Angels Official Website: After dropping off, Cowart bulks up in offseason

[AngelsWin.com]

Kaleb Cowart has ditched the small town and moved to the big city. This offseason, the 21-year-old third baseman -- and still one of the Angels' top prospect -- left behind his rural hometown of Adel, Ga., and rented a townhouse in bustling Atlanta, to train at the heralded Goldin Athletic Training Association, and to, as he put it, "Get a lot bigger."

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[Hollyw00d]

Is he in the best shape of his life yet?

[JAHV76]

I sure hope he turns out better than the last few third base prospects.

[jshep]

Fat Cowart?

[Chuck]

Fat Cowart?

No. Phat Cowart.

[jsnpritchett]

PED Cowart?

[stevestevens]

Is he in the best shape of his life yet?

Is there any doubt?

[Sherlock31]

.221 BA in AA.............he's got a long way to go.............

[Ohtaniland]

 

[tdawg87]

While he was incredibly disappointing last year, he is still very young. Unfortunately not everyone can Mike Trout their way through the minors.

 

I expect a better year out of him in 2014. If not, then I'll definitely start to worry.

[nate]

Best shape of his life!

[arch stanton]

Has he lost the slowpitch softball leg kick yet? If not then the other stuff doesn't matter.

Edited January 25, 2014 by arch stanton

[YouthofToday]

We have "prospects"?

[Angel Oracle]

No comprende "prospect"

Que esta?

[Stradling]

¡ALTO IT!

¡JUST ALTO IT!

[fan_since79]

.221 BA in AA.............he's got a long way to go.............

 

That's not going to cut it in the majors. A .580 OPS to go with that anemic average. He's going nowhere with that kind of production.

 

Why not turn him back into a pitcher, as he was in high school? His fastball was clocked at 97 mph, and he had a 10-1 record in his senior year, with a 1.05 ERA and 116 strikeouts in 73 innings.

 

That's some serious pitching talent.

[Stradling]

FS79, I don't have a problem with that idea, but let's give him another season or so to let him turn it around.

[tdawg87]

That's not going to cut it in the majors. A .580 OPS to go with that anemic average. He's going nowhere with that kind of production.

 

Why not turn him back into a pitcher, as he was in high school? His fastball was clocked at 97 mph, and he had a 10-1 record in his senior year, with a 1.05 ERA and 116 strikeouts in 73 innings.

 

That's some serious pitching talent.

 

He's just 21 years old.

[fan_since79]

He's just 21 years old.

 

A .221 BA and .279 OBP in 546 plate appearances in AA is not a good sign for a "top prospect". He should be doing better than that at 21.

 

I'll give him another year, but I'm not impressed at this point.

 

I am impressed with a 97 mph fastball and a ton of strikeouts, however.

Edited January 25, 2014 by fan_since79

[Angelsjunky]

I sure hope he turns out better than the last few third base prospects.

 

"In the long tradition of Angels third base prospects, including Brandon Wood, Dallas McPherson, and George Arias."

[Brent Maguire]

A .221 BA and .279 OBP in 546 plate appearances in AA is not a good sign for a "top prospect". He should be doing better than that at 21.

I'll give him another year, but I'm not impressed at this point.

I am impressed with a 97 mph fastball and a ton of strikeouts, however.

A lot of players struggle for a season in the minors. Playing as a 21 year old in AA is a tough task.

Obviously last season as a disappointment but it's fair to evaluate him after next year. If he's terrible again, then you make a decision from there.

[tomsred]

How long would it take to convert him back to a pitcher?  I guess I should ask Mike Butcher.....oh, never mind.

[NrM]

How long would it take to convert him back to a pitcher?  I guess I should ask Mike Butcher.....oh, never mind.

 

Yea I think it's safe to say if he has another season like last year, they'll try and convert him back to a pitcher.

[HaloFan85]

Knowing this organization, Cowart will tear it up, come up and replace a broken down Freese, and we'll have gotten rid of Bourjos for absolutely nothing.

[Stradling]

We traded an oft injured PB for a broken down Freese. Sounds like a fair trade.