HOUSTON, TX – SEPTEMBER 02: Los Angeles Angels shortstop David Fletccher (6) fields the ball for the out on Houston Astros left fielder Marwin Gonzalez (9) in the second inning of a baseball game between the Houston Astros and the Los Angeles Angels on September 02, 2018, at Minute Maid Park in Houston, TX.. (Photo by Juan DeLeon/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
The Philadelphia Phillies fell off at the end of the season, but they challenged for the NL East division title all season. How did things look down on the farm?
As part of our continuing coverage at Call to the Pen of the minor leagues, we will be covering each organization’s top players for 2018. The coverage will go in reverse order of record. Today, we will look at the Los Angeles Angels.
We are going to review the system’s leaders for each organization statistically, then choose one hitter and one pitcher to honor for every team. This will be primarily based on statistical performance, though some “age relative to level” could come into play, so a very impressive season from a 28-year-old in AA will rank below a nearly as impressive season from a 20-year-old at the same level.
After we review each organization’s hitter and pitcher of the year, we will close out October with Call To The Pen’s Minor League team of the year. That will lead into November starting our team top 10 prospect lists. In other words, there will be plenty of minor league content on the way at CTTP, so keep coming back for more each day this offseason!!
Los Angeles Angels minor leagues
The Los Angeles Angels started the season with a chance to compete, but in a very deep American League West, they ended up falling back to fourth in the division. The big news in Anaheim this year was the rookie on the team, Shohei Ohtani, who made an impact both on the mound and at the plate before injuries took him off of the mound.
The Angels have been working hard at rebuilding what was a barren farm system under Billy Eppler, and they had some help from that system this year. More should be coming in the next season or two as waves of talent start to work up to the majors.
Before we offer up awards on the season, let’s take a look at the system’s statistical leaders:
Los Angeles Angels Minor League Hitter of the Year: Jared Walsh
Level(s): high-A Inland Empire, AA Mobile, AAA Salt Lake Stats: .277/.359/.536, 128 G, 549 PA, 34 2B, 29 HR, 99 RBI, 61/154 BB/K
Jared Walsh is an easy guy to cheer for. In a major league draft that only goes 40 rounds, Walsh was the 39th round selection of the Los Angeles Angels in the 2015 draft out of the University of Georgia. He’s done nothing but hit for average ever since, but he put up much more than average in 2018.
Adjusting his swing to maximize for launch angle, Walsh ended up dropping some batting average and striking out mover, but his overall slash line was still elite, and he jumped up three levels in 2018 He didn’t just do all of his work in hitter-friendly Cal League and PCL. He hit .289/.382/.537 in AA with Mobile in 41 games, knocking out 8 home runs.
Walsh is not an instinctual outfielder, but he has a plus arm, and he’s been called upon frequently to pitch by his various assignments. In 2018, he made 8 appearances on the mound overall, tossing 5 2/3 innings, allowing 2 runs, 1 earned, on 6 hits and 2 walks, striking out 7. If he can’t hit, he could end up a relief pitcher down the line.
Runners-up
Drafted for his bat in the first round in 2016 out of Virginia, Matt Thaiss has simply not been able to show any legit pop, but that changed in 2018. He combined across AA and AAA for a .280/.335/.467 line with 34 doubles and 16 home runs, posting a 44/103 BB/K ratio.
Luis Rengifo was a revelation for the Angels in 2018. Acquired from the Angels before the season, he jumped up three levels, finishing the year with AAA Salt Lake, putting together a .299/.399/.452 line with 30 doubles, 13 triples, 7 home runs, and 41 steals, all while posting a 75/75 BB/K ratio and playing a very competent second base and shortstop both.
The #10 overall selection in the 2017 draft, there was never a doubt that Jo Adell was talented, but no one could have projected how he exploded up the system, finishing in AA on the year, hitting a combined .290/.355/.543 with 32 doubles, 20 home runs, and 15 stolen bases.
Jabari Blash did what Jabari Blash – crush minor league pitching. The 28-year-old spent his first season with the Los Angeles Angels, posting 21 doubles, 29 home runs, and a .317/.431/.700 slash line.
Switching to third base from catcher to allow his bat to play, Taylor Ward did exactly that between AA and AAA, hitting .349/.446/.531 with 26 doubles, 14 home runs, and 18 stolen bases before being called up for 40 games at the big league level, where he struggled to a .178 average.
Los Angeles Angels Minor League Pitcher of the Year: Griffin Canning
Level(s): high-A Inland Empire, AA Mobile, AAA Salt Lake City Stats: 4-3, 25 GS, 113 1/3 IP, 3.65 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 44/125 BB/K
After a ton of work at UCLA in spring of 2017, Griffin Canning did not make any appearances for the Los Angeles Angels after being selected in the 2nd round of the 2017 draft. He made the most of that delayed start in 2018.
Canning opened the year with high-A, but after 2 starts where he struck out 12 over 8 2/3 innings without allowing a single run, he earned a quick promotion. However, moving up to AA didn’t really slow him down much. He posted a 1.97 ERA over 45 2/3 innings with 49 strikeouts.
He then hit AAA Salt Lake and the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League. He struggled with balls falling in on him, but he continued to be incredibly tough to drive, as he only allowed 8 home runs the entire season in 113 1/3 innings.
Canning will likely open the season in Salt Lake in 2019, but he’ll certainly get a look at the rotation in spring training.
Originally signed out of Venezuela, Jose Suarez always had the raw stuff, but in 2018, he took that vital step from throwing to pitching and he lept up 3 levels alongside teammate Canning. Just 20, Suarez has already made 17 starts at the AAA level. He finished the year with a combined 3.92 ERA over 117 innings, with a 44/142 BB/K ratio.
A 30th round pick out of Clemson in 2017, Jeremy Beasley dropped due to a low-90s fastball, but he used a solid pair of fastballs and 3 offspeed pitches to keep hitters off-balance in 2018 as he moved up from low-A all the way to AA by the end of the season. He pitched in 25 games, starting 18, tossing 111 2/3 innings, with a 2.66 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, and a 32/104 BB/K ratio.
Interestingly improving upon promotion, righty Luis Madero has some excellent raw stuff that could allow him to become a solid mid-rotation arm or an elite bullpen arm. He pitched across both A-ball levels, throwing 105 2/3 innings, with a 3.49 ERA overall, 1.30 WHIP, and a 27/95 BB/K ratio.
Next. Phillies minor league awards. dark
The Los Angeles Angels had plenty of excitement with Shohei Ohtani this season, but they’ve been doing a lot of work on the farm, and the fruits should begin to start to show this year at the big league level.
