2003 Wrapups: Anaheim Angels
With the 2003 minor league season coming to a close, we will be providing a brief wrapup of the season for all 30 minor league teams. In each report, we will take a look at how the team's Top 10 Prospects performed, identify some emerging prospects and organizational leaders, and report on the performance of their top draft pick.
Complete index of Team Wrapups 2003 League Wrapups
By Kevin Goldstein
September 16, 2003
Season Results
Performance of Top 10 Prospects
Here's how our top 10 prospects entering this season performed in 2003. Major league statistics through games of September 15th.
| 1. Francisco Rodriguez, RHP
Age: 21 |
Out of the spotlight in a set-up role with a team out of the postseason races, K-Rod has nonetheless been as dominating as ever, limiting opponents to a .173 batting average while he waits for Troy Percival to abdicate the closer's job.
| Team |
W-L |
SV |
ERA |
G |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
SO |
| Anaheim (MLB)
| 7-3 |
1 |
3.15 |
54 |
80.0 |
47 |
29 |
28 |
31 |
88 |
|
| 2. Casey Kotchman, 1B
Age: 20 |
After another injury-plagued season, Kotchman has now played just 156 games since being drafted 14th overall in 2001. He remains one of the top offensive forces in the minors, and hit .368 over the final month of the season after returning from a strained hamstring.
| TEAM | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| Rancho Cucamonga (High Class A) |
57 |
206 |
42 |
72 |
12 |
0 |
8 |
28 |
60 |
16 |
2 |
.350 |
.441 |
.524 |
| AZL Angels (Rookie) |
7 |
27 |
5 |
9 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
6 |
2 |
3 |
0 |
.333 |
.379 |
.593 |
|
| 3. Bobby Jenks, RHP
Age: 22 |
The enigmatic fireballer rebounded from elbow soreness and a less than flattering piece in a national publication to put together a huge second half. After returning to Arkansas on July 6, Jenks compiled a 1.65 ERA in his final 11 starts, consistently dominating for the first time in his pro career.
| Team |
W-L |
SV |
ERA |
G |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
SO |
| Arkansas (Double-A)
| 7-2 |
0 |
2.17 |
16 |
83.0 |
56 |
23 |
20 |
51 |
103 |
| AZL Angels (Rookie)
| 0-0 |
0 |
0.00 |
1 |
4.0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
|
| 4. Jeff Mathis, C
Age: 20 |
Premium athletic catcher advanced to Double-A at 20 and sits only behind Minor League Player of the Year Joe Mauer among minor league backstops.
| TEAM | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| Rancho Cucamonga (High Class A) |
98 |
378 |
74 |
122 |
28 |
3 |
11 |
54 |
35 |
74 |
5 |
.323 |
.384 |
.500 |
| Arkansas (Double-A) |
24 |
95 |
19 |
27 |
11 |
0 |
2 |
14 |
12 |
16 |
1 |
.284 |
.364 |
.363 |
|
| 5. Ervin Santana, RHP
Age: 19 |
His name became Ervin in the offseason, and combined with his performance on the mound, his nickname became "Magic." Scuffled at times during his stint at Arkansas, but he's still just a teenager and one of the premium pitching prospects in the game.
| Team |
W-L |
SV |
ERA |
G |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
SO |
| Rancho Cucamonga (High Class A)
| 10-2 |
0 |
2.53 |
20 |
124.2 |
98 |
44 |
35 |
36 |
130 |
| Arkansas (Double-A)
| 1-1 |
0 |
3.94 |
6 |
29.2 |
23 |
15 |
13 |
12 |
23 |
|
| 6. Dallas McPherson, 3B
Age: 23 |
Led the minor leagues in slugging after missing the first month with a back injury. Hit eight home runs over an 11-game span in the California League, and followed that up with a three-home run, eight-RBI game two weeks into his Texas League stint.
| TEAM | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| Rancho Cucamonga (High Class A) |
77 |
292 |
65 |
90 |
21 |
6 |
18 |
59 |
41 |
79 |
12 |
.308 |
.404 |
.606 |
| Arkansas (Double-A) |
28 |
102 |
22 |
32 |
9 |
1 |
5 |
27 |
19 |
25 |
4 |
.314 |
.426 |
.569 |
|
| 7. Joe Saunders LHP
Age: 22 |
Complained of shoulder discomfort during spring training and elected for rehab over surgery for a partial tear of his rotator cuff. He is expected to be ready for spring training.
| Team |
W-L |
SV |
ERA |
G |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
SO |
| Did Not Pitch |
|
| 8. Rich Fischer, RHP
Age: 22 |
Went nearly three months without a win, but finally seemed to find a groove in the second half, allowing three or fewer earned runs in 12 of his final 15 starts.
| Team |
W-L |
SV |
ERA |
G |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
SO |
| Arkansas (Double-A)
| 5-11 |
0 |
4.61 |
26 |
154.1 |
159 |
91 |
79 |
43 |
123 |
|
| 9. Joe Torres, RHP
Age: 20 |
Ranked as the Angels' top prospect three years ago, Torres continued to regress. He's never found the mid-90s velocity he flashed in his debut, and problems with both his elbow and shoulder limited him to less than 50 innings.
| Team |
W-L |
SV |
ERA |
G |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
SO |
| Rancho Cucamonga (High Class A)
| 3-3 |
0 |
5.88 |
8 |
33.2 |
47 |
28 |
22 |
20 |
17 |
| Angels (Rookie)
| 2-0 |
0 |
0.56 |
3 |
16.0 |
7 |
2 |
1 |
6 |
15 |
|
| 10. Chris Bootcheck, RHP
Age: 24 |
Was 3-8, 5.47 in early July, but finished strong and earned a September look in the big leagues. Will need to start missing more bats to stay there.
| Team |
W-L |
SV |
ERA |
G |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
SO |
| Salt Lake (Triple-A)
| 8-9 |
0 |
4.25 |
28 |
171.1 |
194 |
103 |
81 |
43 |
82 |
| Anaheim (MLB)
| 0-1 |
0 |
15.19 |
2 |
5.1 |
10 |
9 |
9 |
5 |
3 |
|
Top Draft Pick:
| Brandon Wood, SS
Horizon HS, Scottsdale, Ariz. Bonus: $1.3M |
Natural shortstop added muscle to lanky frame and moved into first round, then utilized that strength in a late-season power surge at Provo.
| TEAM | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| Angels (Arizona) |
19 |
78 |
14 |
24 |
8 |
2 |
0 |
13 |
4 |
15 |
3 |
.308 |
.349 |
.462 |
| Provo (Pioneer) |
42 |
162 |
25 |
45 |
12 |
2 |
5 |
31 |
16 |
48 |
1 |
.278 |
.348 |
.475 |
|
Emerging Prospects:
Albert Callapso, 2b: Midwest League batting champ hit a career-low .327 and struck out just 28 times all season.
Nick Gorneault, of: A 19th-round selection out of the University of Massachusetts in 2001, Gorneault hit .326-16-91 and led the Angels system in RBIs.
Warner Madrigal, of: Dominican teenager led the Pioneer League in runs while finishing second in batting average and third in slugging.
Statistical Leaders
| Batting Average |
Alfredo Amezaga |
.347 |
| Home Runs |
Dallas McPherson |
23 |
| Runs Batted In |
Nick Gorneault |
91 |
| Stolen Bases |
Trent Durrington |
35 |
| Earned Run Average |
Jean Toledo |
2.44 |
| Wins |
Jean Toledo
Jake Woods |
12 |
| Strikeouts |
Ervin Santana |
153 |
| Saves |
Joel Peralta
Jonathon Rouwenhorst |
20 |
