8. Griffin Canning, RHP
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 5/11/1996 (21)
2017 teams/levels played for: none
2017 Stats: none
Info: Canning was originally a 38th round selection by the Colorado Rockies out of high school, but he was a strong commit to UCLA. He was on his way to working into the top half of the first round before heavy usage in college caught up to him and led to injury concerns that dropped him into the Los Angeles Angels lap in the 2nd round of the 2017 draft.
The Angels chose not to have Canning go out to an affiliate and instead spend all summer working with coaches at their complex, getting plenty of rest on his over-taxed arm.
Canning works with an impressive four-pitch mix that features a fastball that runs up to 95 and sits 90-92 with excellent spin and command/control along with a three offspeed pitch mix that each work as above-average pitches. He has a much better feel for his change, but his slider and curve are more effective in generating swing and miss.
Right now, there’s only projection at the pro level with Canning, which is what keeps him from being much higher on this list, but he has a great athletic frame, repeatable delivery, and the pitch mix to have a high floor and the type of pitch mix that could tick up just a bit and be a #2/3 starter type.
It will be interesting to see where the Los Angeles Angels open Canning in 2018, as he’ll likely be at a full season affiliate, but which one will be the question.
7. Jaime Barria, RHP
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 7/18/1996 (21)
2017 teams/levels played for: high-A Inland Empire 66ers, AA Mobile BayBears, AAA Salt Lake Bees
2017 Stats: 26 GS, 141 2/3 IP, 2.80 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 5.4% BB, 20.3% K
Info: Barria was signed out of Panama as a long-armed, lean guy who was just under 6′ tall and under 180 pounds when he signed. Barria wasn’t exactly a huge signing when he inked with the Los Angeles Angels, receiving a signing bonus of just $60,000.
His first few seasons, Barria has shown himself to be excellent in controlling the ball and sequencing hitters to keep them off base, but his stuff isn’t overwhelming, so he’s not had big strikeout rates as he’s climbed the ladder.
Barria took a big step forward in 2017, not just flashing his exceptional control and command, but also manipulating his pitches
Barria took a big step forward in 2017, not just flashing his exceptional control and command, but also manipulating his pitches with often three to four looks on a fastball within an inning, cutting, sinking, and even getting some rise on a fastball.
He still didn’t tally a ton of strikeouts, but his plus changeup generated a ton of ground balls. He did change his curve from a more looped curve to a more hard curve in 2017, and he saw some more fly balls, much due to some struggles getting consistent depth of break on the curve, though he still located the pitch within the zone well.
Barria is not likely going to project as a frontline starter with a fastball that hovers around 90 and tops out around 94, but he has an excellent approach on the mound, sequences his pitches well, and has the type of in-game memory with hitters that should allow him to play up his raw stuff.
Barria may see major league time in the rotation depending on the injury issues faced by a fairly frail Los Angeles Angels starting staff, but he will most likely open in AAA.
Next: #5 and #6