Jul 3, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; A view of a Los Angeles Angels baseball hat and glove and logo before the game between the Texas Rangers and the Los Angeles Angels at Globe Life Park in Arlington. The Angels defeated the Rangers 8-2. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 3, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; A view of a Los Angeles Angels baseball hat and glove and logo before the game between the Texas Rangers and the Los Angeles Angels at Globe Life Park in Arlington. The Angels defeated the Rangers 8-2. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
The Los Angeles Angels had a fall back season in 2016 after competing for a number of seasons and using up a lot of their prospect depth. Is there hope on their farm?
An Introduction
Our minor league top 10 series is coordinated by Benjamin Chase, one of our contributors at Call To The Pen.
He has poured over thousands of minor league games over the course of the year via milb.tv along with speaking with a number of team and independent scouts. These lists are based out of those conversations.
Each system will have prospects from 10 to 1, and then finish with one newcomer to the system that is worth keeping an eye on that is not in the top 10 at this time.
Conversations are certainly encouraged in the comments section on each system as we go along!
The drain on talent in the Angels system is really not due to poor drafting or even poor development
Angels System Review
To put it bluntly, this is a bad system. When I finish my system reviews and top 10s, I’ll be putting out a post that ranks the farm systems, and while I’m still undecided among 2-3 teams for the top spot, the Angels have the bottom spot well locked down.
The drain on talent in the Angels system is really not due to poor drafting or even poor development, however. The Angels have produced quite a number of solid prospects. The issue is that they have been utilized widely in deals in order to attempt to win at the major league level, sometimes foolishly throwing prospects at a chance that really wasn’t there.
Last offseason’s trade for Andrelton Simmons cost the team what would easily be their #1 prospect in Sean Newcomb and another pitcher in Chris Ellis that would likely be in their top 5. Then they went through a season where an already-shallow team suffered a litany of injuries and really wasn’t in contention all season.
In defense of the team, the moves made since those injuries truly took hold in early summer of last year have been wise and brought in some intriguing players in trades and waiver claims. There is honestly movement upward as a system from this point in 2015, however, this will be a very long process.
Birthdate: 7/27/92 (24 years old) Level(s) Played in 2016: high A, AA, AAA Stats in 2016: 142 2/3 IP, 3.22 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 7.4 BB%, 20.65 K%
When you claim a guy off of waivers, and he ends up in your top 10, that says something about your minor league system…
Campos is a guy that has bounced around quite a bit, and many teams continue to take a chance on him with good reason. Campos was the second pitcher sent to New York in the Michael Pineda for Jesus Montero deal between the Yankees and Mariners.
After four seasons in the Yankees system, he was traded this season at the deadline for Tyler Clippard to the Diamondbacks. The Diamondbacks put him on waivers in an attempt to sneak him off their 40-man roster, and the Angels claimed him.
many teams continue to take a chance on (Campos) with good reason
Campos is in high demand due to his elite fastball that sits 93-95 with a large amount of movement. He also uses a power curve as a secondary pitch that generates plenty of swing and miss. Campos has really taken a step forward in his change in the last year, getting excellent late movement on the pitch.
Campos made his major league debut for the Diamondbacks this season. He really has shown what he needs to show at the minor league level, but he’s struggled mightily to hold that stuff and be a pitcher rather than a thrower consistently.
It would not surprise me at all to see Campos in the Angels opening day roster, but whether that’s as a starter, a back-end reliever, or a swing man is yet to be determined.
Next: #9
Nov 2, 2016; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; Scottsdale Scorpions pitcher Grayson Long of the Los Angeles Angels against the Salt River Rafters during an Arizona Fall League game at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
Birthdate: 5/27/94 (22 years old) Level(s) Played in 2016: rookie, low A, high A Stats in 2016: 65 IP, 3.18 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 9.43 BB%, 26.42 K%
The Angels drafted Long out of Texas A&M with big pedigree in the 3rd round of the 2015 draft. He’s got an excellent build at 6’5 and 225ish pounds, and he also has a good pitch mix.
Long has battled a couple of injuries in his short pro career, first biceps tendonitis and then a fractured finger, so he’s not really got a chance to get on the mound a ton quite yet as he was gassed his first season and then worked through injuries this year.
Long’s not really got a chance to get on the mound a ton quite yet as he was gassed his first season and then worked through injuries this yea
Long has a fastball that grades up due to its action more than his velocity with it sitting in the low-90s, but having excellent sink and late arm-side wiggle.
His change works very well along side the fastball in arm deception. The movement works a bit like a cut fastball, so the movement is also excellent as well.
His slider is really a work in progress, and it’s the last step for Long to becoming a true starter at the big league level. He uses the slider well with a bit of an attitude on the mound that seems to generate swing and miss with the pitch.
Long’s “mean streak” on the mound has been his blessing and curse thus far, as he can be absolutely dominant when he gets in that mode, but he often will beat himself up badly when he finds himself in a pickle, which just leads to even more damage.
Long finished the year with 3 starts in the Cal League, so he could open the season there with a quick jump to AA, or the team could bump him immediately to AA, but he should see upper level minors hitters this season, and that should show a lot of where Long’s future on the mound will be.
Birthdate: 7/18/96 (20 years old) Level(s) Played in 2016: low A Stats in 2016: 117 IP, 3.85 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 4.19 BB%, 15.57 K%
Barria is certainly not a guy who was on a lot of radars, as indicated by his late signing in 2013 out of Panama in April of that year rather than being a July 2nd bonus baby the previous summer.
He’s simply come out and shown excellent feel for pitching ever since, even if he doesn’t offer a great single pitch. His fastball has a lot of movement, sitting in the low-90s in velocity and touching 94-95.
Barria’s best pitch is his change, and it took another step forward this year
Barria’s best pitch is his change, and it took another step forward this year to where it can be considered a legitimate plus pitch if you see it on the right day. He’s able to get weak contact with the change frequently.
His curve is also solid grounder-inducing pitch that may not play up for strikeouts, and that leads many to down grade it, but he controls the pitch very well in the zone and gets the ball off the barrel of bats well.
He still is a guy who has a lot of work to do, and allowing a .282 batting average against, even if it was without a lot of well-struck balls, in the Midwest League is a red flag in what Barria will have to face going forward, seeing the Cal League, Texas League, and PCL in his future.
Barria may profile as a back end starter at best, but he’s still young, and he has shown the ability to control pitches, which is often the biggest hurdle for young pitchers.
Next: #7
Sep 23, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Alex Meyer (40) delivers a pitch during the third inning against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /
Birthdate: 1/3/90 (26 years old) Level(s) Played in 2016: rookie, high A, AAA, MLB Stats in 2016: 29 IP, 1.86 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, 5.26 BB%, 35.09 K% (minor league stats only)
The toughest guy for me to rank in this system, Meyer could have a legitimate argument for #1 in the entire system based on his elite stuff and his performance in the minor leagues when he was on the mound in 2016.
I could also see not ranking Meyer at all due to his age, major league control issues that showed up again in 2016 and have plagued his progress thus far in his career, and likely projection as a big league reliever, not a starter.
Meyer could have a legitimate argument for #1 in the entire system
However, getting the Twins to give him up was a big get for the Angels system, even if he ends up in the bullpen, where I do think he profiles best.
Meyer stands 6’9, and he has struggled throughout his career with repeating his mechanics, a common issue for guys over about 6’6. When he does have the mechanics working, though, his stuff is absolutely elite.
Meyer works with a fastball that can touch triple digits in short bursts and still sits mid-90s in starts. He pairs that with a hard slider that has wicked break late in its approach to the plate.
There were some rumors that Meyer and the Twins disagreed about where he was in his return from injury last season, as he felt he should have been on the mound before the Twins did due to shoulder issues.
I’d wager to say he’ll start the season with the Angels big league club, but it wouldn’t surprise me if it’s as a reliever. If he’s in that role, Meyer has a bright future as an elite closer-type.
Next: #6
Jul 10, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; USA pitcher Nate Smith throws a pitch in the 6th inning during the All Star Game futures baseball game at PetCo Park. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
Birthdate: 8/28/91 (25 years old) Level(s) Played in 2016: AAA Stats in 2016: 150 1/3 IP, 4.61 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 6.81 BB%, 18.89 K%
A small college pick in the 8th round in 2013, Smith really had minimal expectations coming into the Angels system, but he’s exceed those expectations at every step along the way.
Smith is a traditional control and command lefty whose control and sequencing allows his average-across-the-board stuff to play up against solid hitters. Smith is definitely a smart pitcher on the mound, using his change up well against both sides due to its movement and his ability to sequence hitters into being surprised by the pitch.
Smith is definitely a smart pitcher on the mound
Playing in some of the hitter-friendly leagues of the minor leagues can depress pitchers climbing through the Angels system, and it certainly does no favors for their numbers. Smith is a great example of the latter. He threw much better than his ERA/WHIP would indicate, but his walk rate and strikeout rate do show the type of pitcher he is.
Smith won’t really be a guy who is a front-line starter, but he has the kind of mental makeup and four-pitch mix that should allow him to have success as a #4 starter in a big league rotation, and from the left side that has some value for sure.
Birthdate: 5/22/98 (18 years old) Level(s) Played in 2016: rookie Stats in 2016: .244/.280/.282, 8 SB
Initially a 2017 draft prospect, Williams home schooled and graduated early to be reclassified for the 2016 draft, and he instantly became one of the best high school position players to come out of Kansas in quite some time.
Williams is a switch-hitter, and while he’s still learning the nuances of the left side of the plate, he has some natural raw power from both sides that should come as he works his way into more pro action.
he has some natural raw power from both sides that should come
Williams has been playing shortstop, and while he has plus-plus speed (65-70 grade on the 20 to 80 grade scale), he’s not really a smooth fielder at shortstop, which will likely indicate a future position switch. He’s got the speed and range to play second along with the arm and future power profile to play third, so his future home is still to be determined.
Nonie is a guy who signed for nearly $300K more than his draft slot in the 3rd round, giving a clue into how highly the Angels thought of him. He’s very likely going to be eased into pro ball, probably taking a turn in the Pioneer League in 2017, but with his raw tools, if he clicks, it will be loud, and he could jump forward as a prospect.
Next: #4
Oct 18, 2016; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; Scottsdale Scorpions catcher Taylor Ward of the Los Angeles Angels against the Surprise Saguaros during an Arizona Fall League game at Scottsdale Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
Birthdate: 12/14/93 (22 years old) Level(s) Played in 2016: high A Stats in 2016: .249/.323/.337, 10 HR
Ward was the Angels first-round selection in 2015 out of college in Fresno State. He was a surprise selection at that spot as many had him rated much lower on their draft boards. He then went out and put up a combined .895 OPS in multiple stops in his pro debut that made a lot of people re-think their initial rankings on him.
Ward was bumped up to high-A this year, and though he was in a hitter-friendly league in the Cal League, some of his weaknesses at the plate were exposed.
many had Ward pegged to move quickly, but those brakes have been applied pretty hard this season
Ward does have a solid amount of bat speed, though his swing level is quite flat, and he tends to drag the bat through the zone if he’s fooled by a pitch, which negates that good bat speed.
Ward defensively has an elite arm, but really that’s what has played well at all at this point. His fielding skills leave a lot to be desired. There has been talk of moving Ward to an outfield corner due to his strong arm and challenges behind the plate.
Last offseason, many had Ward pegged to move quickly, but those brakes have been applied pretty hard this season now to his development path. The reports from the Arizona Fall League were not good on his defense there. I would imagine he’s going to get a year still to try catching, but it would not surprise me if 2017 is his last chance if he struggles this season behind the plate.
Next: #3
3. Brandon Marsh, OF
Birthdate: 12/18/97 (18 years old) Level(s) Played in 2016: none Stats in 2016: None
Marsh created quite a stir in Angels country when he and his agent walked away from negotiations with the team with precious little time left before the deadline this summer. He did eventually sign for slot, but the team did not play him this summer due to a back issue.
Marsh was a two-sport star in high school in Georgia, and there were some in May who thought Marsh could be a top-20 overall pick. As teams did their medicals and had players in, however, Marsh’s stock dropped, and because teams can’t reveal medicals before the draft, most didn’t know why he was falling down draft boards to the point of being the 60th overall selection.
He has an incredible level of athleticism across the board, with one of the best power/speed combinations in the entire 2016 draft class. Marsh was a two-sport guy in high school, so his pitch recognition and contact skills are understandably raw, but when he gets a hold of one, he is electric.
Marsh is build like a football safety, but he still has tremendous instincts and speed in the outfield, rating as a 60-65 on the 20 to 80 scouting scale on his speed. He adds to that a plus arm that will allow him to be an elite right fielder if he ends up outgrowing center field in the future.
While we haven’t seen Marsh yet, his athleticism in this system is only matched by one other player, and his ability to mash the ball ranks him high, even without taking a swing yet for the team.
Birthdate: 8/4/97 (19 years old) Level(s) Played in 2016: rookie, low A Stats in 2016: .302/.379/.422, 4 HR, 20 SB
While there may not be a top 100 player in the entire Angels system, if there were a top 100 athletes in minor league baseball, the Angels would have one that ranks fairly high in Jones.
Taken in the 2nd round of the 2015 draft, Jones was expected to be a project sort of player with elite athleticism, but he’s made some tremendous strides already that could see him making a move up prospect lists sooner rather than later if he can take the next step.
Jones is built like a football player, and he has the bloodlines in football, with a father who had a brief NFL career. As such, his pitch recognition has been quite surprising at the plate. He did struggle a bit once promoted to the Midwest League, but a teenager struggling some with pitch recognition in a full-season league is certainly not a knock.
Jones’ speed is what absolutely leaps off the page when you see him. He is a premier athlete that can get to absolutely anything in the outfield and uses his speed very well at the plate and on the bases as well. While his instincts and routes in center are raw, he has a fringe-plus arm that could work well in right field if he proves to need that move in the future.
Jones may still be a project guy that takes a few years, but he’s really impressed a lot of people off and on the field that have gone from expecting a long, painful development path due to his raw tools to expecting big things from Jones, primarily due to his makeup and work ethic.
Next: #1
Jun 22, 2015; Omaha, NE, USA; Virginia Cavaliers catcher Matt Thaiss (21) makes a catch for an out during the sixth inning against the Vanderbilt Commodores in game one of the College World Series Finals at TD Ameritrade Park. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports /
Birthdate: 5/6/95 (21 years old) Level(s) Played in 2016: rookie, low A Stats in 2016: .292/.361/.462, 6 HR, 3 SB
Thaiss was a guy who really kept getting more and more love earlier and earlier in the first round as the draft got closer. He was a catcher in college, and early draft reports struggled to place him due to the fact that he most likely was going to move off of the position eventually.
After selecting him 16th overall, the Angels wasted no time, moving Thaiss immediately to first base to let his exceptional bat play up instead of worrying about defense behind the plate.
Thaiss did just that, coming out and swinging the bat very well, showing what should be an exceptional hit tool, aided by a very good eye and tremendously quick wrists. He also displayed plenty of gap power, which is where his power plays best currently.
The biggest concern with Thaiss is his size as a first base-only sort of prospect, as he’s 6′ tall, and that could be exaggerating it, and he’s not quite 200 pounds. While that’s not a small man, it is shorter than you’d typically like at first base for the infielders to have a nicely sized target to throw to as they track down balls.
Thaiss did show excellent glove work around the bag in his pro debut, though his reads on balls hit to him are still a bit of an adventure.
He’ll likely move quickly through the Angels system with his advanced hitting ability and not much holding him back as far as guys in front of him in the system.
Birthdate: 7/20/98 (18 years old) Level(s) Played in 2016: rookie Stats in 2016: 11 1/3 IP, 1.59 ERA, 0.79 WHIP, 7.14 BB%, 40.48 K%
Finding a player for this spot was rough as you can see that a number of the Angels selections in this year’s draft are already listed in the top 10!
Rodriguez was really an unknown in the draft process until the very end. I hadn’t heard his name from Florida-based scouts until around June 1st, and that is near impossible to gauge where the interest may fall in a guy when he suddenly appears on the radar that late in the process.
Rodriguez used the Florida Athletic Coaches Association all-star games in early June as a spring board to the draft, and the Angels selected the righty in the 4th round, giving him $850K to sign him away from Jacksonville.
Rodriguez had thrown quite a bit this spring, so the Angels limited his exposure after signing, but they got a lot out of that limited exposure to dream on for sure.
Rodriguez has a very harsh delivery with a lot of head movement and a hard lunge at the plate with his lead leg, usually things that throw off consistency in a delivery and command, but to the contrary, it seems to be what keeps him in rhythm, and he repeats his delivery very well while throwing a ton of strikes.
His stuff is really two-pitch right now, with a fastball that sits 93-95 and touched 97 in his pro work, along with a hard slider/cutter hybrid. He’s really not had a lot of exposure to a change up yet, but if he could harness one, he has the making of a pitcher that could be high on this list in a year’s time.
