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Prospect Hotlist: Los Angeles Angels Hottest Prospects (6/14-6/27)


Chuck

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By Tres Hefter @totdprods AngelsWin.com Columnist

The pendulum shifted back towards the Angels pitching prospects over the last two weeks, as many arms posted some of their best games yet. With the Angels playoff hopes becoming increasingly cloudy and the trade deadline nearing, a significant number of pending promotions could begin to test some of the strong early results posted by the Angels minor league arms. 


--Pitchers--

1) Reid Detmers – LHP, Rocket City, AA:

It is becoming increasingly plausible that Reid Detmers will not be on these lists much longer. The Angels 2020 first round took his strong AA performance to an entirely new level over the last two weeks, striking out thirty hitters in 12 innings, including an immaculate inning to start one game. There were a couple blemishes as he allowed four HR and 7 ER in this span, leading to an uninspiring 5.25 ERA across these two starts, but that quickly pales in comparison to the 3 walks to 30 strikeouts amassed in that time, and could simply be a result of Detmers burning through the competition without much concern if he allowed a longball or two along the way. Simply put, Detmers struck out more than half of the hitters he faced in June while controlling the zone and limiting damage, meaning there might not be much more to gain in AA, and with AAA’s hitter-friendly confines and arguably lesser quality of opponent, Detmers could find himself in Anaheim perhaps as soon as the July 30th deadline passes.

2021 (RCT AA): 3.95 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, .237 BAA, 8 HR allowed, 14 BB, 76 K across 41 IP in 9 G/9 GS

2) Cooper Criswell– RHP, Rocket City, AA:

While many Angels pitchers have had flashy starts to the year, posting gaudy strikeout numbers and shiny ERAs, Cooper Criswell has flown largely under-the-radar by comparison with steady, effective, workmanlike outings. That changed over the second half of June. In a 6/16 start against Biloxi, Criswell obliterated his previous career-high of 9 strikeouts in a game by whiffing 14 in 6.2 scoreless innings. He then followed that up with a complete game (a what?) against Chattanooga, allowing only two runs. Altogether, Criswell tacked on 21.1 IP of 2.53 ERA ball, holding opponents to a .198 BAA and allowing 2 walks to 25 strikeouts, earning him AA-South Pitcher of the Week honors and elevating his legitimacy as an Angels starting pitching prospect.  

2021 (RCT AA): 3.59 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, .232 BAA, 5 HR allowed, 6 BB, 63 K across 52.2 IP in 9 G/9 GS

3) Robinson Pina – RHP, Inland Empire, A:

Pina’s season started off disastrously, walking 24 hitters in his first 15 innings while with Tri-City, earning a demotion to Low-A Inland Empire at the start of the month. Since then, Pina has looked much more like the pitcher than punched out 146 in 108 IP back in ’19, elevating him into the discussion of the Angels Top 30 prospects. Over the last two weeks, Pina made three starts totaling 17 IP, walking only 4 and striking out 25, all while holding hitters in check (.150 BAA) and keeping runs from scoring (1.59 ERA). Pina has a wide enough array of pitches that the Angels still see him as a starter, but he likely finds himself in relief when all is said and done, especially if he continues to struggle with walks. He’ll need to prove he can translate his success in at least A+ before the end of the year to maintain some fringe Top 30 shine.

2021 (TRI A+/IE A): 3.58 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, .164 BAA, 2 HR allowed, 30 BB, 52 K across 37.2 IP in 9 G/9 GS

4) Jose Salvador– LHP, Inland Empire, A:

Salvador might have had the most encouraging two weeks of any Angels starting pitching prospect. After averaging 69 pitches each appearance – and missing two weeks in May – Salvador took a firm step forward over the last two weeks of June, throwing 13 IP in two starts, holding hitters to a .196 BAA and 1.38 ERA, walking only one versus 17 strikeouts, and most importantly, topping the 90-pitch mark both times. By establishing some endurance and length in his appearances, Salvador’s stock as a legit SP prospect rose significantly over the month, as he had often profiled as an eventual reliever before. Only 21, the Angels won’t need to rush Salvador along yet, but he could find himself in Tri-City should the Angels shuffle their organizational pitching around the trade deadline.

2021 (RCT AA): 2.82 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, .200 BAA, 2 HR allowed, 17 BB, 52 K in 38.1 IP in 8 G/6 GS

5) Davis Daniel – RHP, Tri-City, A+:

A case could be made for Davis Daniel being the Angels’ 2nd-best pitching prospect behind Reid Detmers, at least if one were to weigh MLB-readiness into the equation. Since a rocky debut, Daniel’s first professional season has been essentially perfect, as the righty has rarely found himself in trouble. June has been especially noteworthy for Daniel, as he’s posted a 0.43 ERA and .088 BAA in 21 IP. Daniel had a chance to rank higher on this list, but a June 17th start was limited to 2 IP, and as such, he was limited to only 9 dominant innings in the last two weeks – 4 hits, 4 walks, 10 strikeouts, and one run. It seems only a matter of time before Daniel moves up to AA Rocket City where he could join Detmers, Criswell, Kyle Tyler, and Chris Rodriguez to make up one of the Angels most exciting minor league rotations in years. 

2021 (TRI A+): 2.04 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, .163 ERA, 1 HR allowed, 20 BB, 51 K in 39.2 IP in 8 G/8 GS
 

Honorable mention, pitchers:
Ryan Smith (LHP, TRI A+): 3.27 ERA, .214 BAA, 2 BB, 15 K across 11 IP in 2 G/2 GS – hasn’t missed a beat since being promoted to Tri-City
Brent Killam (LHP, TRI A+): 2.38 ERA, .118 BAA, 9 BB, 16 K across 11.1 IP in 2 G/2 GS – rebounding after an awful A+ debut
Hector Yan (LHP, TRI A+): 4.80 ERA, .232 BAA, 11 BB, 18 K across 15 IP in 3 G/3 GS – still struggling with control, but signs of improvement and strong strikeout rates still
Kyle Tyler (RHP, RCT AA): 4.09 ERA, .171 BAA, 2 BB, 12 K across 11 IP in 2 G/1 GS – slight stumble in first non-start is one of his few blips this season
Dillon Peters (LHP, SLC AAA): 2.00 ERA, .222 BAA, 1 BB, 11 K across 9 IP in 2 G/2 GS – Peters has an impressive 3.43 ERA and 27 K to 4 BB in his last 21 IP at AAA SLC 
Andrew Wantz (RHP, SLC AAA): 0.00 ERA, .143 BAA, BB, 5 K across 6.1 IP in 3 G/1 GS – versatile arm making a case for Anaheim pen 
Cole Duensing (RHP, TRI A+): 0.00 ERA, .067 BAA, BB, 5 K across 5 IP in 3 G – remember him? Showing some success now in relief

 

--Position Players--

1) Orlando Martinez – OF, Rocket City, AA:

When all is said and done, Orlando Martinez might wind up being the Angels prospect who has had taken the biggest step forward in 2021. The 23-year old Cuban has long been lauded for being a natural hitter, but his 2021 performance has included increasingly plus-power and improved discipline, making him one of the more complete hitters in the Angels system. In June, Martinez has hit .320 with an OPS over .900, and more recently. over his last ten games, Martinez slashed .333/.415/.667/1.081 and added three more doubles and three more home runs to his season total, while also drawing five walks against twelve strikeouts. Martinez does struggle somewhat against lefties (.640 OPS with 30 K in 96 PA) and might not walk at an above-average rate, but it’s becoming pretty safe to visualize a player who could be a solid corner outfielder in a platoon role at the MLB level who hits .275 with 15-20 HR in a good year. Should the Angels find themselves having to deal Adell or Marsh for pitching, Martinez may find himself in Anaheim in such a platoon as soon as 2023, once Upton’s contract clears, or he himself could be dealt for a more middle-of-the-road type player. 

2021 (RCT AA): .282/.332/.518/.849 with 10 doubles, 10 HR, 28 RBI, 2 SB, 13 BB, 57 K in 42 G/184 PA

2) Mitch Nay – 3B/1B, Rocket City, AA:

The former supplemental first rounder of the Toronto Blue Jays back in 2012 (Perry Minasian connection), Mitch Nay emerged as a key run producer for Rocket City over the last two weeks, slugging three doubles and half (6) of his season total’s worth of HR in just his last 10 games. This offensive outburst helped give Nay a robust .311/.354/.778/1.132 slash in that span, while also lifting him to a 3rd place tie on the AA leaderboard with 12 HR. Nay will need to continue his hot hitting in order to counter two things working against him; a slow start to the year and his age, 27. Should the Angels promote or trade names such as Jose Rojas or Matt Thaiss, there’s a good chance Nay could find himself in AAA before long, where hitting-friendly environments could boost his numbers further. There’s still time for Nay to become a late bloomer in the bigs, but 4A masher-for-hire isn’t a bad career either.

2021 (RCT AA): .224/.324/.500/.824 with 7 doubles, 12 HR, 23 RBI, 21 BB, 50 K in 45 G/179 PA

3) Jose Guzman – SS/2B, Inland Empire, A:

Where age hurt Mitch Nay, it helps Jose Guzman. The Angels tested the 20 year old middle-infielder early in the year, starting him at AA Rocket City, using him primarily as a defensive replacement and pinch-runner, before bumping him back Inland Empire to face more age-appropriate competition two levels lower. Over the last two weeks, Guzman has responded. Over twelve games and 47 PA, Guzman slashed .279/.340/.512/.852, demonstrating an enticing blend of contact, speed (3-4 in SB attempts) and power (3 doubles, 2 triples, and a HR). Guzman struggled in 2019, his first taste of pro ball stateside, but impressed the year before as a teenager in the Dominican Summer League, posting an .802 OPS at the age of 17. Given his age, there’s a lot to dream on still, but the Angels seem to think highly of him given his early taste of AA ball. In a system heavy with high-upside SS prospects, Guzman could be a sleeper. 

2021 (RCT AA/IE A): .283/350/.447/.794 with 7 doubles, 2 triples, 2 HR, 7-9 in SB attempts, 8 BB, 32 K in 37 G/118 PA

4) David MacKinnon – 1B, Rocket City, AA:

If David MacKinnon were to add catcher to his portfolio, you could argue that he might be the next Yermin Mercedes or Willians Astudillo. But to date, MacKinnon has entrenched himself as a strong defensive 1B (with 1 GS at 2B this year and one inning pitched being the lone defensive exceptions in his career) who just hits and hits and hits – minus the power typically associated with that position. Over the last two weeks, though, was a little different, as MacKinnon hit .400 (14 hits in 35 at-bats) and did add four doubles and two homers to his season, giving him a strong 1.118 OPS in that time. 2021 is a key year for 32nd rounder from the 2017 draft, as injuries cut his 2019 season down to 18 games, and COVID-19 cost him 2020, and he’s responded in a big way, with a .909 OPS in AA and a .322 batting average, good for 10th in all of AA. Jared Walsh has shown that late-round 1B who can hit and field can still make an impact, so maybe lighting strikes twice.

2021 (RCT AA): .322/.399/.510/.909 with 12 doubles, 5 HR, 24 RBI, 16 BB, 27 K in 37 G/163 PA

5) Ibandel Isabel – DH/1B, Rocket City, AA:

Continuing with a theme here is yet another slugging 1B-type at Rocket City. Serving as the primary DH for the Trash Pandas, offseason minor league signee Ibandel Isabel found his power stroke in the last two weeks, slugging .656 with two doubles, a triple, and three HR, while also hitting .250 and drawing 6 BB vs. 14 K, giving him a healthy .250/.385/.656/1.041 slash since June 14th, a mark much more appropriate for a hitter who smashed 28, 36, and 26 HR in his last three full minor league seasons. Only 26 years old, the former Dodger/Red farmhand is likely buried too far down the 1B/DH depth chart to have any foreseeable impact on a future Angels club, but his presence has no doubt allowed the Angels to field perhaps one of their more competitive upper-level minor league teams in years. Isabel’s role as a central run producer also figures to ease the pressure on developing talents such as Orlando Martinez to focus on roles that play to their skillsets, rather than trying to be something they aren’t, and to also allow a talented young rotation to pitch with more confidence that their offense will back them up – something that has eluded many Angel minor league clubs in the past.

2021 (RCT AA): .212/.325/.445/.770 with 6 doubles, 1 triple, 8 HR, 21 RBI, 19 BB, 61 K in 40 G/160 PA

Honorable mention, hitters:
Jeremiah Jackson (SS/DH, IE A): .321/.333/.714/1.048 with 5 2B, 2 HR, 10 RBI, BB, 9 K in 7 G/30 PA – missed a few games, leaving him out of this week’s Top 5 
Izzy Wilson (RF, RCT AA): .308/.357/.436/.793 with 2 2B, HR, 7 RBI, 3 BB, 6 K, 3-4 SB attempts in 10 G/42 PA – sporting an OPS of 1.058 now in June with a .352 BA
Anthony Bemboom (C/LF, SLC AAA): .346/.433/.615/1.049 with 2 HR, 4 BB, 2 K in 7 G/30 PA – torching AAA pitching this year, he and Butera are trade candidates too
Jack Mayfield (SS/2B, SLC AAA): .326/.392/.630/1.023 with 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR, 4 BB, 5 K in 10 G/51 PA – on fire since re-claimed by the Angels, and could be back on the MLB bench soon as a result
Jose Rojas (3B/LF/2B, SLC AAA): .286/.375/.595/.970 with 4 2B, 3 HR, 6 BB, 10 K in 11 G/48 PA – back to mashing at AAA after a slow start following demotion
Preston Palmeiro (1B/RF, SLC AAA): .417/.475/.500/.975 with 3 2B, 4 BB, 6 K in 11 G/40 PA – son of Rafael putting together his best professional season
Braxton Martinez (1B/3B, IE A): .341/.440/.488/.928 with 3 2B, HR, 8 BB, 3 K – former Indy ball masher continues to ruin younger pitching, first innings at 3B 
Jake Gatewood (SS/3B/1B/LF/RF, SLC AAA): .245/.275/.531/.805 with 2 2B, 4 HR, 12 RBI, 2 BB, 18 K in 12 G/51 PA – officially playing all over the field now, had a 2 HR, 7 RBI game that earned him a spot here

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