Orangel Arenas

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #26 prospect in 2012
  Arenas and Ariel Pena both began the 2010 season in the Cedar Rapids rotation before their paths diverged. Arenas rocketed to high Class A after nine starts and spent all of 2011 in Double-A, yet the Angels didn't add him to the 40-man roster. Pena, on the other hand, stayed in high Class A in last year but did get protected on the 40-man. The key reason: Pena generates swings and misses with his power fastball and slider, while Arenas lacks an out pitch. Arenas sits at 91-93 mph with plus sinking and tailing action on his fastball. He throws from an easy delivery with a clean arm action that allows him to throw strikes consistently. His sinker would play up with improved secondary stuff, but he throws a spinning slider that hangs as often as it bites. His changeup is too firm and in the same mid-80s range as his slider, so Los Angeles taught him a splitter in instructional league to give him a weapon versus lefthanders. They hit .309/.353/.489 against him last year. The Angels haven't given up on Arenas, but his upside appears to be No. 5 starter or middle reliever.
• 
  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #20 prospect in 2011
  The No. 6 starter option on a deep Cedar Rapids pitching staff when 2010 began, Arenas shot past three first-round or sandwich picks and flamethrower Fabio Martinez to earn a promotion to high Class A in late May. His maturation helped cover the Angels in a season in which they parted with five young pitchers to acquire Dan Haren and Alberto Callaspo. Arenas enhanced his standing in the organization with a strong full-season debut, more than doubling his previous high for innings. He induces plenty of groundballs, relying on a low-90s two-seam fastball that features plus sink and movement. He can dial his four-seamer up to 95 mph but it's fairly straight. His fastball gets on batters quickly because of his easy motion. Los Angeles was impressed by Arenas' improved fastball command in 2010, as they were with the consistency of his average slider. His changeup lags behind his other pitches, and he doesn't shown a whole lot of confidence in it. Arenas could be in line for a promotion to Double-A for 2011, and further progress suggests future back-of-the-rotation or relief possibilities.