The Official 2018 Minor League Statline and Prospect Discussion Thread

[Second Base]

And one more thing.  @Dochalo is right about Nolan Gorman.  That is a man-child.  18 year old kids that get drafted at the end of the first round aren't built like that, and aren't in A Ball already.  There a couple dozen teams right now, the Angels included, who are thinking they should've picked Nolan Gorman.  So good on Doc for catching that early.

[Angelsjunky]

I am reminded of how in baseball, more so than in almost any sport, athleticism only goes so far. Now I am not saying that I don't expect Adams (or Deveaux) to develop, but that superior athletic skills don't necessarily equate with a superior baseball player. 

It is waaay too soon to get a good read on any of these really young guys: Adams, Jackson, Deveaux, Knowles, Maitan, Soto, etc, at least not until we see them in full season A ball. We're just getting a taste this year. But that taste does give us a sense of what areas they need to work on, how raw they are, and perhaps even how smooth their rise to the majors might be. But we don't know, for instance, whether Knowles will continue his surprisingly smooth rise or if he'll start hitting obstacles as he faces higher and higher competition; he may even reach a point where he just doesn't have the talent to develop beyond that level, although as I said I suspect that he'll at least reach the majors as a 4th outfielder, perhaps a Hermosillo type. But he also could be better - not many 17-year olds destory Orem like that. We don't know whether Deveaux will figure something out and join the elite of the Angels prospects, or whether he'll go the way of Nonie Williams and remain in developmental limbo. And so on.

As for Adell, he truly is an excellent prospect but, in my mind, is not in the same league as the true elite: what Acuna was before he was promoted, what Vlad Jr is now, and probably what Soto should have been regarded as. True grade A prospects. He could join them next year, but he could also settle into the next level below them, more of a Kyle Tucker or Bo Bichette. Nothing wrong with that. Or maybe this time next year he's halfway between and akin to Eloy Jimenez. 

The difference between a true grade A and an A- prospect is that the former is about as close to a "surething" major league star as you can get. Early this year Acuna was a surefire star. Vlad Jr is probably going to be one of the best hitters in baseball in a couple years, which is crazy to say about a 19-year old who hasn't played in the majors yet (why didn't we sign him, again?). An A- prospect could be a star, but it is more 50-50. A- prospects just as frequently turn into impact regulars. Now if Adell dominates AA next year and develops plate discipline, then I think he jumps a notch. But we'll just have to see.

I think it was Doc who ranked Marsh ahead of Adell, but I won't pick on him because I considered it. Some scout's like Marsh's bat more than Adell's and he was raking for the first month or so. But clearly we need to see more from him; he hasn't yet had that big break through that I think he is capable of. I suspect next year he's going to turn some heads in AA. 

[Angelsjunky]

p.s. August 29 is Alex Ramirez day. Hopefully he signs, then we have another toolsy young outfielder to drool over.

[stevestevens]

I've finally made it out to some owlz games these past couple of weeks. Knowles is a stud. Only 17 too. Love the kid. Hit two bombs last night. I'm at the game right now. K'd twice tonight. 

[Angelsjunky]

Maitan hit another HR tonight, his 7th on the year and third in four games. Now hitting .253/.313/.398 on the year. Who knows, maybe he's heating up.

[Docwaukee]

the dreaded org loss tonight.  0-8.  Took a 5 run bot 9 by the Griz vs. SLC with a walk off hr to make it happen.  

[totdprods]

August 25, 2018

Salt Lake (68-63) lost 6-7 vs. Fresno/HOU (76-55)

• Rengifo: 1-2, 3 R, 3 BB, CS (6) - still has more walks (69) than strikeouts (62) on the season. 19 BB to 22 K in SLC.
• Thaiss: 1-5, RBI, K
• Briceno: 2-4, 2 R, HR (8), RBI
• Fernandez: 2-4, R, HR (14), 2 RBI
• Rojas: 1-4, 2 K, E (4)
• Unsworth: 5 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, BB, 7 K, HR
• Rhoades: 1.2 IP, H, 2 K

Mobile (64-64) lost 6-11 vs. Pensacola/CIN (64-65)

• Jones: 0-4, R, BB, K, 2 E (12)
• Adell: 2-4, RBI, BB, K, E (1), OF assist
• Gatto: 3.1 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 4 K
• Procopio: 1.2 IP, H, 4 K

Inland Empire (65-65) lost 4-9 vs. Rancho Cucamonga/LAD (80-51)

• Marsh: 2-5, R, 2 K
• Todd: 0-2, 3 BB
• Camargo: 2-4, K, E (1) - small sample size, but a .326/.407/.413/.820 slash in 15 G/46 AB
• Diaz: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 2 K
• Mattson: 4 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 7 K

Burlington (49-78) lost 2-8 vs. Quad Cities/HOU (75-57)

• Rivas: 1-3, BB, 2 K, CS (10)
• Martinez: 1-4, 2 R, 3 K, SB (5)
• Griffin: 2-4, 2 RBI, SB (10)
• Brady: 3 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 4 BB, K
• Herrmann: 3 IP, 4 H, 4 K

Orem (19-46) lost 5-8 vs. Ogden/LAD (42-24)

• Soto: 2-4, 2 2B, E (20) - still one of my favorite new prospects
• Maitan: 1-4, R, HR (7), 2 RBI, BB, K
• Knowles: 0-5, 4 K, E (1) - welp.
• Sala: 3-3, BB

AZL Angels (16-36) lost 1-3 vs. AZL Giants Black (28-25)

• Deveaux: 1-4, R, 2B

DSL Angels (21-51) lost 1-3 vs. DSL Mets1 (47-25)

• Uceta: 0-4, 2 K

As @Dochalo mentioned, an org loss tonight, and not much worth mentioning either.

[tdawg87]

Season over.

[jsnpritchett]

Orem's team ERA is 6.81.  Lol.

[totdprods]

Fletcher just tweeted that Jordyn Adams is out for the season with a broken jaw - it's wired shut and he's working out at Angel Stadium.

[Lou]

1 minute ago, totdprods said:

Fletcher just tweeted that Jordyn Adams is out for the season with a broken jaw - it's wired shut and he's working out at Angel Stadium.

What did he call her?

[tdawg87]

13 minutes ago, totdprods said:

Fletcher just tweeted that Jordyn Adams is out for the season with a broken jaw - it's wired shut and he's working out at Angel Stadium.

Season over part 2 electric boogaloo

[Stradling]

2 hours ago, totdprods said:

August 25, 2018

Salt Lake (68-63) lost 6-7 vs. Fresno/HOU (76-55)

• Rengifo: 1-2, 3 R, 3 BB, CS (6) - still has more walks (69) than strikeouts (62) on the season. 19 BB to 22 K in SLC.
• Thaiss: 1-5, RBI, K
• Briceno: 2-4, 2 R, HR (8), RBI
• Fernandez: 2-4, R, HR (14), 2 RBI
• Rojas: 1-4, 2 K, E (4)
• Unsworth: 5 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, BB, 7 K, HR
• Rhoades: 1.2 IP, H, 2 K

Mobile (64-64) lost 6-11 vs. Pensacola/CIN (64-65)

• Jones: 0-4, R, BB, K, 2 E (12)
• Adell: 2-4, RBI, BB, K, E (1), OF assist
• Gatto: 3.1 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 4 K
• Procopio: 1.2 IP, H, 4 K

Inland Empire (65-65) lost 4-9 vs. Rancho Cucamonga/LAD (80-51)

• Marsh: 2-5, R, 2 K
• Todd: 0-2, 3 BB
• Camargo: 2-4, K, E (1) - small sample size, but a .326/.407/.413/.820 slash in 15 G/46 AB
• Diaz: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 2 K
• Mattson: 4 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 7 K

Burlington (49-78) lost 2-8 vs. Quad Cities/HOU (75-57)

• Rivas: 1-3, BB, 2 K, CS (10)
• Martinez: 1-4, 2 R, 3 K, SB (5)
• Griffin: 2-4, 2 RBI, SB (10)
• Brady: 3 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 4 BB, K
• Herrmann: 3 IP, 4 H, 4 K

Orem (19-46) lost 5-8 vs. Ogden/LAD (42-24)

• Soto: 2-4, 2 2B, E (20) - still one of my favorite new prospects
• Maitan: 1-4, R, HR (7), 2 RBI, BB, K
• Knowles: 0-5, 4 K, E (1) - welp.
• Sala: 3-3, BB

AZL Angels (16-36) lost 1-3 vs. AZL Giants Black (28-25)

• Deveaux: 1-4, R, 2B

DSL Angels (21-51) lost 1-3 vs. DSL Mets1 (47-25)

• Uceta: 0-4, 2 K

As @Dochalo mentioned, an org loss tonight, and not much worth mentioning either.

I love this format!

[Chuck]

38 minutes ago, totdprods said:

Fletcher just tweeted that Jordyn Adams is out for the season with a broken jaw - it's wired shut and he's working out at Angel Stadium.

In before @Dochalo tells us for the 100th time that he still wanted Gorman. lol

[Dick B Back]

23 hours ago, tdawg87 said:

We have a bunch of black dudes. Eppy knows what's up.

 

[Angel Oracle]

I give up.  This org’s luck SUCKS TOTALLY!

[UndertheHalo]

21 hours ago, Angelsjunky said:

p.s. August 29 is Alex Ramirez day. Hopefully he signs, then we have another toolsy young outfielder to drool over.

What happens if somehow the Padres did steal him away ?  Are the Angels just screwed on that million ? Or do they get more to spend next year ?

[Vlad27Trout27]

22 hours ago, Angelsjunky said:

p.s. August 29 is Alex Ramirez day. Hopefully he signs, then we have another toolsy young outfielder to drool over.

On MLB top 30, they have  us as the favorites, while the San Diego symbol on his card........  if we can't sign him hopefully we can sign Gaston. 

[tdawg87]

5 hours ago, UndertheHalo said:

What happens if somehow the Padres did steal him away ?  Are the Angels just screwed on that million ? Or do they get more to spend next year ?

Season over 3: The gritty reboot

[Docwaukee]

11 hours ago, Chuckster70 said:

In before @Dochalo tells us for the 100th time that he still wanted Gorman. lol

I'm probably the first and only guy here to repeat their narrative.  

[totdprods]

August 26th, 2018

Salt Lake (68-64) lost 9-10 at Fresno/HOU (77-55)

• Rengifo: 1-5, R, HR (3), 3 RBI, 2 K
• Thaiss: 2-4, RBI, BB
• Fernandez: 2-5, RBI
• Rojas (playing LF): 2-3, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 BB
• Walsh and Way alternated in a Maddon-esque OF/RP rotation 
• Morales: 3 IP, 4 H, ER, 2 BB, 5 K
• Tazawa: 0.1 IP, 4 H, 3 ER

Mobile (65-64) won 1-0 at Pensacola/CIN (64-66)

• Jones: 1-1, pulled early in game
• Ghelfi: 4-4, R, HR (3), RBI, SB (2) - released by MIL, this 25 yr-old switch-hitting catcher is slashing .333/.354/.567/.921 in 18 G since joining the org.
  Whoever or whatever data Eppler employs to seek out catcher talent seems to do a good job.
• Castillo: 7 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 2 K, 71 pitches, 49 strikes, now 9-4, 4.53 ERA
  Castillo's last 9 games: 41.2 IP, 3.67 ERA, 9 BB, 31 K, .250 BAA
• Clark: 2 IP, 0 H, 3 BB, 5 K - at Mobile, 24.2 IP, 2.19 ERA, 12 BB, 33 K, 17 H allowed, 0 HR allowed

Inland Empire (65-67) lost 5-16 vs. Rancho Cucamonga/LAD (81-51) 

• Hunter: 1-5, R, RBI, K 
• Marsh: 0-4, R, BB, 2 K
• MacKinnon: 1-2, RBI, 2 BB - having quite the August (23 G/79 AB): .342/.460/.595/1.055 - 8 doubles, 4 HR, 19 RBI, 18 BB, 16 K - he has a .407 OBP on the season
• Zimmerman: 2-4, R, HR (10), 2 RBI, K
• Tavarez: 1.2 IP, H, ER, 4 BB, 2 K

Burlington won 4-2 vs. Quad Cities/HOU (75-58)

• Rivas: 0-2, RBI, 3 BB, K
• Martinez: 0-4, BB, 2 K
• Ortega: 5 IP, 3 H, ER, BB, 5 K - really starting to emerge as someone to watch - his second half (12 GS/51.2 IP): 3.66 ERA, .222 BAA, 34 BB, 64 K, 3 HR allowed
• Perez: IP, BB, K - the 6'5", 235 lb. 21 yr-old RHP has a 1.96 ERA in his last 10 games, with 7 BB, 26 K

AZL Angels (16-37) lost 1-7 vs. AZL Cubs 1 (37-18)

• Deveaux: 1-3, R, HR (1), RBI, BB - first pro HR for the much-hyped Bahamian
• Higgins: IP, H, BB - the 6'5", LHP drafted in this year's 30th round has a 0.63 ERA in his last 10 G/14.1 IP, only allowing 6 hits, but walking 12 with 17 strikeouts

[GrittyVeterans]

Time to get Thaiss on to the 40 man and see what he can do

plenty of DFA candidates to choose from

 

[totdprods]

2 hours ago, GrittyVeterans said:

Time to get Thaiss on to the 40 man and see what he can do

plenty of DFA candidates to choose from

Disagree. He isn't Rule V eligible, no need to add him now. 

His last 50 games: .258/.313/.418/.731 

He's not ready yet. I'd rather see Jared Walsh get added as he is Rule V eligible, and can also play some corner outfield - and pitch relief? 

[Docwaukee]

1 minute ago, totdprods said:

Disagree. He isn't Rule V eligible, no need to add him now. 

His last 50 games: .258/.313/.418/.731 

He's not ready yet. I'd rather see Jared Walsh get added as he is Rule V eligible, and can also play some corner outfield - and pitch relief? 

I think that's how it plays out.  Although, I do think he's ready.  There's a bunch of guys feeling the doldrums of a long season right now.  Tons of slippage over the last two weeks.  Nothing catastrophic.  Just a general tailing off of most guys.  Labor day is the final game for most teams (except Orem goes for a bit).  

[Angel Oracle]

Walsh is intriguing with the bat, and the occasional relief pitching potential.

Not as much as Thaiss, but it appears that Walsh is tiring some too.   His plate discipline is off since joining SLC, although the XBH's are still solid.

Walsh only played about 200 games the past 2 years, already up to over 120 games this season.