There have been headline-grabbing, mega-millions moves at the major league level in each of Jerry Dipoto's two winters as Angels general manager. At the same time, however, Dipoto has taken the Angels' scouting and player development departments through a virtually complete makeover.
Third base is the Angels' only infield position that still carries a question mark for the future. The position belongs to Alberto Callaspo at this point. But the Angels are not committed to Callaspo beyond 2013—opening the door for a quick rise to the big leagues if top prospect Kaleb Cowart is up the challenge.
When the 2012 season ended, righthander Bobby Cassevah figured his next assignment would be somewhere in Latin America when winter ball started.
Righthander Garrett Richards has a live arm and a raw but impressive arsenal of pitches. But there is another asset that could prove most valuable in his immediate future: He works cheap.
When the Angels made Hank Conger their first-round pick in the 2006 draft, it was no doubt with the hope that the switch-hitter would be their everyday catcher one day. That day—if it ever comes—has now been pushed at least three years into the future.
A third-round pick in the 2011 draft, lefthander Nick Maronde made a fast rise through the Angels system this year. The 23-year-old started the year in high Class A, even went backward to the Rookie-level Arizona League after a lat muscle injury, but finished it with the Angels as a September callup being used as a situational reliever in crucial games by manager Mike Scioscia.
For all the attention their $150 million payroll gets, the Angels are built on a strong foundation of homegrown players. The system behind that group, however, is thin.
Bill Plunkett selects end-of-season award winners for the Angels system, selecting the Best Player, Best Pitcher and a player to keep an eye on.
No doubt, Steven Geltz had heard tales of the luxurious lives of big leaguers. But he was still a little startled when he saw it firsthand.
It's not so much the 100 that first baseman C.J. Cron has, as the 25 he lost that might make his season a success in the eyes of the Angels' new hierarchy.
Lefthander Nick Maronde is starting to answer one of the main questions about his future.
Travis Witherspoon fits one baseball archetype pretty well: the gifted athlete whose baseball skills have lagged behind his athleticism.
Correspondent Bill Plunkett files a midseason report for the Angels, highlighting a Best Player, a Biggest Leap Forward and a Biggest Disappointment for the first half.
Opportunity knocked. But Hank Conger wasn't able to answer. In early May, the Angels were in need of a catcher. But Conger was in Tempe, Ariz., at the Angels' minor league complex, rehabbing from an elbow injury of his own.
The way Angels scouting director Ric Wilson figured it, the Angels' 2012 draft was already a success. "Our first two picks were Albert (Pujols) and C.J. (Wilson)," Wilson joked. "I'll take that any year."
Lefthander Trevor Reckling's rapid rise and fall as a prospect came to a thudding conclusion in early May.
As his team struggled through the first three weeks of the season, Angels manager Mike Scioscia was asked about the torrid start top prospect Mike Trout had gotten off to with Triple-A Salt Lake.
After batting .324/.410/.547 for high Class A Inland Empire last season, outfielder Kole Calhoun figured to take a step up in the Angels farm system. Instead, he made a jump.
Jean Segura clearly made a big impression during his time in major league camp with the Angels this spring.
Garrett Richards made his major league debut at Yankee Stadium in 2011 and may make his first 2012 appearance there too.
Baseball America
