2017 Acquisition: Trent Deveaux, OF
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 5/4/2000 (17)
2017 teams/levels played for: none
2017 Stats: none
Info: When the Los Angeles Angels attempted to dip into the Cuban rush a few seasons back with Roberto Baldoquin and spent significant money, they removed themselves from being able to spend more than $300,000 in bonus money on an international free agent the last few seasons. Baldoquin has been a significant failure, hitting .228/.279/.295 over 193 games so far in his minor league career, thus far not advancing beyond A-ball.
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This season, the Los Angeles Angels finally were allowed to dip into the market again, and they did so with fervor, signing multiple quality Latin free agents, the highest-rated of whom was Deveaux.
Deveaux and his fellow countryman D’Shawn Knowles were signed for a combined $2.05 million out of the Bahamas, but Deveaux is certainly the more elite player.
Deveaux is a pure 80-grade runner on the scouting 20-to-80 scale, and he has the ability to be a plus center fielder with his speed and developing instincts at the position. Deveaux pairs that speed with an average arm that he positions well to play up to above-average, making center field a feasible long-term destination.
The big thing for Deveaux in the last year was the leap forward that his bat took, showing excellent bat speed and adjusting his his stance to be able to keep his bat through the zone better, allowing to hit the ball with more authority. While Deveaux doesn’t profile as a guy who would be a significant power hitter, he could be a guy to pound the gaps and add double-digit home runs.
More than anything, Deveaux represents a change in philosophy for the Los Angeles Angels, who were next to the Orioles in their withdrawal from the Latin market under previous front offices. This investment will need to have some payoff to continue to keep owner Arte Moreno’s buy-in.
Next: Trout to be highest-paid in MLB in 2018
So that is the Los Angeles Angels top 10 prospects for 2018. Who is too high? Too low? Missing entirely from the list? Comment below!!