By Kary Booher
December 2, 2008

Baseball America's Top 10 Prospects lists are based on projections of a player's long-term worth after discussions with scouting and player-development personnel. All players who haven't exceeded the major league rookie standards of 130 at-bats or 50 innings pitched (without regard to service time) are eligible. Ages are as of April 1, 2009.

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TOP TEN PROSPECTS

1. Nick Adenhart, rhp 2. Jordan Walden, rhp 3. Peter Bourjos, of 4. Trevor Reckling, lhp 5. Sean O'Sullivan, rhp 6. Kevin Jepsen, rhp 7. Hank Conger, c 8. Mark Trumbo, 1b 9. Anthony Ortega, rhp 10. Mason Tobin, rhp

BEST TOOLS

Best Hitter for Average Hank Conger Best Power Hitter Mark Trumbo Best Strike-Zone Discipline Andrew Romine Fastest Baserunner Peter Bourjos Best Athlete P.J. Phillips Best Fastball Jordan Walden Best Curveball Kevin Jepsen Best Slider Rafael Rodriguez Best Changeup Nick Adenhart Best Control David Herndon Best Defensive Catcher Anel de los Santos Best Defensive Infielder Rolando Gomez Best Infield Arm Andrew Romine Best Defensive Outfielder Peter Bourjos Best Outfield Arm Julio Perez

PROJECTED 2012 LINEUP

Catcher Mike Napoli First Base Mark Trumbo Second Base Howie Kendrick Third Base Brandon Wood Shortstop Erick Aybar Left Field Torii Hunter Center Field Peter Bourjos Right Field Vladimir Guerrero Designated Hitter Hank Conger No. 1 Starter John Lackey No. 2 Starter Ervin Santana No. 3 Starter Jered Weaver No. 4 Starter Joe Saunders No. 5 Starter Nick Adenhart Closer Jose Arredondo

TOP PROSPECTS OF THE DECADE

Year Player, Position 2008 1999 Ramon Ortiz, rhp Orix (Japan) 2000 Ramon Ortiz, rhp Orix (Japan) 2001 Joe Torres, lhp White Sox 2002 Casey Kotchman, 1b Braves 2003 Francisco Rodriguez, rhp Angels 2004 Casey Kotchman, 1b Braves 2005 Casey Kotchman, 1b Braves 2006 Brandon Wood, ss Angels 2007 Brandon Wood, ss Angels 2008 Brandon Wood, ss Angels

TOP DRAFT PICKS OF THE DECADE

Year Player, Position 2008 1999 John Lackey, rhp (2nd round) Angels 2000 Joe Torres, lhp White Sox 2001 Casey Kotchman, 1b Braves 2002 Joe Saunders, lhp Angels 2003 Brandon Wood, ss Angels 2004 Jered Weaver, rhp Angels 2005 Trevor Bell, rhp (1st supp.) Angels 2006 Hank Conger, c Angels 2007 Jon Bachanov, rhp (1st supp.) Angels 2008 Tyler Chatwood, rhp (2nd round) Angels

LARGEST BONUSES IN CLUB HISTORY

Jered Weaver, 2004 $4,000,000 Kendry Morales, 2004 $3,000,000 Troy Glaus, 1997 $2,250,000 Joe Torres, 2000 $2,080,000 Casey Kotchman, 2001 $2,075,000

ANGELS LINKS

Angels' Team Page Angels Top 10 Scouting Reports  Last Year's Angels Top 10 Prospects 2008 Draft: Angels (Basic Database) 2008 Draft: Angels  (Advanced Database) 2008 Draft Report Cards: Los Angeles Angels  Complete Index of Top 10 Prospects Pre-Order the 2009 Prospect Handbook

The Angels seemed to have everything going their way when the 2008 playoffs opened. They owned the majors' best record at 100-62, and ran away with the American League West for their fourth division crown in five years. With the additions of Torii Hunter and Mark Teixeira, they had their most dangerous heart of the order since winning the 2002 World Series.

Unfortunately for Los Angeles, its 2008 season ended like so many other have recently. The Red Sox ushered them out of the AL playoffs for the third time in five years, and the Angels have won just one of their past five postseason series. It was a sour ending, and key players such as Garrett Anderson, Jon Garland, record-setting closer Francisco Rodriguez and Teixeira became free agents after the season.

Still, the Angels remain in position to contend for the foreseeable future. Their 2008 Opening Day payroll of $119 million ranked sixth among the 30 teams, and owner Arte Moreno remains committed to winning through both free agency and player development. In his first season as general manager, former farm director Tony Reagins moved aggressively to bolster his team, signing Hunter as a free agent and swinging trades for Garland and Teixeira.

As usual, Los Angeles got a ton of mileage from homegrown talent. Garland was the only import in the rotation, as John Lackey, Ervin Santana, Joe Saunders and Jered Weaver combined for 56 wins. Rodriguez and Scot Shields continued to anchor the bullpen, with assistance from Jose Arredondo. Jeff Mathis and Mike Napoli ably shared catching duties, double-play partners Howie Kendrick and Erick Aybar continued to develop and Anderson extended his franchise career leadership in several offensive categories.

More new faces could be on the way. The Angels will try to re-sign Teixeira, but if they can't, that could mean the first extended opportunity for slugger Kendry Morales since he signed a $4.5 million major league contract after defecting from Cuba. The system's top prospect, righthander Nick Adenhart, could replace Garland in the rotation. Infielders Sean Rodriguez and Brandon Wood are ready for expanded roles after decimating Triple-A pitching, and reliever Kevin Jepsen could help offset the expected loss of Rodriguez.

Los Angeles' U.S.-based affiliates combined for a .542 winning percentage in 2008, the system's best performance since 1995. Triple-A Salt Lake opened 22-1, the best start ever by a minor league team and was one of three full-season affiliates to reach the playoffs. Double-A Arkansas won an improbable Texas League title after a 62-78 regular season, and low Class A Cedar Rapids reached the Midwest League finals.

While the franchise emphasizes scouting and development, its thirst for free agents presents a hurdle in the draft that has been difficult to overcome. The Angels have yielded their first-round pick as free-agent compensation in three of the last four drafts, and no team spent less on the 2007-08 drafts than their $4.5 million.

They've tried to make up for their lack of top choices by signing draft-and-follow Jordan Walden for $1 million in May 2007 and 11th-round shortstop Rolando Gomez for $450,000 last July. Los Angeles also inked Korean righthander Pil Joon Jang for a reported $560,000 in September.

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