little light, but the rest of his game is coming along nicely with his plate discipline, speed, and defense all looking above average. Second base might be his best bet to start, but I think he will at least be a useful utility man. 23 year old outfielders Michael Hermosillo and Brennon Lund are looking to capture fourth outfield spots, with the former a little closer than the latter. Hermosillo slashed .267/.357/.480 with 12 home runs and ten stolen bases in 68 games at Salt Lake City, then .211/.274/.333 in 31 MLB games. He strikes out a bit too much but he has some speed and some pop. Lund spent the year at Mobile, slashing .264/.343/.404 with eight home runs and 21 stolen bases across 100 games, showing a similar profile to Hermosillo. Both show some power, speed, and patience, though both also tend to swing and miss and don't have the power to make up for that. Lastly, we have three low-level shortstop prospects in 21 year old Leonardo Rivas and 18 year olds Jeremiah Jackson and Livan Soto. As you would expect, Rivas is the most advanced, having slashed .234/.354/.333 with five homers, 16 stolen bases, and an interesting 140/84 strikeout to walk ratio, mostly at Class A Burlington. The bat is very light and he will likely never be a big league starter, but he walks so much that we just can't ignore him for now. Jackson was just taken in the second round (57th overall) out of high school in Mobile, and he slashed .254/.314/.491 with seven home runs, ten stolen bases, and a 59/15 strikeout to walk ratio over 43 games between complex ball and rookie level Orem. He has the highest upside of this trio and is the most likely to become a starter, potentially replacing Andrelton Simmons down the road, but he has a long way to go and he profiles more as a solid utility man than as a starter. He does have some power and plate discipline but may have to move off shortstop and instead compete at third base. Lastly, Soto's profile resembles Rivas' more than it does Jackson's, as he slashed .291/.385/.349 with no home runs, nine stolen bases, and an even 24/24 strikeout to walk ratio over 44 games. Like Rivas, he has a light bat with no power but also an excellent eye at the plate. He also plays better defense than Rivas and is younger, and I'd argue he has a higher ceiling, but he'll have to show at least some sock in the bat to move up.
Notable Pitchers: Griffin Canning, Jose Suarez, Patrick Sandoval, Jose Soriano, Stiward Aquino, and Chris Rodriguez
The Angels are very shallow in pitching prospects, though they do have three that stand out as potential impact arms and three more that are a long way off and could develop into such. These six are pretty good prospects in their own right, but there's a drop-off afterwards and there aren't too many other candidates to join this list. 22 year old Griffin Canning looks to have the best combination of floor and ceiling at this point, coming off a year where he posted a 3.65 ERA, a 1.26 WHIP, and a 125/44 strikeout to walk ratio over 113.1 innings, jumping all the way from High A Inland Empire to AAA Salt Lake City. His numbers dipped progressively over each level, as is natural, and he'll probably need more time at AAA next season, but he has moved through the minor leagues very quickly for a 2017 draftee and could be a mid rotation starter by mid-season. The ceiling isn't very high with him, but he's not just your run of the mill, back-end starter type. 20 year old Jose Suarez doesn't get as much attention as perhaps he should, reaching AAA at a very young age and holding his own there. Like Canning, he pitched at Inland Empire, AA Mobile, and Salt Lake City in 2018 and his numbers progressively dipped, but he's almost two years younger and posted a 3.92 ERA, a 1.41 WHIP, and a 142/44 strikeout to walk ratio over 117 innings. He's just 5'10" and throws in the low 90's, but the lefty is very advanced for his age and looks like a safe bet to be a #4ish starter, someone who can get outs and throw strikes consistently. He won't be an ace, but he should be a productive, long-term starting option. 22 year old Patrick Sandoval came over in the Martin Maldonado trade, and he had a huge breakout year in 2018. The 6'3" lefty went 11-1 with a 2.06 ERA, a 0.96 WHIP, and a 145/29 strikeout to walk ratio over 122.1 innings despite pitching for four different minor league teams across three levels from Class A up to AA. Like Suarez, he doesn't throw too hard, but he commands his pitches very well and mixes up his deep arsenal well enough to miss a lot of bats and induce a lot of weak contact. He probably has a higher ceiling than both Canning and Suarez, and though he doesn't quite have the same floor, he could join them to make a very solid back three of the rotation behind whoever ends up at the front. 20 year olds Jose Soriano and Chris Rodriguez as well as 19 year old Stiward Aquino haven't done much yet, but they have breakout potential in a system that lacks many pitching options. Soriano is the most advanced, having put up a 4.47 ERA, a 1.49 WHIP, and a 42/35 strikeout to walk ratio over 46.1 innings at Class A Burlington, showing the building blocks for success though he has not put it together yet. He throws hard, up to 97 at times, and his skinny 6'3" frame projects more velocity, but he struggles with command and has not yet refined his secondary pitches. Aquino put up a 3.99 ERA, a 1.47 WHIP, and a 31/13 strikeout to walk ratio across 29.1 innings in complex ball, obviously a long way off but showing perhaps the best ceiling in the organization. He's a 6'6" righty with a mid 90's fastball and a curveball that's coming along well, so he just needs to keep on the development arc he's currently on. He might never get above A ball, but keep an eye on him. Lastly, Rodriguez missed the season with injuries but shows a good combination of stuff and command, and he could develop into a Griffin Canning type down the road if he can get healthy and get consistent. Obviously, he's a long way off as well.
Affiliates: AAA Salt Lake City Bees, AA Mobile BayBears, High A Inland Empire 66ers, Class A Burlington Bees, Rookie level Orem Owlz, complex level AZL and DSL Angels
The Headliner: OF Jo Adell
Drafted in the first round (tenth overall) out of a Louisville-area high school in 2017, 19 year old Jo Adell has already made a name for himself on a national scale and is arguably one of the top ten prospects in baseball after a huge 2018. Over 99 games, he slashed .290/.355/.543 with 20 home runs, 15 stolen bases, and a 111/32 strikeout to walk ratio across three levels, reaching all the way up to AA Mobile as a teenager. He shows power, speed, the ability to get on base, and good defense in the outfield, so the only knock on his game is some swing and miss. Otherwise, he looks like a future All Star that could be an annual 30 homer, 20 stolen base threat, and it doesn't take a huge stretch of the imagination to imagine him holding up an AL MVP Award. If the Angels can figure out a way to keep Mike Trout, a core of Trout, Adell, and Shohei Ohtani will be fun to watch.
Other High-Upside Hitters: OF Brandon Marsh, 2B Jahmai Jones, OF D'Shawn Knowles, SS Kevin Maitan, OF Jordyn Adams, and SS Nonie Williams
Adell isn't the only high-upside hitter in this system, though many of the others have been disappointing and look farther from reaching their lofty ceilings than originally thought. We'll start with 20 year old Brandon Marsh, who hasn't been a total disappointment. The outfielder slashed .295/.390/.470 in 34 games at Class A Burlington, but put up a more pedestrian .256/.348/.385 line in 93 games at hitter-friendly High A Inland Empire, combining for ten home runs, 14 stolen bases, and a 158/73 strikeout to walk ratio. Marsh is still young and it's nice to see the power/speed/patience combination as a hitter, but the strikeouts are a little high and we're still waiting on a breakout. If anything, I do think the power will come along, though I'm not sold on the contact. 21 year old Jahmai Jones was cruising through the low to mid minors until his bat regressed in 2018, where he slashed .239/.337/.380 with ten home runs, 24 stolen bases, and a 114/67 strikeout to walk ratio over 123 games between Inland Empire and AA Mobile. If you can get past the handedness, his offensive profile is not too dissimilar to Marsh's, as both show moderate power, good speed, and patience at the plate while struggling a bit with the strikeout. I think Marsh has a more power potential and therefore more breakout potential while Jones is a little faster and has a better track record, and on defense Jones plays second base. Overall, he looks like a utility infielder at this point but could surprise if he rights the ship in AA next year. 18 year old Kevin Maitan has been a big disappointment so far, and that's difficult to do at that age. Regarded as potentially the next Chipper Jones when he signed for over $4 million with the Braves in 2016, he slashed .248/.306/.397 with eight home runs and a 66/19 strikeout to walk ratio over 63 games at rookie level Orem last year, showing the prodigious raw power that originally got him that big signing bonus but struggling to make contact and get to his power. He has plenty of time to right the ship and still has some of the best upside in the system, but he's going to take longer to develop and has a lower chance of reaching that ceiling than originally expected. 19 year old Jordyn Adams was a first rounder (17th overall) out of high school in the Raleigh area in 2018, and he hit .267/.361/.381 with no homers but five stolen bases in 29 games between complex ball and Orem this year. He's raw, with his best attribute being his blinding speed (he could have been a wide receiver at UNC), but he has the chance to grow under pro coaching and become a leadoff man with some pop. However, he has a long way to get there and first has to prove he can make contact against higher level pitching. Turning the tide a little bit, 17 year old D'Shawn Knowles has actually been a pleasant surprise so far, slashing .311/.391/.464 with five home runs and nine stolen bases across 58 games between complex ball and Orem in 2018, showing an advanced bat for someone so young and holding up well in his first taste of pro pitching. Knowles is known more as a strong defensive outfielder with a raw bat, but it might not be as raw as expected and he has a chance to be one of the better prospects in this system come next season. Watch this name. Lastly, 20 year old Nonie Williams has been a huge disappointment since being drafted in the third round (96th overall) out of the Kansas City area in 2016. Through three seasons, he still has not gotten above Orem and has slashed .219/.279/.301 with three home runs and 20 stolen bases over 121 games, his 143/36 strikeout to walk ratio holding him down. The Angels knew he was raw when they drafted him, but he's going to have to right the ship soon if he wants to become the all-around player the Angels thought they drafted.
High Floor Hitters: 1B Matt Thaiss, SS Luis Rengifo, OF Michael Hermosillo, OF Brennan Lund, SS Leonardo Rivas, SS Jeremiah Jackson, and SS Livan Soto
The players on this list don't necessarily have star upside, but they have less bust risk than on the previous list. Some have a chance to become starters, but ultimately they're likely to bench assets. Most of these guys are naturally closer to the majors but some are a little farther down. 23 year old Matt Thaiss has the most name recognition as a first round pick (16th overall) out of UVA in 2016, showing some power and plate discipline but not doing what he needs to do to stand out as a first base only prospect. In 2018, he slashed .280/.335/.467 with 16 home runs and a 103/44 strikeout to walk ratio at AA Mobile and AAA Salt Lake City, his walk rate dropping from 2017 but otherwise not losing any production. The Angels want to project him as Albert Pujols' replacement at first base, but I think he'll end up somewhere around a league average hitter, which is okay for most positions but not great for a first baseman. 21 year old Luis Rengifo is also knocking on the door as a potential utility player, having slashed .299/.399/.452 with seven home runs, 41 stolen bases, and a very nice 75/75 strikeout to walk ratio over 127 games between High A Inland Empire, Mobile, and Salt Lake City. The bat is just a little light, but the rest of his game is coming along nicely with his plate discipline, speed, and defense all looking above average. Second base might be his best bet to start, but I think he will at least be a useful utility man. 23 year old outfielders Michael Hermosillo and Brennon Lund are looking to capture fourth outfield spots, with the former a little closer than the latter. Hermosillo slashed .267/.357/.480 with 12 home runs and ten stolen bases in 68 games at Salt Lake City, then .211/.274/.333 in 31 MLB games. He strikes out a bit too much but he has some speed and some pop. Lund spent the year at Mobile, slashing .264/.343/.404 with eight home runs and 21 stolen bases across 100 games, showing a similar profile to Hermosillo. Both show some power, speed, and patience, though both also tend to swing and miss and don't have the power to make up for that. Lastly, we have three low-level shortstop prospects in 21 year old Leonardo Rivas and 18 year olds Jeremiah Jackson and Livan Soto. As you would expect, Rivas is the most advanced, having slashed .234/.354/.333 with five homers, 16 stolen bases, and an interesting 140/84 strikeout to walk ratio, mostly at Class A Burlington. The bat is very light and he will likely never be a big league starter, but he walks so much that we just can't ignore him for now. Jackson was just taken in the second round (57th overall) out of high school in Mobile, and he slashed .254/.314/.491 with seven home runs, ten stolen bases, and a 59/15 strikeout to walk ratio over 43 games between complex ball and rookie level Orem. He has the highest upside of this trio and is the most likely to become a starter, potentially replacing Andrelton Simmons down the road, but he has a long way to go and he profiles more as a solid utility man than as a starter. He does have some power and plate discipline but may have to move off shortstop and instead compete at third base. Lastly, Soto's profile resembles Rivas' more than it does Jackson's, as he slashed .291/.385/.349 with no home runs, nine stolen bases, and an even 24/24 strikeout to walk ratio over 44 games. Like Rivas, he has a light bat with no power but also an excellent eye at the plate. He also plays better defense than Rivas and is younger, and I'd argue he has a higher ceiling, but he'll have to show at least some sock in the bat to move up.
Notable Pitchers: Griffin Canning, Jose Suarez, Patrick Sandoval, Jose Soriano, Stiward Aquino, and Chris Rodriguez
The Angels are very shallow in pitching prospects, though they do have three that stand out as potential impact arms and three more that are a long way off and could develop into such. These six are pretty good prospects in their own right, but there's a drop-off afterwards and there aren't too many other candidates to join this list. 22 year old Griffin Canning looks to have the best combination of floor and ceiling at this point, coming off a year where he posted a 3.65 ERA, a 1.26 WHIP, and a 125/44 strikeout to walk ratio over 113.1 innings, jumping all the way from High A Inland Empire to AAA Salt Lake City. His numbers dipped progressively over each level, as is natural, and he'll probably need more time at AAA next season, but he has moved through the minor leagues very quickly for a 2017 draftee and could be a mid rotation starter by mid-season. The ceiling isn't very high with him, but he's not just your run of the mill, back-end starter type. 20 year old Jose Suarez doesn't get as much attention as perhaps he should, reaching AAA at a very young age and holding his own there. Like Canning, he pitched at Inland Empire, AA Mobile, and Salt Lake City in 2018 and his numbers progressively dipped, but he's almost two years younger and posted a 3.92 ERA, a 1.41 WHIP, and a 142/44 strikeout to walk ratio over 117 innings. He's just 5'10" and throws in the low 90's, but the lefty is very advanced for his age and looks like a safe bet to be a #4ish starter, someone who can get outs and throw strikes consistently. He won't be an ace, but he should be a productive, long-term starting option. 22 year old Patrick Sandoval came over in the Martin Maldonado trade, and he had a huge breakout year in 2018. The 6'3" lefty went 11-1 with a 2.06 ERA, a 0.96 WHIP, and a 145/29 strikeout to walk ratio over 122.1 innings despite pitching for four different minor league teams across three levels from Class A up to AA. Like Suarez, he doesn't throw too hard, but he commands his pitches very well and mixes up his deep arsenal well enough to miss a lot of bats and induce a lot of weak contact. He probably has a higher ceiling than both Canning and Suarez, and though he doesn't quite have the same floor, he could join them to make a very solid back three of the rotation behind whoever ends up at the front. 20 year olds Jose Soriano and Chris Rodriguez as well as 19 year old Stiward Aquino haven't done much yet, but they have breakout potential in a system that lacks many pitching options. Soriano is the most advanced, having put up a 4.47 ERA, a 1.49 WHIP, and a 42/35 strikeout to walk ratio over 46.1 innings at Class A Burlington, showing the building blocks for success though he has not put it together yet. He throws hard, up to 97 at times, and his skinny 6'3" frame projects more velocity, but he struggles with command and has not yet refined his secondary pitches. Aquino put up a 3.99 ERA, a 1.47 WHIP, and a 31/13 strikeout to walk ratio across 29.1 innings in complex ball, obviously a long way off but showing perhaps the best ceiling in the organization. He's a 6'6" righty with a mid 90's fastball and a curveball that's coming along well, so he just needs to keep on the development arc he's currently on. He might never get above A ball, but keep an eye on him. Lastly, Rodriguez missed the season with injuries but shows a good combination of stuff and command, and he could develop into a Griffin Canning type down the road if he can get healthy and get consistent. Obviously, he's a long way off as well.
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