Los Angeles Angels: Top 10 Rookie-Eligible Prospects for 2018
10. Livan Soto, SS
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 6/22/2000 (17)
2017 teams/levels played for: Gulf Coast League Braves
2017 Stats: .225/.332/.254, 208 PA, 7 SB, 27/26 BB/K
Info: Soto was one of the Atlanta Braves prospects that was let go in the November punishment, Soto was the second such player that the Angels signed, and some might argue that he has an even more impressive floor than the guy we’ll discuss later on in this list.
Soto was signed out of Venezuela and made his professional debut in 2017 in the Gulf Coast League. Even though it was complex ball, and the numbers weren’t pretty, there were a lot of things to be impressed with in his season.
Soto showed some of the most impressive defense seen in the minor league system of the Braves since Andrelton was fielding balls for the Braves system
Soto currently has a slight build on his 6′ frame, but he’s not likely going to fill out a ton more, already to 170ish pounds, probably a guy who could handle short well still at 185, but not much more. His calling card is absolutely his defense.
Soto showed some of the most impressive defense seen in the minor league system of the Braves since Andrelton Simmons was fielding balls for the Braves system. He has double-plus range, plus hands, and an above-average arm that he does very well setting up with good body control.
At the plate, Soto has impressive maturity, and though he did struggle a bit with some length to his swing, the fact that he had more walks than strikeouts was no fluke, and neither was his K rate staying under 13% in spite of his length to his approach in his swing. The bat speed is impressive once he gets the bat in the zone, as is his bat control.
Soto may profile more as a guy who pounds out gap hits and uses his raw plus speed and good base running instincts to be a positive offensively to accompany what is an other-worldly glove at the position. However, that profile can certainly play with the value he would provide with his speed and glove.
The Angels will likely open Soto in extended spring and send him to short season ball, but with the glove and approach already so advanced, if he can cleanup the backside of his swing, he could rocket up the Angels system.
9. Michael Hermosillo, OF
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 1/17/1995 (23)
2017 teams/levels played for: high-A Inland Empire 66ers, AA Mobile BayBears, AAA Salt Lake Bees
2017 Stats: .267/.366/.397, 533 PA, 9 HR, 35 SB, 56/116 BB/K
Info: When he was drafted as a highly-athletic high schooler from Illinois in the 28th round in 2013, the Angels knew Hermosillo would be a project that wouldn’t likely move quickly.
He spent his first two seasons working up short season leagues and then struggled with injuries the last two seasons, not making his way out of A-ball by the end of his fourth professional season, but certainly flashing impressive all-around athleticism.
Hermosillo has shown himself to be an outfielder that can handle all three positions, with the speed and instincts to work in center and the arm to handle either corner. He’s not got a single “plus” defensive tool beyond his raw speed in the outfield.
Hermosillo has raw above-average power, but a level swing and an approach that doesn’t really allow him to best approach generating power on all pitches throughout the zone, something he’ll need to adjust in his swing and approach.
Hermosillo projects currently as a 4th outfielder, but he’s still polishing that athleticism into more true baseball skill, and there’s still upside to be seen in his profile, in spite of spending most of his 2017 in the upper minors, his first full, healthy season.
He’ll likely open in AAA in 2018, but he could fit into the Angels bench as a player to spell all three outfield spots if the Angels don’t sign a bench outfielder before the season.
Next: #7 and #8