By Matt Eddy
January 30, 2012



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, 2011.

Scouting reports for the Top 10 Prospects (How to subscribe)

Pre-Order the 2012 Prospect Handbook 30 scouting reports on every team

TOP TEN PROSPECTS

1. Mike Trout, of 2. Jean Segura, ss 3. Garrett Richards, rhp 4. Johnny Hellweg, rhp 5. C.J. Cron, 1b 6. Kaleb Cowart, 3b 7. Taylor Lindsey, 2b 8. Daniel Tillman, rhp 9. Ariel Pena, rhp 10. Nick Maronde, lhp

BEST TOOLS

Best Hitter for Average Mike Trout Best Power Hitter C.J. Cron Best Strike Zone Discipline Kole Calhoun Fastest Baserunner Mike Trout Best Athlete Mike Trout Best Fastball Johnny Hellweg Best Curveball Johnny Hellweg Best Slider Ariel Pena Best Changeup Lay Batista Best Control Orangel Arenas Best Defensive Catcher Alberto Rosario Best Defensive Infielder Andrew Romine Best Infield Arm Kaleb Cowart Best Defensive OF Mike Trout Best Outfield Arm Angel Castillo

PROJECTED 2015 LINEUP

Catcher Chris Iannetta First Base Albert Pujols Second Base Jean Segura Third Base Kaleb Cowart Shortstop Erick Aybar Left Field Mike Trout Center Field Peter Bourjos Right Field Howard Kendrick Designated Hitter C.J. Cron No. 1 Starter Jered Weaver No. 2 Starter Dan Haren No. 3 Starter C.J. Wilson No. 4 Starter Ervin Santana No. 5 Starter Garrett Richards Closer Jordan Walden

TOP PROSPECTS OF THE DECADE

Year Player, Pos 2011 Org 2002 Casey Kotchman, 1b Rays 2003 Francisco Rodriguez, rhp Brewers 2004 Casey Kotchman, 1b Rays 2005 Casey Kotchman, 1b Rays 2006 Brandon Wood, ss Pirates 2007 Brandon Wood, ss Pirates 2008 Brandon Wood, 3b/ss Pirates 2009 Nick Adenhart, rhp Deceased 2010 Hank Conger, c Angels 2011 Mike Trout, of Angels

TOP DRAFT PICKS OF THE DECADE

Year Player, Pos 2011 Org 2002 Joe Saunders, lhp Diamondbacks 2003 Brandon Wood, ss Pirates 2004 Jered Weaver, rhp Angels 2005 Trevor Bell, rhp (1st supp.) Angels 2006 Hank Conger, c Angels 2007 Jon Bachanov, rhp (1st supp.) White Sox 2008 Tyler Chatwood, rhp (2nd) Rockies 2009 Randal Grichuk, of Angels 2010 Kaleb Cowart, 3b Angels 2011 C.J. Cron, 1b Angels

LARGEST BONUSES IN CLUB HISTORY

Jered Weaver, 2004 $4,000,000 Kendry Morales, 2004 $3,000,000 Kaleb Cowart, 2010 $2,300,000 Troy Glaus, 1997 $2,250,000 Joe Torres, 2000 $2,080,000

ANGELS LINKS

Angels Team Page Angels Top 10 Scouting Reports Last Year's Angels Top 10 Prospects 2011 Draft: Angels (Basic Database) 2011 Draft: Angels (Advanced Database) 2011 Draft Report Cards: Los Angeles Angels Complete Index of Top 10 Prospects Pre-Order the 2012 Prospect Handbook

If you want to know the standard the Angels hold themselves to these days, witness the changes that took place after they completed an 86-76 season.

Los Angeles reeled off its seventh winning season in the last eight, but missed the playoffs in consecutive years for the first time since 2000-01, Mike Scioscia's first two years as manager. What's more, the Rangers repeated as the American League West champion and AL pennant winner, with a former Angel as a driving force.

The Angels' January 2011 trade of Mike Napoli not only skewed the balance of power in the AL West, but it also led to a front-office overhaul in Anaheim.

General manager Tony Reagins dealt Napoli and Juan Rivera to the Blue Jays for Vernon Wells—and the full $86 million left on his bloated contract. Toronto then flipped Napoli to Texas, where he led all big league catchers in hitting (.320), on-base percentage (.414), slugging (.631) and homers (30). To top it off, he batted .328 with three homers in the playoffs.

Wells had a terrible season, hitting 25 homers but posting a .248 on-base percentage. Jeff Mathis hit .174 after picking up the bulk of the catching duties in Napoli's absence, and Los Angeles plummeted to 10th in the AL in runs scored.

The changes came swiftly. Two days after the season ended, owner Arte Moreno forced Reagins to resign. He later fired farm director Abe Flores and assistant GMs Ken Forsch and Gary Sutherland.

The Angels hired Diamondbacks senior vice president of scouting and player development Jerry Dipoto to replace Reagins in late October. Dipoto retained Ric Wilson as amateur scouting director and hired Red Sox scout Hal Morris as pro scouting director. He also hired Rangers farm director Scott Servais as assistant GM.

Emboldened by a new $3 billion, 20-year local television deal with Fox, the new front office dramatically improved the roster. Dipoto signed the most coveted position player and pitcher on the free agent market, landing Albert Pujols with a 10-year, $254 million contract and then signing  C.J. Wilson away from the Rangers for five years and $77.5 million.

Dipoto also upgraded the Angels at catcher, dealing righthander Tyler Chatwood (the system's No. 2 prospect a year ago) to the Rockies for Chris Iannetta, then dealing Mathis to the Blue Jays for lefthander Brad Mills.

Chatwood was one of six Angels rookies in 2011. Jordan Walden rode a 98 mph fastball to 32 saves and a place on the AL all-star team, while Mark Trumbo belted 29 homers and finished runner-up for AL rookie of the year honors. Unless he learns a new position, however, Trumbo becomes redundant with the acquisition of Pujols.

Last season, the trio of Mathis, Trumbo and Wells extinguished many a rally by combining for a .262 on-base percentage. In 2012, Los Angeles could replace that trio in the lineup with Iannetta, Pujols and elite prospect Mike Trout. Those upgrades, combined with a stout rotation featuring Jered Weaver, Dan Haren, Wilson and Ervin Santana, give the Angels hope of snapping their two-year playoff drought.

Scouting reports for the Top 10 Prospects (How to subscribe)

Pre-Order the 2012 Prospect Handbook 30 scouting reports on every team