2017 Los Angeles Angels Midseason Top 10 Prospects
SEE ALSO: Midseason Top 10 Prospects
Like much of the American League, the Angels have been consistently mediocre through the first half of the 2017 season, finishing within one game of .500 in each of the season’s first three months.
| Angels Midseason Top 10 |
| 1. Jordon Adell, OF |
| 2. Jahmai Jones, OF |
| 3. Jaime Barria, RHP |
| 4. Matt Thaiss, 1B |
| 5. Chris Rodriguez, RHP |
| 6. Brandon Marsh, OF |
| 7. Griffin Canning, RHP |
| 8. Grayson Long, RHP |
| 9. David Fletcher, 2B/SS |
| 10. Nate Smith, LHP |
Trailing the Astros in the American League West by an unreachable margin, the Angels surprisingly are still within a few games of a wild-card berth. They’ve amazingly done it with a patchwork rotation consisting mostly of journeyman hurlers. Garrett Richards made only one start and Tyler Skaggs made just five before both landed on the 60-day DL. But JC Ramirez, Jesse Chavez and Ricky Nolasco have all stepped up and proven serviceable, and Bud Norris has been effective as the closer with Huston Street and Cam Bedrosian battling injuries.
The biggest blow to the Angels was the thumb injury suffered by center fielder Mike Trout that cost him more than six weeks in the midst another MVP-caliber season. Eric Young Jr. did better-than-expected job filling in until Trout’s return July 14 to help the Angels remain afloat. But the offense still leaves much to be desired, particularly with the first base and DH production from Albert Pujols, C.J. Cron and Luis Valbuena meager at best.
While the Angels may be in the race for a wild-card slot, it’s unlikely they will be active at the trade deadline. The most attractive sellable commodities on the big league team are Yunel Escobar and Cameron Maybin, who are unlikely to bring back a large return, and a knee injury likely diminished Maybin’s trade value. While the lower levels of the system have improved the past two years, the needs at the big league level are just too great to be dealing prospects for what would likely be minimal improvement, and there are very few tradable commodities above high Class A.
1. Jordon Adell, OF
Rookie-level Arizona League
Age: 18
Adell immediately became the toolsiest player in the Angels organization after the 10th overall pick signed for $4,376,800. An enticing combination of power and speed, Adell flashes 70 raw power and is a plus-plus runner. He could have also been drafted as a pitcher, regularly throwing 93-94 mph in his prep career, so it goes without saying that his outfield arm is another plus tool. Adell began his career in the Rookie-level Arizona League and got off to a scorching start, hitting .406 with three doubles, three home runs, seven RBIs and a 1.222 OPS in his first nine games.
2. Jahmai Jones, OF
High Class A Inland Empire
Age: 19
Jones started slowly in the cold weather of the Midwest League as more advanced pitchers challenged him with breaking balls out of zone. He put in extra work against breaking ball machines, and the effort paid off. Since May he has hit .299/.369/.460 while turning in plus run times and playing strong defense in center field. That earned him a promotion this week.
3. Jaime Barria, RHP
Double-A Mobile
Age: 20
Prior projections pegged the native Panamanian as a No. 5 starter, but with improved velocity and tighter breaking balls, Barria now has middle-of-the-rotation potential. Barria is a student of his craft with an intense desire to get better, studying metrics and asking how the numbers can apply to help him improve. After dominating California League hitters, Barria moved up to Double-A and posted a 2.79 ERA in his first seven starts.
4. Matt Thaiss, 1B
Double-A Mobile
Age: 22
Thaiss began slowly in his first full season but improved timing got his swing in order, and he began to show increased pop before earning a promotion to Double-A. Thaiss’ plate discipline is the organization’s best, but many scouts still have doubts about his power potential despite his contact skills. His defense is still a work in progress at first base as he transitions from catching, but the Angels believe Thaiss can become average in time.
5. Chris Rodriguez, RHP
Rookie-level Orem
Age: 18
After a promising debut in the Arizona League in 2016, Rodriguez returned in the spring with added muscle and an improved delivery. With enough differentiation between his two- and four-seam fastballs, as well as two different breaking balls in his repertoire, Rodriguez is capable of giving batters five different looks. His added strength brought increased in velocity, with his fastball now touching 97 mph.
6. Brandon Marsh, OF
Rookie-level Orem
Age: 19
Marsh had to wait until this summer to launch his pro career due to a back injury diagnosed during his draft physical. He impressed in extended spring training and continued with a strong start at Orem. Marsh is an elite athlete with a plus arm, plus speed and plus raw power, with the ability to stay in center field. Injuries remain a concern, however, after he sprained his thumb sliding into second base at the end of June.
7. Griffin Canning, RHP
Rookie-level Arizona League
Age: 21
Canning projected as a mid-first round pick, but a heavy workload at UCLA and concerns about his medicals caused him to drop. An effective strike-thrower with a four-pitch mix, Canning was among the Division I leaders in strikeouts with 140 in 119 innings. The Angels will proceed cautiously with Canning, holding him out of games until 2018.
8. Grayson Long, RHP
Double-A Mobile
Age: 23
Long made key strides this season with improved glove-side life and command of low-90s fastball, helping it play up. As a result he was holding his own in the Southern League, going 5-5, 2.76 and holding opponents to a .224 average. Another key is the improvement of his slider, giving him a more effective breaking ball.
9. David Fletcher, 2B/SS
Double-A Mobile
Age: 23
Fletcher strengthened his body and gained weight in the offseason without losing his quick-twitch speed, and the extra muscle has allowed him to hold his own at Double-A. Fletcher has seen as much time at second base as his natural shortstop, giving him a clearer path to a starting big league job or a role as a utility infielder.
10. Nate Smith, LHP
Triple-A Salt Lake
Age: 25
Smith would likely have a significant role on the Angels staff if not for a bout of elbow tendinitis last September and a forearm strain this year. With no ill effects from his injuries, Smith has pitched effectively in his rehab outings and will return to Triple-A Salt Lake soon. His projection as a reliable back-end starter or swingman still holds.
RISING
• RHP Jake Jewell struggled with his arm slot and mechanics at high Class A Inland Empire last season. He came back this season with a more repeatable delivery, an uptick in velocity and secondary pitches flashing plus, leading to a bounceback season in Double-A.
• The Angels are enthusiastic about many of their young Latin American arms, with RHP Jose Soriano the cream of the crop. Soriano grew a few inches in the offseason and added around four mph to his fastball, touching 96 in the AZL.
• Rated in the offseason as the organization’s fastest runner, SS Leonardo Rivas was challenged with a move to the Pioneer League and has been outstanding on both sides of the ball.
FALLING
• C Taylor Ward missed the first month of the season with an oblique strain and has regressed in his second year at high Class A. His plus arm is constrained by inconsistent footwork and he is frequently beaten at the plate by mediocre stuff, although he maintains a strong eye for the zone. He was promoted to Double-A in mid-July nonetheless.
• SS Connor Justus was regarded as a defense-first shortstop with enough bat to play, but he’s hit just .201 at high Class A Inland Empire and is striking out more than once a game.
• Scouts see good fastball movement and promising secondary offerings from RHP Sam Pastrone, but he struggles to throw strikes. The 20-year-old went 1-5, 8.92 with more walks (35) than strikeouts (27) in 38.1 innings at low Class A Burlington before going on the DL for the second time this season on July 1.
HURTING
• Marsh is taking batting practice on the field at Orem and is tentatively scheduled to return to game action by the end of the month.
• Smith has made four sharp rehab starts in the AZL as he bounces back from a forearm strain and should be sent back to Salt Lake sometime this month.
• Pastrone is on a throwing program at the Angels’ complex in Arizona and could return to Burlington by the end of the year. His injury remains unspecified.
GRADUATING
• RHP Alex Meyer improved his mechanics and a returned to the higher arm slot he used in college to emerge as one of the Angels’ best starters.
• RHP Keynan Middleton continued his rapid rise through the system after being moved to the bullpen last season, and he got the call to the big leagues in early May.
• RHP Parker Bridwell was purchased from the Orioles in April and has been a reliable cog in the Angels’ patchwork rotation.
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