2017 Los Angeles Angels Top 10 Prospects Insider
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Talent Infusion: Draft Report Card
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SEASON IN A SENTENCE: Injuries riddled a thin pitching staff, from the rotation to the bullpen, and a lack of power stymied the offense as the Angels finished with their worst record in manager Mike Scioscia’s 17 years at the helm.
HIGH POINT: As the big league team slipped, Mike Trout kept giving Angels fans a chance to come out, as the club surpassed 3 million fans for the 14th consecutive season, the second-best streak in the majors (after the Yankees, with 18). Trout won BA’s Major League Player of the Year award for the third time in his five seasons, finishing one home run shy of his second 30-30 season. He led the majors in walks (116), runs (123) and on-base percentage (.441).
LOW POINT: The Angels’ pitching staff had two major injuries, the biggest coming in May when Garrett Richards was diagnosed with a partially torn right ulnar collateral ligament. He didn’t have Tommy John surgery and instead had stem cell therapy and platelet-rich plasma injections that had him throwing by instructional league. The second was on Sept. 4, when Mariners third baseman Kyle Seager hit a 105-mph line drive off the head of righthander Matt Shoemaker, fracturing his skull.
NOTABLE ROOKIES: Minor league free agents Jefry Marte (15 homers) and outfielder Rafael Ortega, as well as 2011 31st-round pick Jett Bandy all got time in the lineup, with Marte producing the most but Bandy performing well defensively.
KEY TRANSACTIONS: Hector Santiago, a 2015 all-star, was traded in July to the Twins for righthander Ricky Nolasco, a Southern California prep product, and righthander Alex Meyer, the 6-foot-9 former Nationals and Twins prospect. Meyer and Nolasco both could be in the 2017 rotation. Righthander Tim Lincecum tried to make a comeback with the Angels after signing in May, but the 32-year-old was rocked for 68 hits in 38 innings and posted a 9.16 ERA. Off the field, first-year GM Billy Eppler continued to put his stamp on the organization, reassigning scouting director Ric Wilson and hiring Matt Swanson, previously with the Cardinals, as scouting director.
DOWN ON THE FARM: While both Rookie-level affiliates made the playoffs—with Orem winning the Pioneer League title—the Angels’ lack of farm system talent showed in its lack of big league reinforcements as well as a 313-381 record (.451) for domestic affiliates, 28th in baseball.
OPENING DAY PAYROLL: $137,251,333 (13th)
| BEST TOOLS | |
| Best Hitter for Average | Jahmai Jones |
| Best Power Hitter | Matt Thaiss |
| Best Strike-Zone Discipline | Matt Thaiss |
| Fastest Baserunner | Leonardo Rivas |
| Best Athlete | Brandon Marsh |
| Best Fastball | Keynan Middleton |
| Best Curveball | Joe Gatto |
| Best Slider | Austin Adams |
| Best Changeup | Jose Suarez |
| Best Control | Jaime Barria |
| Best Defensive Catcher | Taylor Ward |
| Best Defensive Infielder | Connor Justus |
| Best Infield Arm | Connor Justus |
| Best Outfield Arm | Jared Foster |
| PROJECTED 2020 LINEUP | |
| Catcher | Taylor Ward |
| First Base | Matt Thaiss |
| Second Base | David Fletcher |
| Third Base | Jefry Marte |
| Shortstop | Andrelton Simmons |
| Left Field | Jahmai Jones |
| Center Field | Mike Trout |
| Right Field | Kole Calhoun |
| Designated Hitter | Albert Pujols |
| No. 1 Starter | Garrett Richards |
| No. 2 Starter | Tyler Skaggs |
| No. 3 Starter | Andrew Heaney |
| No. 4 Starter | Alex Meyer |
| No. 5 Starter | Matt Shoemaker |
| Closer | Cam Bedrosian |
| TOP PROSPECTS OF THE DECADE | ||
| Year | Player, Pos. | 2016 Org. |
| 2007 | Brandon Wood, ss | Did not play |
| 2008 | Brandon Wood, ss | Did not play |
| 2009 | Nick Adenhart, rhp | Deceased |
| 2010 | Hank Conger, c | Rays |
| 2011 | Mike Trout, of | Angels |
| 2012 | Mike Trout, of | Angels |
| 2013 | Kaleb Cowart, 3b | Angels |
| 2014 | Taylor Lindsey, 2b | Padres |
| 2015 | Andrew Heaney, lhp | Angels |
| 2016 | Taylor Ward, c | Angels |
| TOP DRAFT PICKS OF THE DECADE | ||
| Year | Player, Pos. | 2016 Org. |
| 2007 | Jon Bachanov, rhp (1st round supp) | Did not play |
| 2008 | Tyler Chatwood, rhp (2nd round) | Rockies |
| 2009 | Randal Grichuk, of | Cardinals |
| 2010 | Kaleb Cowart, 3b | Angels |
| 2011 | C.J. Cron, 1b | Angels |
| 2012 | R.J. Alvarez, rhp (3rd round) | Rangers |
| 2013 | Hunter Green, lhp (2nd round) | Did not play |
| 2014 | Sean Newcomb, lhp | Braves |
| 2015 | Taylor Ward, c | Angels |
| 2016 | Matt Thaiss, 1b | Angels |
| LARGEST BONUSES IN CLUB HISTORY | |
| Roberto Baldoquin, 2015 | $8,000,000 |
| Jered Weaver, 2004 | $4,000,000 |
| Kendrys Morales, 2004 | $3,000,000 |
| Sean Newcomb, 2014 | $2,518,400 |
| Kaleb Cowart, 2010 | $2,300,000 |
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