Sean Newcomb Climbs Ladder - Prospect Hotlist (May 11 - May 17, 2015)

[AngelsWin.com]

By Adrian Noche, AngelsWin.com Minor League Reporter - 

1.) Sean Newcomb, Starting Pitcher, Inland Empire 66ers

Last two starts: 0-0  10.1 IP  0.87 ERA  8 H  5 BB  10 SO  1.25 WHIP

Overall: 1-0  39.1 IP  1.83 ERA  29 H  20 BB  52 SO  1.25 WHIP  .209 BAA

As you all know, Sean Newcomb was promoted to High-A Inland Empire on May 14th. Newcomb, who was the Angels top draft pick in 2014, was dealing before his promotion. Let’s look at his numbers in Low-A Burlington: 1.83 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 11.8 SO9. The only number that should be a cause of concern (if any) is his BB9 of 5.0. However, his promotion shows that the Angels are comfortable where he is in his development and believe he is ready to take the next step. Now, let’s look at his first start in High-A and it is clear that they were right. On Saturday, Newcomb pitched 5.0 innings of one-run ball. The southpaw also struck out 7 batters while only giving up 1 walk and 4 hits. Look for Newcomb to continue to climb the organizational ladder, continuing to make hitters look like fools along with way. This should be a fun ride.

2.) Jeremy Rhoades, Starting Pitcher, Burlington Bees

Last two starts: 0-1  13.1 IP  2.70 ERA  7 H  4 BB  10 SO  0.82 WHIP

Overall: 3-1  33.2 IP  2.41 ERA  29 H  7 BB  36 SO  1.07 WHIP  .227 BAA

Along with Newcomb, there should be another pitcher who should be expecting a promotion soon. That pitcher is Jeremy Rhoades, who is arguable having a better season than Newcomb. Rhoades has a strong SO9 of 9.6 yet a minuscule BB9 of 1.9. Rhoades carried a no-hitter into the 8th inning before surrendering 3 earned runs and getting tagged with the loss on Wednesday. Rhoades' line exiting after 7.1 IP was 3 hits and 2 walks allowed, with 5 strikeouts. Out of every minor league prospect in the Angels organization, Rhoades has taken the biggest step by far among all of them. Just a year ago, Rhoades possessed shotty mechanics and only one plus-pitch (his slider, maybe even plus-plus). Fast forward to today, Rhoades not only improved his mechanics but also added a potentially plus-changeup to his arsenal.

3.) Andrew Heaney, Starting Pitcher, Salt Lake Bees

Last two starts: 1-0  13.0 IP  0.69 ERA  10 H  5 BB  16 SO  1.15 WHIP

Overall: 5-0  43.1 IP  3.12 ERA  49 H  12 BB  43 SO  1.41 WHIP  .280 BAA

Andrew Heaney has been somewhat inconsistent so far this season. Despite the inconsistency, Heaney has managed to carry some solid numbers. However, Heaney has been on a groove lately. In his last two starts, the Angels top prospect has only allowed 1 earned run in 13.0 innings while striking out 16 batters. After seeing his ERA balloon up to 4.85 ERA, Heaney has seen this number drop all the way down to 3.12 this season. Hitters have been hitting Heaney for a high average (.280) but this can be a result of some bad luck as his BABIP is .356. 

4.) Jett Bandy, Catcher, Salt Lake Bees

Past 10 games: .375 AVG  12 H  3 Doubles  0 Triples  3 HR  0 SB

Overall: .364/.427/.606

Although Carlos Perez was promoted to the Angels, the Bees have not been missing a beat at the catcher position with the way Jett Bandy has been playing. Bandy has been smacking the ball all over the place this season. Bandy had himself a stretch of 5-games where he hit .611 (11-for-18) to go along with 3 home runs, 3 doubles and a ridiculous 14 runs driven in. Overall, Bandy has a slash line of .364/.427/.606 on the season.

5.) Eric Aguilera, First Baseman, Inland Empire 66ers

Past 10 games: .400 AVG  18 H  4 Doubles  0 Triples  1 HR  2 SB

Overall: .319/.354/.435

Eric Aguilera is one of the more under-the-radar and underrated prospects in the Angels farm system. Aguilera was probably the best player on the Burlington Bees last season, with a slash line of .306/.341/.539. So far this season, Aguilera has been the best hitter on the 66ers as well. In his last 10 games, Aguilera is hitting an even .400 (18-for-45) with 3 doubles and a home run. It has been a steady climb up the minor leagues for Aguilera since being drafted in the 34th round of the 2013 draft. Aguilera started out in Rookie Ball Orem in 2013, Low-A Burlington in 2014, and is now starting this season with High-A Inland Empire.

Minor League Affiliate Report

Triple-A Salt Lake Bees

Salt Lake played .500 ball this past week (3-3) and sit 9.0 GB first place with an overall record of 15-21. Nick Tropeano pitched has pitched a pair of quality starts since last week, only allowing a combined 4 earned runs in 12.2 innings pitched while allowing 11 hits, 3 walks and striking out 11. Grant Green continues to swing a solid bat, with a .280 batting average this past week. Kyle Kubitza hit  2 doubles and added to his league leading total which sits at 15 on the season.

Double-A Arkansas

Like the Bees, Arkansas split 6 games this week with 3 wins and 3 losses. As of today, the Travelers have an overall record of 21-14 (second place of the Texas League North) and sit 2.5 GB first place. Tyler DeLoach continued his strong 2015 campaign with 6.0 shutout innings on Friday. The southpaw only allowed 2 hits and 3 walks while striking out 8 batters. DeLoach owns a 1.89 ERA ERA in 38.0 innings pitched this season (34 SO  11 BB  25 H). Nate Smith also had himself a strong start this week. On Sunday, Smith only gave up 1 earned run, 5 hits and 1 walk whiling striking out 6 batters. Chad Hinshaw was placed on the 7-day DL on Thursday.

High-A Inland Empire 66ers

The 66ers only played 4 games this week and won 3 of them. The 66ers now hold a .500 record, sitting 5.0 GB of first place. Chris Ellis only allowed 1 earned run in 6.0 innings pitched on Tuesday. Ellis gave up 6 hits and 2 walks while striking out 5 batters. Harrison Cooney struck out 11 batters in 6.0 innings pitched on Wednesday while only giving up 1 earned run, 3 hits and 2 walks. Jordan Kipper threw 8 innings and only gave up 1 earned run as well. Kipper struck out 2 batters and allowed 6 hits and 1 walk. Kaleb Cowart is starting to turn a corner, hitting .282 with 2 doubles, 2 triples and a home run in his last 10 games. Mike Fish has been on a tear as of late, hitting .474 with 1 double and 1 triple in his last 10 games. Outfielder, Brandyon Bayardi, continued his strong season and has now lifted his average up to .330 on the season.

Low-A Burlington Bees

The Low-A Bees owned a 3-3 record this week and are one game above .500 with an overall record of 19-18 (10.0 GB). Austin Robichaux pitched 7 shutout innings on Sunday, striking out 4 while giving up 2 hits and 3 walks. Jake Jewell pitched 4.0 innings of long relief on Tuesday. Jewell struck out 7 batters and gave up 1 earned run, 4 hits and no walks. With a combined 2.2 shutout innings of relief pitched this week, Jonah Wesely has lowered his ERA to 2.87 on the season (15.2 IP  20 SO  8 BB). Second baseman,Andrew Daniel, has had the power stroke working for him lately, with 3 home runs  and 3 doubles in his last 10 games. Outfielder, Natanael Delgado, has been on an offensive surge. The 19 year old is batting .425 with 2 doubles and 2 triples in his last 10 games and has raised his season average to .302. Miguel Hermosillo has reached base plenty for the Bees this week. The outfielder has 10 hits and 7 walks in his last 10 games.

View the full article

[Chuck]

Good report, Adrian. Love seeing starting pitching 1-3. 

 

Nate Smith also had a solid start the last time he took to the hill. 7 IP, 1 ER, 6 K. 

 

Pretty solid ERA at 3.35 with 43 K's in 45 2/3 innings. Another lefty to go along with Newcomb and Heaney. 

[Cdaniel]

I love these. Great work!

[fan_since79]

So will we trade one or more of these pitchers for a player or two who can actually hit?

[Chuck]

So will we trade one or more of these pitchers for a player or two who can actually hit?

 

I don't think we'll trade Heaney or Newcomb, but Rhoades, Smith, McGowin and Tropeano could all be had for a bat. Might need to package Bandy with one of those arms to get a legit LF bat. 

[Second Base]

There's also the possibility Dipoto decides to go big and deal from the Major League level. Santiago has been amazing this year, his stock is certainly rising quickly. Jerry could parlay that into a good LF, which would open a rotation spot for Heaney.

I think once we get into the offseason, we might see Dipoto swing another deal, trading Shoemaker (which would make me very sad) for a DH, which would put Tropeano and Skaggs in competition for 5th starter next Spring.

[Chuck]

There's also the possibility Dipoto decides to go big and deal from the Major League level. Santiago has been amazing this year, his stock is certainly rising quickly. Jerry could parlay that into a good LF, which would open a rotation spot for Heaney.

I think once we get into the offseason, we might see Dipoto swing another deal, trading Shoemaker (which would make me very sad) for a DH, which would put Tropeano and Skaggs in competition for 5th starter next Spring.

 

 

Good point! 

[tdawg87]

Santiago, Bedrosian, and Nate Smith for Justin Upton

[Chuck]

Santiago, Bedrosian, and Nate Smith for Justin Upton

 

 

 

I like it. Though give them Salas instead of Bedrock, promote Cam and Heaney. 

 

 

Salas has been pretty good this season and Bedrock looks a lot better. He's been pretty incredible in AAA and his brief stint with the Angels he's looked a lot better at the major league level. 

[tdawg87]

I'm assuming the Pads wouldn't even consider trading Upton, but they aren't going anywhere this year with their pitching, particularly the bullpen.

[Chuck]

I'm assuming the Pads wouldn't even consider trading Upton, but they aren't going anywhere this year with their pitching, particularly the bullpen.

 

What's crazy is their SP was the best on paper going into the season. 

[Chuck]

In checking out the Padres farm system (pretty lackluster), I noticed BA's scouting report on Jose Rondon, former Angels prospect. 

 

"Outside of bat control, Rondon has no outstanding offensive skill, with well below-average power and a contact-oriented, line-drive approach that could make him an average hitter. He’s also a fringe-average runner who could lose a half step if he continues to add weight to his lower half.

 

The Future: Rondon probably would be stretched as a regular shortstop on a contender, though his attributes would seem to make him a fine utility candidate or perhaps a starter at second base."

 

Nice job, Dipoto! We got our closer for a bunch of Rondons! 

[Second Base]

That scouting report is a load of crap, that kid has instincts like he was born on the field. He's a playmaker. I'd argue there's no real weakness in his game. I don't think he'll be a superstar, he doesn't have those flashy tools, but I think he'll be an Alcides Escobar type of shortstop.

As for getting Upton from the Padres, that'd mean they'll have sunk into the bottom of the standings with no hope of coming back. That teams too talented to do that. But in the rare event that they do, the package we offer the Padres would need to be more than they'd get from the two compensation picks he'd land San Diego. Your package has to have greater reward than early draft picks. That's a hard thing to do. For us, you'd risk losing him to Free Agency.

Just off the top of my head, a package for Upton would require a good starting pitching prospect in AA or higher, a great relief pitching prospect in AA or higher, a good position player prospect(s) in AA or higher and a lottery ticket at the lower levels.

So that's something like Tropeano, Bedrosian, Yarbrough, Hinshaw and Alcantara, Ellis or Delgado.

If he ended up leaving for another team and didn't get you a World Series, you'd really regret it.

Tropeano is going to be a mid or back rotation starter under team control for 6 years. Bedrosian is going to be an elite closer soon. Yarbrough will be a decent starting 2B or LF. Hinshaw will either be a 4th OF or a Calhoun type of starter, a guy that does a lot if things right. And the lottery ticket guys, who knows.

I mean best case scenario, you give up all of that, then the Angels make the playoffs in part because of Upton in the middle if the order and he re-signs with them and is great for another 5 years. Worst case, they sacrifice all that, they fall short of the playoffs, he goes elsewhere and the Angels are left without a big group of their best prospects.

So I'd make the deal for Upton, on the agreement that he negotiates an extension with the Angels that runs through the next 5 years. Of course, such an agreement would put the Angels over the Luxury Tax.

Edited May 19, 2015 by ScottyA_MWAH

[ELEVEN]

I saw Rondon last week when the 66ers played in Lake Elsinore. That kid has great hands and feet, and I think he should hit for avg well enough to start for a long time in MLB.

[NrM]

How bout some Cam Bedrosian love. People seem to be very down on him, but there's no denying his stuff is better than any relief pitcher on the angels.

 

Over the last week(including tonight's game) he's gone 

6.1 IP 1 ER 9 SO

 

overall 18.2 IP 1.93 ERA 25 SO 1.13 WHIP

[Second Base]

There seems to be some sort of nerves issue that has prevented Cam from hitting his spots in the majors the way he has done in the minors. But again, on e he's promoted, if he can hit his spots, Bedrock will be our 7th inning setup man with the idea that he'll grow into a dominant closer in a couple years.

[Angel Oracle]

This is essentially Bedrock Jr's 3rd full season with the org, due to TJ surgery costing him part of 2011-2012.

Hopefully he will truly be ready for the 7th inning role by 2016.

[Chuck]

Good article on Newcomb: http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20150520&content_id=125411024&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_milb&sid=milb

 

In the article it shows him whiffing Kris Bryant in ST too.