A.J. Schugel

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #20 prospect in 2014
  The Angels have a history of taking talented arms who spent more time as position players as amateurs and converting them to full-time pitchers. The son of Angels major league scout Jeff Schugel, A.J. was a prime example. He played the infield almost exclusively at Central Arizona JC but hasn't picked up a bat since being selected in the 25th round in 2010. One of the system's standouts in 2012, Schugel struggled mightily in a jump to Triple-A Salt Lake in 2013. He primarily works with a 90-92 mph fastball with good sink and a solid-average changeup. He still is working to improve his slurvy curveball. It's generally only effective as a get-me-over surprise pitch early in counts, but he needs to do a better job of burying it later in counts for swings and misses. Because of the lack of a consistent breaking ball, righthanders feasted on Schugel's fastball, and he allowed righthanders to hit .370/.415/.579 in 2013. Schugel throws from a crossfire delivery that generally has added deception, but he fooled no one in the Pacific Coast League. Shut down with a toe injury in July, Schugel should be fine for spring training. He has started in the minors, but he projects more as a sixth- or seventh-inning reliever if he can improve his breaking ball.
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  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #12 prospect in 2013
  Schugel didn't sign with the Padres drafted him as a high school third baseman in the 33rd round in 2007. He turned pro for $40,000 three years later as a 25th-round pick, and while he didn't pitch much at Central Arizona JC, he quickly found success on the mound with the Angels. His father Jeff is a big league scout for the team. From a three-quarters arm slot, Schugel throws strikes with an 89-93 mph fastball that has late sink and tail and can touch 95. His changeup has improved significantly to become an average pitch that can get swings and misses. Some scouts think his changeup can continue to develop into a plus offering. His breaking ball is more slider than curve, but it's a below-average pitch that's often soft and slurvy. Schugel has a fairly fluid delivery with a slight hook in the back of his arm action. He throws across his body but he repeats his delivery, creates deception and keeps the ball in the bottom of the zone. His athleticism helps him field his position extremely well. While his breaking ball is a concern, Schugel's fastball/changeup combination and ability to stay around the strike zone could be enough to fit into the back of a rotation. He'll advance to Triple-A in 2013.
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  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #28 prospect in 2012
  The Padres took Schugel in the 33rd round of the 2007 draft as a third baseman out of a Colorado high school but didn't sign him. The Angels drafted him in the 25th round three years later and persuaded him to take up pitching full-time after giving him a $40,000 bonus. His father Jeff serves as a pro scout for the club. Schugel pitched sparingly at Central Arizona JC, though he did sit at 92 mph in bullpen sessions. He shows surprising polish for a recently converted pitcher and throws two pitches that project as at least average. Schugel's 89-93 mph fastball features above-average sink and sneaky life, and a clean delivery helps him find the strike zone. His slurvy breaking ball resembles a slider but often lacks definition, while he's still gaining confidence in his below-average changeup. Schugel began 2011 in the Cedar Rapids bullpen and pitched his way into the rotation in mid-June, going 2-2, 2.48 in 12 starts. He continued as a starter after a mid-August promotion to high Class A, where he'll begin the 2012 season.