The Official Los Angeles Angels 2017 Minor League Statlines & Prospects thread

[ettin]

The interesting aspect of trading for a one-year stop gap Major Leaguer is that it can be an opportunity, depending on who the trade partner is, for Eppler to trade away any prospects he considers chaff or bubble-type guys he isn't enamored with for something more substantial. In this way he can use that ML player for the first half of the year and if we are out of the race he can then flip said player for close to the same value for a prospect or prospects he DOES want. It can be a worthwhile and semi-efficient method of turning your farm system over into prospects you believe in over ones you had previously.

[totdprods]

30 minutes ago, ettin said:

The interesting aspect of trading for a one-year stop gap Major Leaguer is that it can be an opportunity, depending on who the trade partner is, for Eppler to trade away any prospects he considers chaff or bubble-type guys he isn't enamored with for something more substantial. In this way he can use that ML player for the first half of the year and if we are out of the race he can then flip said player for close to the same value for a prospect or prospects he DOES want. It can be a worthwhile and semi-efficient method of turning your farm system over into prospects you believe in over ones you had previously.

^^^^
Kind of echoing this from another angle, I actually think this has been a big part of Eppler's plan the past two seasons, but extenuating circumstances have kept him from achieving it. And it may be a reason he does something differently this offseason. 

I think he's intentionally nabbed guys with expiring contracts with the intent of being able to sell them at the deadline as a quick-fix for the farm. He wasn't going to really get blue chip prospects, so he assigned his scouts to really dig deep on the guys like Jesus Castillo, Jefry Marte, Parker Bridwell and find young players who could make an impact similar to that of a prospect, and use expiring vets as trade bait to keep those ranks replenished while the rest of the farm caught up. 

Problem is, a lot of those expiring vets have either sucked, been injured, never drew interest, or were hurt by a bottomed out trade market.

[Angelsjunky]

The general approach has shades of moneyball. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. I wonder if Maybin would have been traded at the deadline if he hadn't tanked AND gotten injured...of course if he had, we'd be bummed out considering they've been playing so well (do you think Eppler wishes he could have Hernandez back?)

Anyhow, given what we've seen so far, Eppler likes to fiddle with low-cost and low-risk moves, but also isn't afraid to pull the trigger on something more substantial IF it serves the team long-term (Simmons). I think he realizes that premium talent is best grown from within, and barring rare exceptions, free agency is best used for lower cost hole-fillers, as well as trading away chaff for potential clean peanuts.

A strong farm could lead to the type of situation we can hope to see over the next few years: surplus talent in the outfield that can be traded for premium talent at positions of need. 

 

[Second Base]

Yeah, good to see Adell get that promotion.  I really want him to start next year in Burlington, v=because highs school players as good as he is go there.  But I just get this nagging feeling the Angels are going to hold him back in Rookie Ball an extra year.  They've grown into a middle of the road, maybe slightly conservative when it comes to promoting now, but even that philosophy would suggest Jo belongs in full season ball.

I think at the very least, we can say the Angels are using an individual plan for each prospect now, instead of the uniform promotion schedule crap we saw under Reagins and Dipoto. 

[ettin]

4 hours ago, Angelsjunky said:

The general approach has shades of moneyball. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. I wonder if Maybin would have been traded at the deadline if he hadn't tanked AND gotten injured...of course if he had, we'd be bummed out considering they've been playing so well (do you think Eppler wishes he could have Hernandez back?)

Anyhow, given what we've seen so far, Eppler likes to fiddle with low-cost and low-risk moves, but also isn't afraid to pull the trigger on something more substantial IF it serves the team long-term (Simmons). I think he realizes that premium talent is best grown from within, and barring rare exceptions, free agency is best used for lower cost hole-fillers, as well as trading away chaff for potential clean peanuts.

A strong farm could lead to the type of situation we can hope to see over the next few years: surplus talent in the outfield that can be traded for premium talent at positions of need. 

 

Maybin could very well still be in play. If the Angels really do try to trade for Stanton, a third team, like the Nationals (yes I know they have been attached to Giancarlo too), might have interest in taking on Cameron in order to pay some of the prospect currency the Angels need to acquire Stanton.

In the trade deadline series it really seemed like the Nationals were a prime target for Maybin (although they seem to be getting good production out of their current mix of OF's) so it isn't as wild as it sounds. Washington, if they cannot have Giancarlo, would probably love for him to leave the N.L. East right now to increase their chances of holding their Division lead. Also the Nat's could use a lead-off type like Cameron more so than all of the power types they have on their roster right now.

There are certainly other teams that could use Maybin too so it doesn't have to be Washington either. The Angels have about $25M in AAV free right now (this is going off of memory I don't have access to my spreadsheet so I could be wrong) so they will need to find a home for Cameron's remaining salary methinks.

Edited August 18, 2017 by ettin

[totdprods]

Thursday, August 17th, 2017: 
Salt Lake (64-61) won 11-9 over Tacoma (61-64)
Eric Young, Jr: 3-5, R, 2B, 3B, 2 RBI, K
Michael Hermosillo: 0-4, BB, K, SB (4)
Carlos Perez: 3-4, 2 R, 2B, RBI, BB
David Fletcher: 2-5, R, 3 RBI
Nolan Fontana: 1-3, R, HR (10), RBI, BB
Adam Hofacket: 1.2 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, BB, K

Mobile (56-65) lost 2-6 in 10 innings to Jacksonville (57-64)
Brennon Lund: 1-5, R, 2 K
Matt Thaiss: 2-4, 2B
Taylor Ward: 0-3, RBI
Jose Rojas: 2-4
Grayson Long: 6.2 IP, 5 H, ER, 6 K, 87 pitches, 60 strikes
Connor Lillis-White: IP, H, 3 ER, 2 BB, K

Inland Empire (59-65) won 4-2 vs. Lake Elsinore (57-67)
Jahmai Jones: 2-4, 2 R, K, SB (8), 20-game hitting streak
Jack Kruger: 1-4, 2B, E (3)
Jared Walsh: 1-4, 2B, 3 RBI, 2 K
Mike Kaelin: 2 IP, 2 K -- last 7 IP (3 G): 1 H, 0 BB, 8 K
Can anyone, aka @Scotty@AW , tell me more about...
Nate Bertness (3rd A+ GS): 5 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 7 K - 6'6" left-handed starting pitcher, 22 years old, 16th Rd. pick in 2015
In his last 9 starts (6 at Burlington/3 at Inland Empire): 44.1 IP, 2.84 ERA, 9.3 K/9, 3.2 BB/9, 7.9 H/9 - seems to be handling Cal League well

Burlington (52-70) lost 0-8 to Cedar Rapids (64-59)
Jonah Todd: 1-4, K, OF assist
Leonardo Rivas: 0-2, 2 BB, K, E (3)
Chris Rodriguez (3rd A Start): 5 IP, 9 H, 5 ER, BB, 2 K

Orem (38-15) won 5-2 vs. Helena (20-33)
Torii Hunter: 2-5, 2 R, K
Brandon Marsh: 2-5, R, 2 RBI, K
Keinner Pina: 1-4, 2B, 2 RBI - 20 year old catcher, slashing .295/.389/.331/.720 - 17 BB, 14 K, thrown out 47% (16 of 34)
Jordon Adell (Orem debut, hitting 6th, DH): 0-4, K
Matt McCann: 3-4, R, K, 2 SB (5)
James Ziemba: 3 IP, H, 2 BB, 3 K - 6'10" LHSP, first start. On the year, 21.2 IP, 2.49 ERA, .244 BAA, 1.38 WHIP, 11 BB, 21 K
Christopher Molina: 3.2 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 7 K - on the year, 23.1 IP, 15 BB, 35 K between AZL/Orem
Isaac Mattson: 2.1 IP, 2 H, BB, 6 K - on the year, 23.1 IP, 9 BB, 34 K, 1.16 ERA, .159 BAA, 0.94 WHIP between AZL/Orem

AZL Angels (25-19) lost 1-9 to AZL Royals (19-23)
Jacob Pearson: 0-3, BB, K
Nonie Williams: 0-4, K
Jimmy Barnes: 2-4

DSL Angels (27-32) vs. DSL Yankees (25-36) postponed, rain

[Inside Pitch]

1 hour ago, totdprods said:

Mike Kaelin: 2 IP, 2 K -- last 7 IP (3 G): 1 H, 0 BB, 8 K
Can anyone, aka @Scotty@AW , tell me more about...
 

Kaelin was the closer at U of Buffalo posting K/9s over 11 and BB/9s under 2.5 in both his Jr and Sr years...   Undersized at 5'9" but he  works in the mid 90s...    K rate has improved pretty much as he's risen through the system -- may be a guy that's being taught how to pitch and not just throw...

[Make Angels Great Again]

Jahmai is killing it in IE right now. Any chance he starts next year in AA?

[totdprods]

22 minutes ago, Inside Pitch said:

Kaelin was the closer at U of Buffalo posting K/9s over 11 and BB/9s under 2.5 in both his Jr and Sr years...   Undersized at 5'9" but he  works in the mid 90s...    K rate has improved pretty much as he's risen through the system -- may be a guy that's being taught how to pitch and not just throw...

I'm a little familiar with Kaelin, was asking more about Nate Bertness. I can't find jack on him and have never seen him pitch, but a 6'6" 22 year old lefty who starts stringing together good starts seems like someone to start watching.

[totdprods]

11 minutes ago, Make Angels Great Again said:

Jahmai is killing it in IE right now. Any chance he starts next year in AA?

I thought they'd be best letting him start at IE and bump him up at first sign next year of him being comfortable there (like, if he's .300 after the first week, send him up) but if he keeps hitting this hot to end the year, yeah, I think he has to go to AA. He's getting a little lucky though still - 7 walks and 29 strikeouts through 27 game isn't a sign that he's mastered plate recognition at A+ yet, and that may be reason to move him a little more conservatively.

[Inside Pitch]

23 minutes ago, totdprods said:

I'm a little familiar with Kaelin, was asking more about Nate Bertness. I can't find jack on him and have never seen him pitch, but a 6'6" 22 year old lefty who starts stringing together good starts seems like someone to start watching.

MY bad -- I misunderstood the "...."  

I asked someone a while back about him, area scout for the Yanks..    Bertness was supposedly more known for basketball than baseball in HS -- the basketball seasons tended to cut into the spring so he didn't really get that much play time...   Apparently he performed well but he was said to have started fewer than 15 games in HS and didn't go to many of the showcases ... when he did, he didn't really make a name for himself - clocked out at like 82-84 MPH.    I don't think there is a player in the Angels system with less info about him.....   I do remember reading an article that said he had ZERO scholarship offers and ended up walking on to a Texas JC...

Edit:  The dude was 6-2 and 140 his Sr year of HS..    if he's at 6'6" now -- I doubt any of the info on him would even matter now...    Definitely someone to track and see how he develops.

 

 

 

[SoWhat]

Adell and Jones got some love from Fangraphs in their Summer Top-100 Prospects list.

Adell came in at 82 and Jones at 93. Marsh get some recognition as well, he was listed in the just missed list. By sometime next year we'll see all three in most top prospect lists. 

 

https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/summer-top-100-prospects/

[Chuck]

HELIUM WATCH

Kody Eaves, 3B, Tigers (23) 
Double-A Erie (Eastern)

How big a week was it for Eaves? He had just 14 at-bats and still managed to gather 16 total bases. Eaves has always had the coveted power-speed combo, but his issues making contact had negated those tools somewhat. This year, he is cutting down on whiffs, still hitting for power and has posted a career-best .280 average.

Read more at http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/prospect-hot-sheet-august-18/#ALv46Lz1AK5KbehO.99

[eaterfan]

6 hours ago, Inside Pitch said:

MY bad -- I misunderstood the "...."  

I asked someone a while back about him, area scout for the Yanks..    Bertness was supposedly more known for basketball than baseball in HS -- the basketball seasons tended to cut into the spring so he didn't really get that much play time...   Apparently he performed well but he was said to have started fewer than 15 games in HS and didn't go to many of the showcases ... when he did, he didn't really make a name for himself - clocked out at like 82-84 MPH.    I don't think there is a player in the Angels system with less info about him.....   I do remember reading an article that said he had ZERO scholarship offers and ended up walking on to a Texas JC...

Edit:  The dude was 6-2 and 140 his Sr year of HS..    if he's at 6'6" now -- I doubt any of the info on him would even matter now...    Definitely someone to track and see how he develops.

 

 

 

The dude was 6' 2" 140 lbs and then grew 4"? Hopefully there aren't any stiff gusts of wind.

[Inside Pitch]

36 minutes ago, eaterfan said:

The dude was 6' 2" 140 lbs and then grew 4"? Hopefully there aren't any stiff gusts of wind.

LOL -- supposedly he's up to 185...   But yeah..   talk about rail thin.

[Angel Oracle]

14 minutes ago, Inside Pitch said:

LOL -- supposedly he's up to 185...   But yeah..   talk about rail thin.

Just like Andy Dufresne, a tall drink of water

[Lou]

50 minutes ago, Angel Oracle said:

Just like Andy Dufresne, a tall drink of water

Nice 

[totdprods]

Friday, August 18th, 2017:
Salt Lake (64-62) lost 6-7 vs. Tacoma (62-64)
Eric Young, Jr: 1-5, R, HR (8), 2 RBI, K, OF assist
David Fletcher: 1-5, 3B
Ramon Flores: 2-5, R, 2B, E (5)
Carlos Perez: 2-4, 2 R, HR (5), 2 RBI, E (8)
Nolan Fontana: 1-3, R, 3B, 2 BB, K, SB (11)
Sherman Johnson: 2-3, R, RBI, BB, K, SB (12)
Branden Pinder: IP, H
Jason Gurka: IP, H, BB - at SLC, 30.2 IP, 2.35 ERA, .241 BAA, 1.24 WHIP, 11 BB, 30 K, LHRP option?
Brooks Pounders: IP, H, 2 BB, 2 K - at SLC, 44.2 IP, 3.02 ERA, .214 BAA, .214 WHIP, 12 BB, 44 K

Mobile (57-65) won 10-4 vs. Jacksonville (57-65)
Brennon Lund: 0-5, 2 K
Matt Thaiss: 1-3, R, 2B, 2 BB - at AA (34 G, 126 AB): .317/.408/.389/.797 with 9 2B, 21 BB, 30 K
Taylor Ward: 3-5, 2 R, 2B, HR (3), RBI - at AA (22 G, 78 AB): .346/.465/.500/.965 with 3 2B, 3 HR, 18 BB, 11 K
Jose Rojas: 2-5, 2 R, HR (4), 2 RBI, 2 K - plate discipline suffering at AA, but still hitting - .286/.308/.464/.773
Forrestt Allday: 1-3, 2 R, RBI, 2 BB, SB (10)
Alberto Triunfel: 2-4, R, 3B, 4 RBI, K
Tim Arakawa: 2-4, RBI, K
Jake Jewell: 4.2 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, K
Abel de los Santos: 1.1 IP, H, BB, 3 K - last 10 games, 13.2 IP, 7 H, 4 BB, 14 K, 1.32 ERA

Inland Empire (59-66) lost 8-9 to Lancaster (69-56)
Jahmai Jones: 1-4, 2 R, 2B, BB, 2 K, OF assist - 21 game hitting streak
Jack Kruger: 1-4, 2 RBI, BB, K, E (4)
Jared Walsh: 2-4, R, 2B, RBI
Kyle Survance, Jr: 2-4, R, 2B, RBI, 2 K
Jake Yacinich: 2-4, R, 3B, 2 RBI

Burlington (53-70) won 8-4 vs. Kane County (67-54)
Jonah Todd: 1-4, 2 R, BB, K
Brandon Sandoval: 3-4, 2 R, 2B, K, CS (3)  - at Orem/IE/Burl., he's slashing .333/.394/.455/.849 in 47 G, 189 AB - 15 XBH, 18 BB, 35 K
Julian Leon: 3-3, 2 R, RBI, 2 BB - slashing .331/.407/.516/.923 in 34 G, 124 AB, 15 XBH, 12 BB, 30 K - 21 year old catcher
Richard Fecteau: 1-3, 2 R, 2B, 2 RBI, E (3)
Zac Ryan: 4 IP, H, BB, 3 K - at Burlington, 20.2 IP, 0.87 ERA, .200 BAA, 1.16 WHIP, 8 BB, 21 K
The next guy is a 2016, Rd. 33 draft pick. 6'1", 175, LHP, 24 y/o and he has played at least two games at every single level in 2017.
Justin Kelly: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 0 ER, K - on the year (all levels): 21 G, 6 GS, 56 IP, 3.54 ERA, .227 BAA, 1.27 WHIP, 24 BB, 50 K

Orem (38-16) lost an absolutely crazy game 14-17 vs. Ogden (34-21)
Torii Hunter: 2-6, 2 R, RBI, 2 K
Jordon Adell (2nd game at Orem): 2-5, 2 R, 2B, RBI, K
Brandon Marsh: 3-6, 2 R, 2 RBI - in 22 G, 97 AB at Orem: .381/.430/.577/1.007 with 11 XBH, 7 BB, 19 K
Ryan Vega: 3-4, 2 R, 2B, HR (4), 4 RBI, 2 BB, OF assist
Angel Molina: 2-5, R, 2 RBI, BB, 2 K
Matt McCann: 4-6, 2 R, 2B - - hitting .371 last 10 games
Cole Duensing: 1.2 IP, 5 H, 6 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, HR 
Jeremy Beasley: 2.1 IP,  4 H, 3 ER, 5 BB, 3 K, HR

DSL Angels (28-32) won 2-1 vs. DSL Mets1 (38-24)
Miguel de la Cruz (CF): 1-4, K, SB (9) - hitting .303 in last 10 games, slashing .237/.380/.411/.790 overall (19 XBH, 43 BB, 50 K)
Cristian Gomez (RF): 2-4, 2 R, 2B, K, OF assist - hitting .286 in last 10 games.
Julio de la Cruz (2B): 2-4, 3B (7), RBI - hitting .412 in his last 10 games, slashing .250/.378/.407/.785 overall. Just turned 17.
Luis Nova: 5 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K


 

[Angelsjunky]

Could Ward be promoted again this year? It almost seems like he's finally figured things out. Watch out, Martin Maldonado.

I'm thinking Marsh will be the next promotion. After cooling off a bit he seems to be hitting again.

[TroutField]

I would like to see Ryan Vega get a promotion to Burlington. He's hitting the cover off the ball

[totdprods]

22 minutes ago, TroutField said:

I would like to see Ryan Vega get a promotion to Burlington. He's hitting the cover off the ball

He has been extremely consistent all season long too. He's been a constant run producer for that team.

[Chuck]

Brandon Sandoval needs to be back in High-A ball too. 

[totdprods]

2 minutes ago, Chuckster70 said:

Brandon Sandoval needs to be back in High-A ball too. 

It's crazy how deep the minor league outfield ranks are becoming...

We have the legit prospects:
Jahmai Jones: .289/.351/.446/.797 with 44 XBH, 40 BB, 94 K, 26 SB in 114 G, 516 PA
Jordon Adell: .283/.343/.528/.870 with 17 XBH, 10 BB, 34 K, 5 SB in 33 G, 141 PA
Brandon Marsh: .381/.430/.577/1.007 with 11 XBH, 7 BB, 19 K, 4 SB in 22 G, 107 PA
Michael Hermosillo: .261/.370/.388/.758 with 32 XBH, 54 BB, 106 K, 30 SB in 105 G, 469 PA

We have the lower-ceiling college OF types who still refuse to stop producing:
Brennon Lund: .324/.394/.430/.824 with 29 XBH, 41 BB, 83 K, 20 SB in 106 G, 476 PA
Brendon Sanger: .272/.360/.479/.839 with 24 XBH, 29 BB, 69 K, 1 SB in 66 G, 251 PA
Jonah Todd: .299/.402/.379/.780 with 14 XBH, 37 BB, 41 K, 1 SB in 54 G, 256 PA
Brandon Sandoval: .333/.394/.455/.849 with 15 XBH, 18 BB, 35 K, 4 SB in 47 G, 214 PA
Jared Foster: .275/.329/.428/.756 with 12 XBH, 9 BB, 29 K, 4 SB in 33 G, 149 PA (injured)
Troy Montgomery: .271/.358/.413/.771 with 29 XBH, 48 BB, 74 K, 15 SB in 100 G, 434 PA
Zach Gibbons: .269/.332/.380/.712 with 28 XBH, 34 BB, 54 K, 10 SB in 91 G, 392 PA (good at A+, struggled at AA)

And we still have several lotto-ticket types to watch
Torii Hunter: .327/.399/.427/.825 with 10 XBH, 13 BB, 29 K, 7 SB in 37 G, 171 PA
Ryan Vega: .327/.410/.458/.868 with 17 XBH, 27 BB, 41 K, 3 SB in 50 G, 249 AB
Jimmy Barnes: .297/.352/.514/.866 with with 17 XBH, 9 BB, 36 K, 5 SB in 30 G, 122 PA

Haven't performed the way we'd like yet, but too early to give up on:
Jacob Pearson: .209/.287/.264/.551 with 5 XBH, 10 BB, 25 K, 1 SB in 29 G, 125 PA
Johan Sala: .261/.328/.336/.664 with 7 XBH, 11 BB, 27 K, 3 SB in 32 G, 131 PA

And we still have Trent Deveaux and D'Shaun Knowles yet to play, and minor league FA types like Cesar Puello and Forrest Allday who are still young enough to play themselves into depth charts. 

[Angelsjunky]

It is very exciting, @totdprods. I was going to produce a similar list but realized I'd already done so in various ways...but so what? Let's geek out ;-)

A couple quibbles. I'd probably still put Herm in that second tier, but at the top of the class. Or, at the least, he's on the cusp. He seems to be roughly halfway between the "holy trinity" and the Lund/Sanger types.

I'd also probably just put Hunter and Vega in that second group. Or I might re-create the groups as follows:

Tier A (legit prospects who could be impact major leaguers): Adell, Jones, Marsh

Tier B (solid prospects who should make the majors in some capacity): Hermosillo, Lund, Sanger, Hunter, Todd, Sandoval, Vega, Puello

Tier C (probably minor league depth, but outside chance of majors): Flores, Montgomery, Foster, Gibbons, Allday, Jenkins

Too soon to place: Pearson, Sala, Barnes, Deveaux, Knowles

Players can move up and down tiers, but based upon what we've seen so far, that's where I'd put them. And some players are on the cusp: Montgomery could move up to B, for instance, and Herm up to A.

[totdprods]

@Angelsjunky zero disagreement with anything you listed. I sorta just burned that list up real quick - ultimately out Herm in 'Tier 1' only because he's closest to MLB-ready. 

I'm really enthused with Torii - I know he's old for the league but he's hardly played baseball and there isn't anything glaringly off about his game. It'd make sense if he was barely walking and striking out a ton, or inflating his numbers through pure speed, or just out slugging younger players a la Wenson, MacKinnon....but he isn't. He's been a perfectly well-rounded, consistent player throughout. I hope he lands amidst more age-appropriate competition next year to see where his talent truly lies, but he could really shoot up the list if he keeps it up.