Saturday Morning Review: Los Angeles Angels Minor League Report
7/27/19 - Jay Sheehy - Founder and Editor-In-Chief
The dog days of summer are here and with them come the new prospect rankings by MLB.com. Before they come out, however, I thought I might take a look at what the Angels farm system looks like before the inclusion of this year’s draft and international signings. Griffin Canning is the only graduate from the preseason list. When the new rankings come out we will take a look out how the new members of the Angels Top 30 are doing. We will also be saying goodbye to those on this list who don’t make the next one (looking at you, Jake Jewell).
Jo Adell (20) - OF - Mobile BayBears (Double-A)
Does he strike out too much? Maybe. Will his growing body sap his speed as he gets older? Probably. Is he a likely .300 hitter? No, not really. But none of that really matters. Jo Adell’s trajectory is that of a superstar. He’s the fellow superstar the Angels have wanted to pair with Mike Trout for all these painful years. Sure, they have Ohtani now (and let’s not argue that he, too, is an absolute superstar), but Adell is homegrown and for the longest time it didn’t seem like the Angels were capable of drafting superstars. Now they have. Adell is about as can’t-miss as a twenty year old kid can be when it comes to baseball. Goodbye Kole Calhoun, your replacement is here. Adell is Angels #1, MLB’s #4 rated prospect. Neither will change. If he hadn’t gotten injured during spring training, there might be calls for the Angels to call him up. As it stands, the Angels were gifted a little extra time. But, those calls will be coming soon. Very, very soon.
44 G, 169 AB, .306/.383/.521/.904; 5/5 SBBrandon Marsh (21) - OF - Mobile BayBears (Double-A)
A gifted athlete, Marsh also excels at pitch recognition. That combination is the main reason he is rated so highly for the Angels. While his power hasn’t really jumped off the page yet, with his 10 Home Runs in 2018 being a career high, he has all the makings of someone who gains power as they move up the minor league ladder. Defensively, Marsh’s speed allows him to cover ground like no one else in the Angels system. There’s no reason to think he’ll move down very far, if at all in the next batch of rankings. Marsh is on his way. He’s going to be a good one.
64 G, 235 AB, .277/.373/.379/.751; 13/17 SBJahmai Jones (21 for another week) - 2B - Mobile BayBears (Double-A)
What a difficult year it has been for Jahmai Jones. The slash line is awful, he can’t steal a base without being caught two other times, his defense at second is spotty. Yet, he has started to come on in the last couple weeks and he is firmly above the Mendoza line for the first time this year. Hopefully, Jones spends the next couple months refining his approach and continuing to grind. His fall in the prospect rankings could be more than ten spots.
97 G, 361 AB, .208/.277/.280/.557; 5/13 SBJose Suarez (21) - LHP - Salt Lake Bees (Triple-A)
The key to Jose Suarez’s rise through the Angels system has been his ability to always miss bats. With a 10.68 K/9 in 2016, 11.80 K/9 in 2017, and 10.92 K/9 in 2018, Suarez moved quickly through the minors despite not having what many would describe as great stuff. Plus, his short and stocky frame doesn’t scream front-line starter, but Suarez continues to thrive with his amazing changeup and above average curveball. He won’t be on the prospect list much longer, but as long as he is, he should find himself in the Top 5.
MLB: 37 IP, 43 K’s, .281 AVG, 1.51 WHIP, 5.35 ERA
Triple-A: 32.1 IP, 31 K’s, .202 AVG, 1.27 WHIP, 3.62 ERAJordyn Adams (19) - OF - Burlington Bees (Low A)
Hoping they could strike gold two first rounds in a row, by selecting an incredibly athletic outfielder from the South, the Angels grabbed Adams. He has a lot of things going for him. But, he is no Jo Adell. That’s okay. Adams is lightning fast though he still hasn’t figured out how to harness it on the base paths. He’ll get there. His track is more along the lines of Brandon Marsh than it is Jo Adell. He has good control of the strike zone and though his average and power haven’t fully shown up in games, he is right there with both tools. Despite his relative struggles this season he will most likely stay where he is or even move up the Angels rankings.
90 G, 345 AB, .246/.339/.342/.681; 11/16 SBMatt Thaiss (24) - 1B/3B - Los Angeles Angels (MLB)
A first round pick out of Virginia in the 2016 draft, Thaiss was immediately moved from catcher to first base in the hopes of moving up the ladder quickly as possible. It hasn’t worked out that way. His career minor league slash line of .279/.363/.445/.808 is not what you hope to get from a first base prospect. Thaiss has began to play some third base in an effort to get his bat into the lineup. To me, he has always seemed a bit overrated. His .867 OPS in Triple-A this season leaves him fifth on his own team, a staggering 134 points behind fourth place (Jose Rojas, 1.001). He would slot in nicely in the late teens or early twenties though I’m sure he’ll be overrated again when the new prospect rankings arrive.
79 G, 310 AB, .274/.390/.477/.867; 1/1Jeremiah Jackson (19) - SS/2B - Orem Owlz (Rookie Advance)
The Angels 2nd round pick in 2018, Jackson was the perfect choice as the Angels draft high upside, athletic ball players. He has a lot of swing and miss to his game but when he connects he does damage. Currently, he leads the Pioneer League with 14 Home Runs. With the selection of Will Wilson in the draft this year, Jackson has begun to switch back and forth between shortstop and 2nd base. He has the ability to stay at short defensively but his bat will profile just about anywhere. He should move up a few spots in the Angels Top 30 rankings.
37 G, 146 AB, .260/.333/.623/.957; 3/3 SBD’Shawn Knowles (18) - OF - Orem Owlz (Rookie Advance)
Another Bahamian import, Knowles signed for $850,000 in 2017. While not the burner that Deveaux is, Knowles is still plenty fast. His 28 game cameo in Orem in 2018 turned heads when he ended with a .949 OPS. This season started off well for Knowles, but he has slowed down as opponents have begun to figure him out. He is right where he should be in the Angels Top 30 rankings, so he shouldn’t move too much.
32 G, 124 AB, .266/.338/.379/.717; 4/7 SBChris Rodriguez (21) - RHP - Inland Empire 66ers (High A)
The Angels 4th round selection in the 2016 draft, Rodriguez has thrown a combined 77.2 innings during his four years of professional ball. His latest injury appears to be the continuing issue he has with his back. His stuff is really good. He might have been a steal. But, he doesn’t really pitch so it’s very difficult to judge him. He should fall down the rankings, if not out of them completely.
9.1 IP, 13 K’s, .188 AVG, 1.07 WHIP, 0.00 ERAPatrick Sandoval (22) - LHP - Salt Lake Bees (Triple-A)
Sandoval’s amazing 2018 led to his trade to the Angels for Martin Maldonado. Coming to a new organization did nothing to slow him down. He ended the year with a .196 average against, 0.96 WHIP, and a 2.06 ERA. Incredible year. This is not 2018. Sandoval started the year in Double-A and did fine, but his move to Triple-A has been incredibly difficult for him. A fall in the rankings is likely, though some of his troubles can be attributed to the league. Therefore his slide shouldn’t be too steep.
54.2 IP, 60 K’s, .333 AVG, 2.05 WHIP, 7.08 ERAJose Soriano (20) - RHP - Burlington Bees (Low A)
This is what $70,000 can get you on the international market if you know what you are doing…or, if you get lucky. The Angels most likely did the latter. An electric fastball mixed with a high spin curveball is Soriano’s foundation, which is an improved changeup away from him truly be a star prospect. Command is still an issue for Soriano, though it seems like he gets better with people on base, which might hint at a future in the back of the Angels bullpen. He definitely has the stuff to be a premiere closer. He should move into the Angels Top 10.
67 IP, 72 K’s, .203 AVG, 1.31 WHIP, 2.55 ERAKevin Maitan (19) - 3B - Burlington Bees (Low A)
The crown jewel of the 2016 International Signing period, Kevin Maitan signed with the Atlanta Braves for $4.25 million dollars and was called the next Miguel Cabrera. Then, he became a free agent when the Braves GM, John Coppolella, was banned for life for his violations of international signing rules. That’s the only excitement surrounding Maitan’s career. On the diamond, he’s gained 40-50 pounds and looks nothing like the can’t-miss prospect teams lined up to sign. Given his disastrous track record over nearly 200 minor league games, he doesn’t deserve to be on the Angels Top 30 list anymore. As it stands right now, he’s a 19-year old in Low A, who is very below average at nearly everything.
91 G, 358 AB, .221/.279/.324/.604; 6/10 SBMichael Hermosillo (24) - OF - Salt Lake Bees (Triple-A)
A 28th round pick in 2013, Hermosillo is really good at getting on base. His 2016 season is what put him on the prospect map with a .317/.402/.467/.869 slash line across two levels opening some eyes. Hermosillo is a solid athlete but there isn’t a lot of power to his game and his ability to steal bases is underwhelming. Despite this, he is a minor uptick in power away from profiling as an average major league outfielder. If that power never comes he’ll still have a long career as a fourth outfielder. At 24, with below average numbers in the hitters heaven that is Salt Lake City, Hermosillo might very well find himself removed from the Angels Top 30 prospect list.
34 G, 134 AB, .246/.365/.418/.783; 4/6 SBTrent Deveaux (19) - OF - AZL Angels (Rookie)
The new hot-spot for raw, athletic baseball players is the Bahamas. Deveaux fits that profile to a T, and the Angels thought enough of him to give him $1.2 million in July of 2017. Deveaux’s athleticism is off the charts with his running tool (a solid 80 on the scouting scale) being his most eye-popping trait. His initial run in the Arizona Rookie league didn’t go too well last season, but he has made noticeable strides in the off-season. The biggest thing Deveaux needs is experience. His potential is impossible to ignore, yet, he could easily move down a few spots in the Angels Top 30 due to last year’s struggles. Anywhere between 10-15 makes a lot of sense.
27 G, 107 AB, .271/.352/.505/.857; 9/10 SBStiward Aquino (20) - RHP - AZL Angels (Rookie)
Aquino screams projection and not much else right now. Signed for a $100,000 in 2016, Aquino missed all of 2018 after Tommy John surgery. As he returns to the mound this year the focus will be about staying healthy more than the results. He will surely move down the Angels Top 30, if not out of it completely.
12.2 IP, 16 K’s, .347 AVG, 1.97 WHIP, 9.24 ERALivan Soto (19) - SS - Burlington Bees (Low A)
Signed for $850,000 after the Atlanta Braves debacle regarding violations having to do with international free agent signings, Soto is a glove-first shortstop who has a good feel for the strike zone. So far, his offensive game has yet to catch up to his defense. If it never does, Soto will still be a valuable defensive substitute and utility spot starter. The hope is that he can improve enough at the plate to be an everyday regular. The defensive genius is why he rates so high, but he most likely will fall back into the 20’s when the updated prospect rankings come out.
32 G, 118 AB, .229/.319/.280/.598; 4/4 SBAaron Hernandez (22) - RHP - Inland Empire 66ers (High A)
Drafted in the third round of the 2018 draft, Hernandez didn’t pitch last season after signing. Despite the long layoff the Angels started him at Inland Empire to start the season. It has proved to be a difficult challenge for him. High ERA and WHIP ratios prove that he doesn’t currently have the game-plan to combat the difficult pitching environment that is the California League. A move to the bullpen seems likely, as does a fall down the Angels prospect list.
50 IP, 56 K’s, .289 AVG, 1.78 WHIP, 4.86 ERAJared Walsh (25) - 1B/OF/LHP - Salt Lake Bees (Triple-A)
The Jared Walsh Experiment is in full effect this season as he adds his name to the growing list of two-way players in the Angels organization. A 39th round pick back in 2015, Walsh has improved every year with a breakout 29 Home Runs last year introducing him to the world. At the plate, he is destroying the Pacific Coast League. If the Angels didn’t have such a glut of 1B/DH types (looking at you Pujols, Bour, Thaiss) Walsh would be getting a few more big league at-bats this season. As for the mound, Walsh has appeared in twelve contests total (eight in Triple-A; four with the Angels), and he has been consistently wild. But, also effective. I don’t know if he’ll still be prospect eligible or not, but Walsh should remain where he is, if so. He has cleared every minor league hurdle and now it’s really about getting the opportunity to play everyday with the big league club.
Triple-A: 280 AB, .314/.420/.664/1.084Triple-A: 8 IP, 6 K’s, .314 AVG, 1.63 WHIP, 3.38 ERA
MLB: 33 AB, .242/.286/.303/.589
MLB: 4.1 IP, 4 K’s, .200 AVG, 1.85 WHIP, 2.08 ERA
Luis Madero (22) - RHP - Mobile BayBears (Double-A)
Given his stuff, Madero has always been a little too hittable for my liking. Acquired from the Diamondbacks in 2017, Madero has shown glimpses of dominance. Sadly, it has been mixed in with months of mediocre pitching. His 2018 season ended on a very high note as he cruised to a 2.44 ERA in the brutal California League. This season, after a few games back at Inland Empire, he moved up to Double-A. He’s had trouble ever since. While Madero struggles, his projection is what people will be harping on for at least another year or two. He definitely has the stuff to develop into a quality starter, but as of now he looks like someone who will find himself in the back of a bullpen where he can settle with a two pitch mix of fastball and slider. He might move up a few spots in the Top 30 but in reality should remain around #19 or #20.
69.2 IP, 62 K’s, .309 AVG, 1.55 WHIP, 5.81 ERAJesus Castillo (23) - RHP - Mobile BayBears (Double-A)
A tough 2018 season in Mobile has dimmed the lights on Castillo but he still has that pitchability that is seen from people who grind out decade long careers at the back of a big league rotation. This season has been dramatically better, and given the fact that he is still 23 (though he does turn 24 at the end of August), he is certainly going to be in the mix for some role by next season.
84.2 IP, 65 K’s, .272 AVG, 1.31 WHIP, 2.98 ERAJack Kruger (24) - C - Mobile BayBears (Double-A)
Kruger made some noise in 2018 with a solid .299/.357/.413/.770 across two levels, ending at Double-A. His return to the Southern League has been a disappointment, however, and his #21 ranking will be short-lived. A 20th round pick in 2016, out of Mississippi State, Kruger is an above average athlete behind the plate. And, with the dearth of catching prospects in the Angels system, he seems to be someone who will consistently move up the ladder as long as he doesn’t have any absolutely brutal seasons. Right now, he’s on the verge of such a season, so it’s unlikely he remains in the Angels Top 30.
73 G, .241/.303/.318/.621Jeremy Beasley (23) - RHP - Mobile BayBears (Double-A)
A 30th round pick in 2017, Beasley hit the ground running and hasn’t stopped. Over three levels and 111.2 IP in 2018, he struck out 104 batters, had a .236 average against and a 1.15 WHIP. Despite pitching incredibly well in Double-A, he returned there to start the season and has been better than average in his return. Although his repertoire doesn’t jump out at you, and many believe he’ll end up in the bullpen, there will always be a place for someone who can get outs. His ranking in the Angels Top 30 should go up a few spots.
89.2 IP, 83 K’s, .253 AVG, 1.36 WHIP, 3.61 ERAJake Jewell (26) - RHP - Salt Lake Bees (Triple-A)
At 26, it is somewhat difficult to call Jewell a prospect as he tries to stick in the Angels bullpen. A career 4.95 ERA speaks to someone who has routinely found it difficult to get hitters out. His move up the ladder seems to be along the lines of a social promotion. This year hasn’t been any better. He should not be rated in the Angels Top 30 and he won’t be with the mid-season rankings.
30 IP, 34 K’s, .300 AVG, 1.63 WHIP, 5.70 ERALeonardo Rivas (21) - SS/2B - Inland Empire 66ers (High A)
Rivas has an uncanny ability to get on base though his lack of strength makes for a low ceiling on his batting average and slugging percentage. Signed in 2014 for $40,000, his 61-game 2017 campaign created believers out of the Angels front office and fans alike. The .286/.443/.296/.839 slash line as a nineteen year old screamed “lead-off man of the future.” Since then, low batting averages have suppressed his ability to approach that On-base mark. This season he has missed time with an assortment of injuries. If his hitting doesn’t improve, Rivas isn’t long for the Angels Top 30. As it stands, his plate discipline will probably see him remain on the list, though he is bound to fall a few spots.
39 G, .247/.343/.424/.767Brennon Lund (24) - OF - Salt Lake Bees (Triple-A)
Lund looks to be a guy who tries to hang around as a fourth outfielder for a decade, never fully locked into the role. He’s definitely a grinder, however, which is something you need in your system. An eleventh round pick in 2016, out of BYU, Lund sits at a career minor league average of .288. The upper levels have lowered that a bit, but .260-.270 hitter is what you’re going to get with him. There’s not a lot of power there, even this year in the hitter’s paradise that is Salt Lake City and the Pacific Coast League. Given his age and his pedestrian numbers in the PCL, I’d say Lund falls to the back end of the Top 30, or off the list completely.
85 G, .271/.341/.452/.793John Swanda (20) - RHP - Burlington Bees (Low A)
A fourth round pick in 2017, the Angels paid Swanda an over slot $625,000 to sign. The early returns aren’t kind. First off, he seems injury prone. It could be little things, but as of right now he has only pitched 51.1 innings in three seasons. Not a good sign. Second, when he did pitch last year it didn’t go very well. A 4.50 ERA and 1.47 WHIP while not even striking out a batter an inning (26K/30IP) doesn’t speak to quality stuff. This year he’s only pitched 4 games and though the 3.86 ERA doesn’t scream disaster, all of the peripheral stats still do. Definitely a candidate to fall out of the Top 30.
11.2 IP, 8 K’s, .255 AVG, 1.46 WHIP, 3.86 ERAWilliam English (18) - RHP/OF - AZL Angels (Rookie)
The Angels saw something in the young English (He was 17 when drafted) when they paid him over slot to the tune of $700,000 as a fifth round pick in the 2018 draft. Projection. Projection. Projection. As of now, that’s all it is because the two-way player has played in just a single game since being drafted. Being this young while taking on the rigors of both pitching and playing everyday, I’m sure the Angels are going to err on the side of caution with him. There’s not much else to say. Whether or not he remains in the Angels Top 30 has more to do with other people, but I see him falling out of the Top 30.Hector Yan (20) - LHP - Burlington Bees (Low A)
An $80,000 signing in 2015, Yan has at times electrified in his 150+ minor league innings. His 12.58 K/9 and .196 average against speak to his premium stuff. The reason he is ranked as the Angels #28 prospect, however, is his command (Truth be told, he should be rated much higher. Suarez will be off the list soon, and after that the only person who legitimately has proven to be better is Patrick Sandoval, who is having a terrible year in Triple-A. Plus, pitchers shorter than six feet tall tend to be underrated; Yan is 5’11”). His 40 BB’s over 78.2 innings is definitely a red flag, but the fallback option of going to the bullpen hasn’t come to fruition just yet. Given the Angels yearly struggles with finding five quality starters, hopefully Yan continues down his current path. I would venture to guess that Yan’s mid-season ranking will be 10-15 spots higher.
78.2 IP, 110 K’s, .196 AVG, 1.22 WHIP, 3.46 ERAKyle Bradish (22) - RHP - Inland Empire 66ers (High A)
A 4th round pick in 2018 out of New Mexico St., the Angels elected not to have Bradish pitch after signing, which is their normal course of action. Despite taking the time off, Bradish was slotted into the High-A rotation at Inland Empire to start the season. So far, so good. Despite the occasional bout of wildness, Bradish is averaging about 11.5 K/9, along with limiting hitters to six home runs in the difficult pitching environment that is the California League. Bradish’s stuff will see him move up the Angels Top 30 list.
71 IP, 91 K’s, .228 AVG, 1.32 WHIP, 4.18 ERAAlexander Ramirez (16) - OF - DSL Angels (Dominican Summer League)
Not surprisingly, 16-year old Ramirez is struggling in the Dominican Summer League. The Angels gave him a cool $1 million and MLB Pipeline rated him the #28 international prospect so I guess we’ll give him a little time to grow, maybe wait until he hits adulthood. Hard to say off of such a small sample size, but my guess is Ramirez remains in the Top 30.
33 G - .200/.309/.362/.671