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ANAHEIM — When the Angels claimed Hansel Robles on waivers last summer, they could not have fully imagined just what they were getting.
Beyond Robles’ physical tools, which the Angels have helped mold into one of baseball’s best relievers in the second half this season, they got a player overflowing with a personality that he says had been stifled with the New York Mets.
“Here, they let me be who I am,” Robles said through an interpreter. “They embraced me. They let people be comfortable.”
A 29-year-old Dominican, Robles struts around the Angels clubhouse, playfully joking with teammates, clubhouse workers and reporters in three languages: English, Spanish and Japanese.
Lately, he’s been carrying a gold 1980s style boom box, which blasts music with a Latin flare.
And, of course, on the field he is now known for the epic entrance created by the Angel Stadium entertainment staff in April. Dramatic theme music from The Undertaker — his favorite pro wrestler — plays while he slowly jogs to the mound, as the video board shows a montage of a falling red rose petals, white horses and candles. Someone in the ballpark entertainment control room wears a white horse mask under a black hood.

Robles, who prefers the nickname Caballo Blanco because of his love for white horses, smiles broadly when describing the video.
“I like it a lot,” he said.
When the video first debuted, Manager Brad Ausmus was distracted from the field enough to take notice. He later called it “buzzworthy.”
Since then, Ausmus has become more familiar with the quirky, outsized personality that inspired that video. Robles is always in his ear, telling his manager that he can play shortstop, or at least that he should let him take batting practice.
All of it — from the video to the boom box — plays much better when accompanied by success.
Arguably the best pitching acquisition in general manager Billy Eppler’s four seasons, Robles has blossomed in a season and a half with the Angels. He became the closer in April, and has converted 22 saves this season.
“Last September he kind of opened everyone’s eyes and he’s kept it rolling right through the offseason and through the 2019 season,” Ausmus said. “He’s certainly exceeded what our expectations were going into the season.”
When the Angels claimed Robles, he’d posted a 4.07 ERA in three and a half years with the Mets, including a 5.03 mark in the first half of 2018.
But Eppler saw potential.
“He’s got big tools, and if you can kind of highlight somebody’s strengths and give them a particular approach that might allow them to enhance those tools, there’s upside in that,” Eppler said.
Robles posted a 2.97 ERA with the Angels over the rest of the 2018 season, but he didn’t truly have his breakthrough until a couple months into this season.
Robles had relied on his 97 mph fastball and a slider, only occasionally throwing his changeup. When he did, he had two changeups, one that he threw for a strike, and one that was a swing-and-miss pitch he used when he was ahead.
That pitch, one thrown with a split-finger grip, was the one that the Angels wanted to accentuate.
Robles said bullpen coach Andrew Bailey was the one who helped tweak his grip with that pitch, enough that Robles could be consistent enough with it to make it his primary off speed pitch. It replaced the slider, and the other changeup.
“I think it was just helping him realize that it was a strength of his, not really a third pitch,” Bailey said. “The movement qualities of the pitch are actually elite.”
Most changeups actually break slightly to the pitcher’s arm side, so right-handed pitchers throw fewer changeups to right-handed hitters than lefties, because the pitch breaks toward the hitter.
A splitter, however, has more of a straight down drop, which makes it effective against righties and lefties.
Robles had thrown his changeup just 5.4 percent of the time through the end of May. Since then, he’s increased the percentage each month, from 22 to 30.5 to 33.1 to 46.5 percent in September.
Not coincidentally, he’s been more successful. Robles had a 4.26 ERA at the end of May, and since June 1 he has a 1.19 ERA, with 47 strikeouts and nine walks in 45-1/3 innings.
“I think it’s a great tool for him to add to his arsenal,” catcher Kevan Smith said. “He does a great job keeping hitters off balance. If I was hitting against him, I would think he’s a fastball-slider guy, if you have a nasty changeup like that, you’ve really got to respect it.”
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Angels blown out by Houston Astros, who clinch AL West Kole Calhoun enters what could be the final week of his Angels career David Fletcher’s big night helps Angels delay Astros party Mark Langston ‘resting comfortably’ after terrifying scene in Angels broadcast booth Jaime Barria blasted in first inning of Angels’ loss to Astros Besides a plus fastball and a changeup that drops off the table, Robles occasionally tries to fool hitters with an unorthodox motion. He will essentially pump fake with his lead leg when he’s about to deliver the ball.
“I don’t know what he’s doing with that, but that’s his thing,” Smith said with a smile. “Everyone has their own quirk and something that makes them special. If it brings him confidence and a little swag out there, I’m all for it.”
Robles said the Mets wouldn’t allow him to do it. The Angels seem to have no issue with it, which is further evidence to him that he’s in the right place.
“They are more relaxed with me,” he said. “They let me be myself. They embrace who I want to be as a player on a day in and day out basis. I feel like I’m at home here.”
UP NEXT
Angels (LHP Dillon Peters, 3-3, 4.81) vs. A’s (RHP Homer Bailey, 13-8, 4.55), 7:07 p.m., Fox Sports West
Statistical preview
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ANAHEIM — When the Angels claimed Hansel Robles on waivers last summer, they could not have fully imagined just what they were getting.
Beyond Robles’ physical tools, which the Angels have helped mold into one of baseball’s best relievers in the second half this season, they got a player overflowing with a personality that he says had been stifled with the New York Mets.
“Here, they let me be who I am,” Robles said through an interpreter. “They embraced me. They let people be comfortable.”
A 29-year-old Dominican, Robles struts around the Angels clubhouse, playfully joking with teammates, clubhouse workers and reporters in three languages: English, Spanish and Japanese.
Lately, he’s been carrying a gold 1980s style boom box, which blasts music with a Latin flare.
And, of course, on the field he is now known for the epic entrance created by the Angel Stadium entertainment staff in April. Dramatic theme music from The Undertaker — his favorite pro wrestler — plays while he slowly jogs to the mound, as the video board shows a montage of a falling red rose petals, white horses and candles. Someone in the ballpark entertainment control room wears a white horse mask under a black hood.

Robles, who prefers the nickname Caballo Blanco because of his love for white horses, smiles broadly when describing the video.
“I like it a lot,” he said.
When the video first debuted, Manager Brad Ausmus was distracted from the field enough to take notice. He later called it “buzzworthy.”
Since then, Ausmus has become more familiar with the quirky, outsized personality that inspired that video. Robles is always in his ear, telling his manager that he can play shortstop, or at least that he should let him take batting practice.
All of it — from the video to the boom box — plays much better when accompanied by success.
Arguably the best pitching acquisition in general manager Billy Eppler’s four seasons, Robles has blossomed in a season and a half with the Angels. He became the closer in April, and has converted 22 saves this season.
“Last September he kind of opened everyone’s eyes and he’s kept it rolling right through the offseason and through the 2019 season,” Ausmus said. “He’s certainly exceeded what our expectations were going into the season.”
When the Angels claimed Robles, he’d posted a 4.07 ERA in three and a half years with the Mets, including a 5.03 mark in the first half of 2018.
But Eppler saw potential.
“He’s got big tools, and if you can kind of highlight somebody’s strengths and give them a particular approach that might allow them to enhance those tools, there’s upside in that,” Eppler said.
Robles posted a 2.97 ERA with the Angels over the rest of the 2018 season, but he didn’t truly have his breakthrough until a couple months into this season.
Robles had relied on his 97 mph fastball and a slider, only occasionally throwing his changeup. When he did, he had two changeups, one that he threw for a strike, and one that was a swing-and-miss pitch he used when he was ahead.
That pitch, one thrown with a split-finger grip, was the one that the Angels wanted to accentuate.
Robles said bullpen coach Andrew Bailey was the one who helped tweak his grip with that pitch, enough that Robles could be consistent enough with it to make it his primary off speed pitch. It replaced the slider, and the other changeup.
“I think it was just helping him realize that it was a strength of his, not really a third pitch,” Bailey said. “The movement qualities of the pitch are actually elite.”
Most changeups actually break slightly to the pitcher’s arm side, so right-handed pitchers throw fewer changeups to right-handed hitters than lefties, because the pitch breaks toward the hitter.
A splitter, however, has more of a straight down drop, which makes it effective against righties and lefties.
Robles had thrown his changeup just 5.4 percent of the time through the end of May. Since then, he’s increased the percentage each month, from 22 to 30.5 to 33.1 to 46.5 percent in September.
Not coincidentally, he’s been more successful. Robles had a 4.26 ERA at the end of May, and since June 1 he has a 1.19 ERA, with 47 strikeouts and nine walks in 45-1/3 innings.
“I think it’s a great tool for him to add to his arsenal,” catcher Kevan Smith said. “He does a great job keeping hitters off balance. If I was hitting against him, I would think he’s a fastball-slider guy, if you have a nasty changeup like that, you’ve really got to respect it.”
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“I don’t know what he’s doing with that, but that’s his thing,” Smith said with a smile. “Everyone has their own quirk and something that makes them special. If it brings him confidence and a little swag out there, I’m all for it.”
Robles said the Mets wouldn’t allow him to do it. The Angels seem to have no issue with it, which is further evidence to him that he’s in the right place.
“They are more relaxed with me,” he said. “They let me be myself. They embrace who I want to be as a player on a day in and day out basis. I feel like I’m at home here.”
UP NEXT
Angels (LHP Dillon Peters, 3-3, 4.81) vs. A’s (RHP Homer Bailey, 13-8, 4.55), 7:07 p.m., Fox Sports West
Statistical preview
View the full article

HOUSTON — As Kole Calhoun heads into the final week of the season, he is aware that it may also be his final week with the only franchise he’s ever known.
For now, he’s trying not to think about it.
“I am just trying to go out and play,” Calhoun said this weekend. “I can’t control it. It is what it is. Obviously I’d love to be here. This is home for me and really all I know in this game. This organization has meant everything to me. We’ll see what happens.”
The Angels hold a $14 million option on Calhoun for 2020, with a $1 million buyout. They have to decide on the option within five days of the end of the World Series.
Considering the Angels’ need to commit resources to pitching — high end pitching, at that — and considering that they have Jo Adell on the way, it would seem unlikely that they would pick up Calhoun’s option. It’s possible they could decline the option and try to bring Calhoun back at a lower salary.
“I don’t know how it’s going to shake out,” Calhoun said. “I just go out and play. We’ll deal with all that after the season.”
Ever since the Angels drafted the unheralded Calhoun out of Arizona State in the eighth round in 2010, he’s fought to build himself a big league career. He won a Gold Glove in 2015 and in January 2017 signed a three-year deal, with an option for 2020.
It may have seemed a foregone conclusion that Calhoun’s Angels career was going to end in 2019 after way he was headed in the middle of 2018.
Calhoun, who turns 32 next month, made a dramatic turnaround last June, revamping his swing and finishing with an .800 OPS and 18 homers over his final 87 games.
This year, Calhoun has enjoyed arguably his most consistent season in an Angels uniform, avoiding the month-long slumps that plagued him earlier in his career.
Heading into Sunday’s game against the Houston Astros, Calhoun was hitting .237 with a career-high 33 homers and an .809 OPS.
“There are still things I wish I could have done better, but overall it’s a pretty good year, probably one of my better years offensively,” Calhoun said. “Some of the numbers really don’t look like what you want them to look like but I feel like it went pretty good.”
Calhoun has played in 146 of the Angels’ 156 games, making him one of the few constants in what has been an injury-marred season for much of the rest of the team.

“He’s been one of our more consistent hitters, especially from a power perspective,” Manager Brad Ausmus said. “Last year, the first half was extremely tough on him, probably mentally more than anything. Probably learned a lot about himself and this year he’s been a tremendous asset from an offensive standpoint and defensively he’s a Gold Glover.
“And the last thing I’m going to say is he’s a huge component of the clubhouse culture. He has a great attitude every day, he plays hard, he works hard, he sets a good example for our younger players and older players for that matter.”
For as much as Calhoun has brought to the Angels, they have alternatives. Brian Goodwin, who will make about $3 million in his first year of arbitration next season, has hit .264 with 16 homers and a .794 OPS in about three-quarters of the playing time as Calhoun.
And, of course, Adell is looming.
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Even if the Angels don’t feel Adell is ready to be their right fielder on opening day 2020, he figures to be ready sometime next season.
“There is always going to be somebody coming,” Calhoun said. “I think the future of the Angels looks bright. There’s a guy coming that’s going be really, really good. The last time there was a guy that was talked about as much as he is, it was Mike Trout. So we should be pretty excited.
“If now is the time, now is the time. I’d love to be here, but it’s not up to me.”
LANGSTON UPDATE
Mark Langston remained hospitalized, but improving and in good spirits, on Sunday in Houston. The Angels radio broadcaster collapsed in the booth just before Friday’s game with what radio partner Terry Smith said was a heart condition. Langston was expected to remain in Houston for tests and observation after the team returned to Southern California following Sunday’s game.
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HOUSTON — As Mark Langston spent Saturday resting comfortably and undergoing tests in a Houston hospital, his partner was still shaken over what he’d seen the night before.
Terry Smith, the Angels radio play-by-play announcer, said that he believed when Langston passed out in the booth, the outcome could have been much worse.
“I can tell you this, in all certainty, they shocked him back to life,” Smith said. “If this happened in his hotel room, he would have died. And he knows it.”
Smith’s dramatic description of the scene that unfolded in their booth earlier Friday was in stark contrast to what was happening later Friday night. Smith and several others in the Angels’ traveling party stopped by the hospital to visit Langston.
“He was in good spirits,” Smith said. “He was joking. He was laughing.”
The Angels have released few details about Langston’s condition, besides an update that the 59-year-old was “resting comfortably” and “undergoing tests” in the hospital on Saturday afternoon.
Smith and Langston have been on-air partners for the past seven seasons. Previously, Langston had pitched 16 years in the majors, including eight with the Angels.
Smith said he had been with him in the hospital on Friday night and they texted throughout the day on Saturday.
“It seems like he’s fine,” Smith said, “but it’s really scary.”
Smith said they were preparing the broadcast as usual, with Langston doing the lineups and then tossing to him for the first pitch. Just as Smith was setting the scene for the game, he saw out of the corner of his eye that something was wrong with Langston.
Jim Saenz, one of the Angels traveling security officials, happened to be in the booth with them, and he immediately went to aid Langston. An Astros official saw from an adjacent booth what was happening, and within 90 seconds, by Smith’s estimate, police and paramedics were there.
As they scrambled to help Langston, Smith said he was unsure whether to continue doing the play by play. Then the Astros hit three homers in a five-run bottom of the first.
“It was unbelievably scary,” Smith said. “Then the bottom of the first gets going and they are hitting home runs like crazy and we are out of the game before the inning is over, and I’m thinking What am I doing right now? This guy is maybe going to die, and what am I doing? It seemed so meaningless.”
Fortunately, within an hour Langston was at the hospital and stabilized, and the Angels then announced that he was alert and undergoing tests.
As good thoughts came streaming in from all over to the Angels and to Smith, he finished the game and met Langston at the hospital, where he was put at ease by his demeanor.
“We had a really good conversation,” Smith said. “He was normal. He kept saying, I’m feeling perfect. I’m feeling normal.’”
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Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Andrew Heaney delivers against the New York Yankees during the first inning of a baseball game Thursday, Sept. 19, 2019, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

New York Yankees starting pitcher Masahiro Tanaka delivers against the Los Angeles Angels during the first inning of a baseball game Thursday, Sept. 19, 2019, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
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Los Angeles Angels shortstop Andrelton Simmons (2) throws out New York Yankees’ Cameron Maybin (38) during the second inning of a baseball game Thursday, Sept. 19, 2019, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

New York Yankees’ DJ LeMahieu watches the ball after hitting a three-run home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2019, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 19: Andrew Heaney #28 of the Los Angeles Angels reacts after giving up a three-run home run to DJ LeMahieu of the New York Yankees in the second inning at Yankee Stadium on September 19, 2019 in Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 19: Andrew Heaney #28 of the Los Angeles Angels reacts as DJ LeMahieu #26 of the New York Yankees rounds third base after his three run home run in the second inning at Yankee Stadium on September 19, 2019 in Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

New York Yankees’ DJ LeMahieu celebrates with Austin Romine (28) after hitting a three-run home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2019, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 19: Kevan Smith #44 of the Los Angeles Angels sends a hit by Didi Gregorius #18 of the New York Yankees to first for the out in the third inning at Yankee Stadium on September 19, 2019 in Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 19: Andrew Heaney #28 of the Los Angeles Angels reacts as he is about to be pulled during the game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on September 19, 2019 in Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

New York Yankees starting pitcher Masahiro Tanaka leaves the field during the third inning of a baseball game Los Angeles Angels, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2019, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 19: Kole Calhoun #56 of the Los Angeles Angels runs the bases after hitting a home run in the fourth inning of their game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on September 19, 2019 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)

Los Angeles Angels right fielder Kole Calhoun (56) celebrates with third base coach Mike Gallego after hitting a solo home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2019, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

Los Angeles Angels’ Kole Calhoun scores after hitting a solo home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2019, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

New York Yankees’ Brett Gardner celebrates with third base coach Phil Nevin (88) after hitting a solo home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2019, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

New York Yankees’ Brett Gardner, right, watches his RBI-double during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2019, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

New York Yankees’ Brett Gardner gestures from second base after hitting an RBI-double during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2019, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 19: Matt Thaiss #23 of the Los Angeles Angels sends a hit by Austin Romine of the New York Yankees to first but does not make the out in the second inning at Yankee Stadium on September 19, 2019 in Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 19: Albert Pujols #5 of the Los Angeles Angels flies out to Didi Gregorius #18 of the New York Yankees in the fourth inning at Yankee Stadium on September 19, 2019 in Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 19: Kole Calhoun #56 of the Los Angeles Angels high fives Albert Pujols #5 of the Los Angeles Angels after hitting a home run in the fourth inning of their game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on September 19, 2019 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 19: Cameron Maybin #38 of the New York Yankees celebrates his solo home run in the eighth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Yankee Stadium on September 19, 2019 in Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 19: Gio Urshela #29, Cameron Maybin #38, and Luke Voit #45 of the New York Yankees celebrate their 9-1 win over the Los Angeles Angels at Yankee Stadium on September 19, 2019 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 19: The New York Yankees celebrate their 9-1 over the Los Angeles Angels at Yankee Stadium on September 19, 2019 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 19: Andrew Heaney #28 of the Los Angeles Angels and Kevan Smith #44 of the Los Angeles Angels lead their team on to the field prior to their game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on September 19, 2019 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
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Expand NEW YORK — The resilient New York Yankees powered their way to the club’s first American League East division title since 2012, routing the short-handed Angels 9-1 Thursday night behind three RBIs each from old mainstay Brett Gardner and newcomer DJ LeMahieu.
A day after wasting a chance to clinch first place, the homer-happy Yankees went ahead when LeMahieu hit a three-run drive in the second inning and breezed to their 100th win.
Gardner, among just two holdovers from their last World Series championship team in 2009, added a solo shot in the fourth and then hit a two-run double in the sixth. Cameron Maybin and Clint Frazier homered for good measure in the eighth, and Aroldis Chapman struck out Albert Pujols to end it as fans’ cellphones flashed to record to moment.
Players lined up for handshakes and hugs, more exuberantly than usual, but there was no wild celebration on the field.
“We got a lot bigger fish to fry, but this is the first step along the way,” Boone said. “Nothing has got in their way. Whatever has come adversity-wise, they faced it and powered right through it.”
Despite putting 30 players on the injured list this season, New York (100-54) wrapped up first place with eight games to spare and made Aaron Boone the first manager to win 100 games in each of his first two major league seasons.
The Yankees open the playoffs on Oct. 4, likely against Minnesota, which leads the AL Central, or the wild-card winner.
Masahiro Tanaka (11-8), in line to start the opener, allowed Kole Calhoun’s home run leading off the fourth. The Angels (69-84), who are playing the final weeks of the regular season without AL MVP frontrunner Mike Trout, designated hitter Shohei Ohtani and outfielder Justin Upton, had just four hits in seven innings off Tanaka, who struck out six and walked one.
Angels starting pitcher Andrew Heaney (4-6) gave up six runs and five hits in five-plus innings.
The Yankees might go to the postseason without their winningest pitcher, Domingo Germán. The 27-year-old right-hander, who is 18-4, was placed on administrative leave under Major League Baseball’s domestic violence policy earlier in the day.
New York’s 19th AL East title was its first following a run of 13 in 17 years that started in Derek Jeter’s rookie season. The Yankees, led by young stars Aaron Judge, Gary Sánchez and Gleyber Torres, will be making their 21st postseason appearance in 25 years and 55th overall – 22 more than any other team.
And they will head to October following their 21st 100-win season, their first in back-to-back years since 2002-04.
New York moved into sole possession of the lead for good on June 15 with the start of an eight-game winning streak, beginning a spurt of 13 victories in 14 games that ended the month. The Yankees led by 6-1/2 games at the All-Star Game, won seven of their first nine after the break and have led by seven to 11-1/2 games since. And they achieved their success despite so many players landing on the injured list, the most in the major leagues since at least 2004.
After Wednesday’s 3-2 loss, the Yankees waited in their clubhouse for three hours until just before 1 a.m., hoping second-place Tampa Bay would lose to the Dodgers in Los Angeles and ensure the division title for New York. But the Rays rallied in the ninth and defeated the Dodgers in 11 innings.
“It was probably actually a good little team building, bonding, one of those times you enjoy being together,” Boone said,
Protective plastic remained overnight wrapping the six large-screen televisions in the Yankees clubhouse, a sign that the bubbly and beer celebration was not too far off.
LeMahieu’s homer, which followed a rare infield hit by slow-legged catcher Austin Romine with two outs, landed about three rows over the scoreboard in right-center, giving him career bests of 25 homers and 97 RBIs in his first season with the Yankees. Gardner also set career highs for homers (26) and RBIs (69), and New York extended its team record with 292 long balls.
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STAR TURN
Pujols had a .328 career batting average when he left the St. Louis Cardinals after 11 major league seasons and joined the Angels for 2012. His career average dipped to .29995 with an 0 for 4 night. His average had not been below .300 at the end of a game since a 4-for-14 start as a rookie in 2001, according to the Elias Sport Bureau.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Yankees right-hander Dellin Betances has been told surgery is not recommended for the partially torn left Achilles tendon that ended his season after eight pitches. Boone said the foot will be in a walking boot for another four weeks. … Judge was given a day off after he landed on his right shoulder during an attempt for a diving catch on Wednesday.
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Angels right fielder Kole Calhoun makes a diving catch on a ball hit by the Yankees’ Luke Voit during the second inning of Wednesday’s game at Yankee Stadium. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Los Angeles Angels’ Dillon Peters delivers a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
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Los Angeles Angels’ Dillon Peters delivers a pitch during the first inning of the team’s baseball game against the New York Yankees on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Yankees’ CC Sabathia delivers a pitch during the first inning of the team’s baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Yankees starting pitcher CC Sabathia dives for a ball hit by Los Angeles Angels’ David Fletcher during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019, in New York. Fletcher was safe at first base. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Yankees’ Giancarlo Stanton gestures to the team’s dugout after hitting a double during the second inning against the Los Angeles Angels in a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 18: Dillon Peters #52 of the Los Angeles Angels reacts after Giancarlo Stanton #27 of the New York Yankees hits a double in the second inning at Yankee Stadium on September 18, 2019 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Angels right fielder Kole Calhoun makes a diving catch on a ball hit by the Yankees’ Luke Voit during the second inning of Wednesday’s game at Yankee Stadium. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 18: Kevan Smith #44 of the Los Angeles Angels drives in a run in the third inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on September 18, 2019 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Los Angeles Angels’ Kevan Smith watches his RBI single during the third inning of the team’s baseball game against the New York Yankees on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 18: Albert Pujols #5 of the Los Angeles Angels his an RBI single in the third inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on September 18, 2019 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 18: Albert Pujols #5 of the Los Angeles Angels his and RBI single in the third inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on September 18, 2019 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 18: David Fletcher #6 of the Los Angeles Angels heads for home on a single from teammate Albert Pujols in the third inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on September 18, 2019 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 18: David Fletcher #6 of the Los Angeles Angels slides home safely as Kyle Higashioka #66 of the New York Yankees drops the ball in the third inning at Yankee Stadium on September 18, 2019 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

New York Yankees starting pitcher CC Sabathia gestures to fans as he leaves during the third inning of the team’s baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge follows through on a two-run home run during the third inning of the team’s baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge runs the bases after hitting a two-run home run during the third inning of the team’s baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge smiles at third base coach Phil Nevin as he runs the bases after hitting a two-run home run during the third inning of the team’s baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Yankees starting pitcher CC Sabathia, left, hugs relief pitcher Dellin Betances while teammates watch as he leaves during the third inning of the team’s baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 18: Dillon Peters #52 of the Los Angeles Angels pitches during the first inning of their game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on September 18, 2019 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)

Los Angeles Angels’ Luke Bard delivers a pitch during the seventh inning of the team’s baseball game against the New York Yankees Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019, in New York. The Angels won 3-2. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 18: Luke Bard #39 of the Los Angeles Angels pitches the ball during the fifth inning of their game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on September 18, 2019 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)

The Angels’ Michael Hermosillo slides safely past Yankees catcher Kyle Higashioka to score on a throwing error by relief pitcher Adam Ottavino during the sixth inning of Wednesday’s game in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

The Angels’ Michael Hermosillo slides safely past Yankees catcher Kyle Higashioka to score on a throwing error by relief pitcher Adam Ottavino during the sixth inning of Wednesday’s game in New York. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)

The Angels’ Michael Hermosillo celebrates after scoring on a throwing error by Yankees relief pitcher Adam Ottavino during the sixth inning of Wednesday’s game in New York. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)

Yankees relief pitcher Adam Ottavino shows his frustration after committing an error that allowed the Angels to score the go-ahead run during the sixth inning of Wednesday’s game in New York. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 18: Albert Pujols #5 of the Los Angeles Angels watches his hit that drives in a run in the sixth inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on September 18, 2019 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge loses control of a ball hit by Los Angeles Angels’ Albert Pujols for a single fifth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 18: Matt Thaiss #23 of the Los Angeles Angels fields a hit by Luke Voit #45 of the New York Yankees in the sixth inning for the out at Yankee Stadium on September 18, 2019 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 18: Ty Buttrey #31 of the Los Angeles Angels pitches during the eighth inning of their game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on September 18, 2019 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)

New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge (99) is is thrown out at first base as Albert Pujols catches the throw during the eighth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019, in New York. The Angels won 3-2. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 18: Hansel Robles #57 of the Los Angeles Angels pitches during the ninth inning of their game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on September 18, 2019 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)

Los Angeles Angels’ Hansel Robles throws during the ninth inning of the team’s baseball game against the New York Yankees on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019, in New York. The Angels won 3-2. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Los Angeles Angels first baseman Albert Pujols celebrates after the Angels’ 3-2 win in a baseball game against the New York Yankees on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 18: Hansel Robles #57 of the Los Angeles Angels celebrates as Luke Voit of the New York Yankees is out at first in the ninth inning at Yankee Stadium on September 18, 2019 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 18: Kevan Smith #44 and Hansel Robles #57 of the Los Angeles Angels celebrate the 3-2 win over the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on September 18, 2019 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Los Angeles Angels’ Kole Calhoun, left, celebrates with Kaleb Cowart (22) and Albert Pujols (5) after the team’s baseball game against the New York Yankees on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019, in New York. The Angels won 3-2. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
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Expand NEW YORK — Relief pitcher Adam Ottavino sailed a 30-foot throw home on Albert Pujols’ tiebreaking chopper, and the short-handed Angels edged the sloppy New York Yankees 3-2 on Wednesday night, delaying, at least for a little longer, the Yankees’ clinching of the AL East title.
New York could still lock up the division title if Tampa Bay loses to the Dodgers later Wednesday in L.A. The Yankees would have been assured a playoff spot if Cleveland had lost, but the Indians beat Detroit 3-2 in 10 innings.
Angels right-hander Luke Bard (2-2) struck out five over three perfect innings of relief. David Fletcher had three hits and Pujols added two hits, an RBI and a stolen base. The Angels, who are playing the final weeks of the regular season without AL MVP frontrunner Mike Trout, designated hitter Shohei Ohtani and outfielder Justin Upton, had traffic all night and left 13 on base.
Defensive whiz Andrelton Simmons dived to his backhand at shortstop to rob Luke Voit of a hit in the ninth, helping Hansel Robles complete his 22nd save.
Fletcher loaded the bases in the third on an infield single when Voit hesitated at first base on a slow roller, and Ottavino (6-5) blundered two batters later. Pujols hit a big one-hopper toward the mound, and Ottavino missed high and wide trying to toss the ball home. Michael Hermosillo scored to make it 3-2.
Aaron Judge hit a tying, two-run homer for New York in the third, his 24th during an injury-shortened season.
Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton stung the ball in his return from injury and CC Sabathia got an emotional send-off in his final regular-season start in the Bronx, but the Yankees dropped to 99-54 after entering the night tied with Houston for the majors’ best record.
Stanton played just his 10th game this year and first since straining the posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee June 25. The 29-year-old slugger lined a double into the left-center gap leading off the second inning, socked a 114.3 mph groundout in the fourth and struck out in the sixth before being replaced in the seventh to manage his workload.
Stanton nearly threw out a runner from left field during the third inning, but catcher Kyle Higashioka dropped the ball trying to apply a swift, difficult tag at the plate.
Pujols nearly had a third hit, but shortstop Didi Gregorius dived to stop his grounder up the middle in the eighth.
New York hasn’t won the AL East since 2012, the third-longest drought for the club since divisions were formed in 1969.
GOOD AS GOLD
Gold Glove right fielder Kole Calhoun laid out to take a hit away from Voit in the second.

SHORT AND SWEET
Sabathia, set to retire after the season, made his 147th start at Yankee Stadium, the most since the ballpark opened in 2009. He struck out four straight at one point, but then allowed five consecutive batters to reach in the third inning. He left trailing 2-0 with the bases loaded and two outs.
Fans stood and cheered as Manager Aaron Boone pulled Sabathia, and the 39-year-old tipped his cap after handing off the ball. Yankees players lined up outside the dugout, and Sabathia smiled wide as longtime teammate Dellin Betances offered up a hug. Fans chanted “C-C! C-C!” while the left-hander embraced more teammates, then Sabathia waved his hat once more before ducking into the dugout.
Domingo Germán, an 18-game winner this year, replaced Sabathia in another trial run of New York’s plan to piggyback starters in the postseason. Germán pitched out of the third without further damage and covered 2-1/3 scoreless innings of one-hit ball to keep it tied at 2-2.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Angels: Infielder Luis Rengifo will miss the rest of the season with a broken hamate bone in his left hand that was revealed by a CAT scan on Wednesday. The hand is swollen, but Rengifo said it felt a little bit better, Manager Brad Ausmus told reporters. X-rays were negative after Tuesday’s 8-0 loss, which Rengifo exited in the seventh inning after swinging at and missing a pitch from Yankees left-hander Stephen Tarpley. Rengifo fell to the ground in obvious pain, and after being examined by the trainer for a few minutes, Rengifo exited. … Trout will have surgery Friday morning on his right foot to treat Morton’s neuroma, a thickening of tissue around a nerve leading to toes that causes pain, Ausmus told reporters before Wednesday’s game. Trout had been ruled out for the season on Sunday. … The Angels called up reliever/infielder Kaleb Cowart before Wednesday’s game. He will likely come off the bench and work out of the bullpen. Cowart, who can play the outfield and all four infield positions, hit a combined .276 with nine home runs and 62 RBIs between Double-A and Triple-A this season. He was just 1-2 with a 10.19 ERA in 17 relief appearances.
Yankees: Stanton will play regularly at DH and left field down the stretch to build up his timing and durability. … Right-hander Dellin Betances was added to the 60-day IL with a partially torn Achilles tendon. New York is awaiting results from a second opinion.
UP NEXT
Left-hander Andrew Heaney (4-5, 4.76) is set to start Thursday’s series finale for the Angels, but the Yankees pushed back left-hander J.A. Happ’s scheduled start a day and will throw right-hander Masahiro Tanaka (10-8, 4.60).
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The Drug Enforcement Administration has launched an investigation to determine where Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs obtained the drugs that were in his system at the time of his July 1 death in Southlake, Texas, ESPN’s “Outside the Lines” reported on Wednesday.
An autopsy released Aug. 30 found evidence of fentanyl, oxycodone and ethanol in Skaggs’ system when he was found dead in his hotel room. The fentanyl drew the attention of federal investigators, the report, which quoted anonymous sources, said. The report noted that the DEA frequently gets involved in fentanyl cases in an effort to track down the source of the drug.
The powerful synthetic opioid has been linked to a number of high-profile drug-related deaths, including musicians Prince, Tom Petty and Mac Miller. Finding the sources who are behind the distribution of fentanyl has become a high priority.
Skaggs was found dead in his hotel room before the first game of a road trip against the Texas Rangers, having choked on his own vomit.
One federal law enforcement agent, speaking on condition of anonymity, told ESPN that fentanyl has been showing up “everywhere, even in marijuana.”
Skaggs’ family retained prominent attorney Rusty Hardin to represent them when the Southlake Police Department opened its investigation into the pitcher’s death. The family is also seeking to learn how Skaggs came into possession of the opioids that contributed to his death, including who supplied them.
In a statement released by the family when the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s office released its autopsy report on Aug. 30, it was suggested that an Angels employee might have been responsible for supplying the drugs.
“We were shocked to learn that it may involve an employee of the Los Angeles Angels. We will not rest until we learn the truth about how Tyler came into possession of these narcotics, including who supplied them,” the statement said.
The ESPN report confirmed that no Angels team employee has been connected to Skaggs’ death or targeted as of yet in the investigation being conducted by the Southlake PD.
“We continue to cooperate with law enforcement on this important matter,” Angels team spokesperson Marie Garvey said in statement in the ESPN report.
After the autopsy report came out, it was reported that Major League Baseball will conduct its own investigation into the matter.
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Part of Dino Ebel’s job, with the Dodgers now and with the Angels for 13 seasons prior, is to mind the basepaths. Which baserunners have a green light to steal second base? Which pitchers have a good pickoff move and a short stride to home plate? Which catchers have the best pop times? A major league infield coach like Ebel trafficks in this data daily.
Yet even he was stumped when I quizzed him about which National League team is threatening to break the all-time record for base stealing. Not stolen bases – stolen-base efficiency, the art of stealing without getting caught, the clear purpose of this enterprise in 2019.
“Is it us?” he asked.
No. Close.
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Joc Pederson celebrates with third base coach Dino Ebel in April. Ebel has given a lot of home run congratulations, but he’s also helped the Dodgers steal bases with near record efficiency. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)According to Baseball Reference, which publishes caught stealing data for every season since 1920, the Arizona Diamondbacks are successfully stealing bases at a rate of 86.74 percent. If they steal 10 more bases without getting caught – difficult but not impossible in their final 10 games – they will have surpassed the 2007 Phillies’ record of 87.9 steals per 100 attempts. With home run records falling on the team- and league-wide levels daily, the D-backs are chugging away at the record you never knew existed.
Forget the home run. We’re in a golden age of base stealing, just not one that calls to mind Rickey Henderson, Tim Raines, Vince Coleman and their celebrated peers of the 1980s and 1990s. Rank every season since 1920 by league-wide stolen base efficiency, and you’ll find each of the last 13 seasons among the top 14 all-time.
When Henderson stole a single-season record 130 bases in 1982, he was caught stealing for the 10th time on May 21 of that season (and 42 times in all). No one had been caught stealing 10 times this season until Sept. 6, when Bryan Holaday threw out Whit Merrifield trying to poach second base. Ebel’s Dodgers have only been caught stealing nine times as a team in 60 attempts in 2019. That’s an 85 percent success rate, currently fifth all-time.
There’s a fantastic reason to appreciate this golden age for what it is – more on that shortly – but let’s first acknowledge why it’s so difficult. The stolen base is an exciting play. The caught stealing is an exciting play. Baseball needs more exciting plays. The home run, for all its glory, is followed by an average of 22 seconds of trotting around the basepaths, and no other action on the field of play. Multiply that by a record 6,308 dingers (and counting, through Tuesday), and you have 38 hours, 32 minutes and 56 seconds of dead time in a season. A stolen base attempt is the home run’s spiritual opposite.
Yet what makes for an exciting play doesn’t always make for good strategy. The sabermetric dicta that rule the major-league game scorned outs on the bases long before this was fashionable in practice. Now, teams can precisely calculate the time it takes each pitcher to deliver the ball to home plate, and the time it takes each catcher to receive a pitch and release a throw to second or third – his “pop time,” in the baseball parlance. Every runner is an expert at calculating his odds of a successful stolen base.
Ebel believes it is this combination – more information, and a better idea of how to apply it – that has turned the last decade into a golden age for base stealing.
“I really believe that situation of game plays a big part of it: early in a game, two outs, time’s on your side, then with all the information we’re getting from upstairs, put ‘em all together, mix it in, who’s the baserunner, who’s the batter, scoreboard dictates it, putting it in, when’s a good time to run? I think that’s all being calculated in,” Ebel said.
The unofficial godfather of this base-stealing worldview is Davey Lopes. His playing career (1972-87) overlapped with much of Henderson’s. Yet unlike Henderson, Lopes prized efficiency over volume. He was caught stealing on fewer than 17 percent of his attempts, currently the 26th-best mark of all time. Lopes preached this gospel among every team he coached – the Orioles, Padres, Nationals, Phillies and Dodgers.
It is not by coincidence that the first-base coach of the most efficient base-stealing team of all-time, those ’07 Phillies, was Lopes himself.
“He was very good at knowing different situations, reading the pitcher, doing his homework on when we would go,” said Chase Utley, the Phillies’ second baseman. “He would always encourage us, especially at certain moments in a game, to try to steal a base.”
There’s a temptation in 2019 to dismiss caught stealing stats as the relic of a 1920s box score. It’s at least a poor proxy for baserunning skill, something Lopes was always quick to distinguish from base-stealing skill.
FanGraphs and Baseball Prospectus offer their own holistic baserunning metrics, applicable at the individual and team levels. Run down the list of both websites’ best baserunning teams in history, and you’ll quickly encounter a bunch of bad clubs. Per FanGraphs, the best baserunning team since the 1915 dissolution of the Federal League is the 2010 Tampa Bay Rays. They won 96 games in the regular season, then lost a five-game Division Series. They were a good team. The second team on this list, the 68-win San Diego Padres of 2016, were not a good team.
Baseball Prospectus’ data reaches back to 1950. Their all-time baserunning leader is the 1965 St. Louis Cardinals, an 80-win team. The loose relationship between baserunning and winning shouldn’t belittle the individual metrics. Rather, it suggests that baserunning is less integral to team success than pitching, hitting and defense. It affirms conventional wisdom.
This only amplifies my appreciation for players and teams who have mastered base-stealing efficiency. The 2008 Phillies, who won a World Series with mostly the same lineup as their 2007 forebears, rank sixth all-time in stolen base efficiency. In fact, you’ll find at least one other World Series champion among the top 10, but not a single losing team. The reason is simple but profound: The things that make a team good at stealing bases – athleticism, solid data, and expertise at applying that data – are the same things that make a team good at playing baseball in general. No fancy metrics are needed here. Good old SB% will suffice.
Anecdotally, this is also the rare regular-season skill that translates to the postseason without complication. Some evaluators consider the ability to steal a base even more important in October, when one steal can change the tenor of a game, or a series. You don’t need actual Dave Roberts managing your club to remind you of this, though it probably doesn’t hurt.
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Tyler Skaggs’ death was caused by a mixture of opioids and alcohol, and ruled an accident, according to findings of the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s office, and the Skaggs family issued a statement suggesting someone with the Angels may have been connected to the tragedy.
The report, which was released Friday, indicated Skaggs was found with powerful painkillers fentanyl and oxycodone in his system, as well as alcohol.
Skaggs’ family released as statement after the release of the news, and hired an attorney, Rusty Hardin, to assist.
“We are heartbroken to learn that the passing of our beloved Tyler was the result of a combination of dangerous drugs and alcohol,” the statement read. “That is completely out of character for someone who worked so hard to become a Major League baseball player and had a very promising future in the game he loved so much.
“We are grateful for the work of the detectives in the Southlake Police Department and their ongoing investigation into the circumstances surrounding Tyler’s death. We were shocked to learn that it may involve an employee of the Los Angeles Angels. We will not rest until we learn the truth about how Tyler came into possession of these narcotics, including who supplied them. To that end, we have hired Texas attorney Rusty Hardin to assist us.”
A message left for Hardin was not immediately returned.
Skaggs, who was 27, was found dead in his hotel room in Southlake, Texas, on July 1, the day the Angels were set to begin a series against the Texas Rangers.
A spokesman from the Southlake Police Department said Friday that the case was still open, and no further information could be released.
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(Photo by Rick Dykhuizen)
By Tres Hefter, AngelsWin.com Columnist
1) Jeremiah Jackson – SS/2B, Rookie Orem: 
Typically, Jackson’s 9 G/41 PA would not be enough to qualify him (in my own arbitrary criteria) to rank, but the 19-year old infielder’s record-breaking campaign could not be ignored. Jackson slashed .333/.390/1.056/1.446 over the last two weeks, swatting seven home runs (including a 3-HR performance on 8/15) over his last nine games, with three doubles and a triple as well. Further encouraging numbers include a reasonable 3 walks to 9 strikeouts, and a BAbip of only .238. With six multi-homer games on the year and 21 on the season, Jackson has likely taken advantage of HR-friendly Pioneer League environs, but the recent improvements in contact and discipline make any true power he possesses a real plus.
2019 (Orem Rk.): .273/.344/.651/.995 with 12 doubles, 2 triples, 21 HR, 52 RBI, 23 BB, 75 K in 53 G/241 PA
2, Michael Hermosillo – CF/RF, AAA Salt Lake:
Hermosillo slots in second on this edition, with perhaps the strongest runner-up showing yet. Hermosillo had three multi-home games in the last two weeks, including a 3-HR game one day after Jeremiah Jackson’s. Hermosillo clubbed nine home runs in his last 11 games, propelling a slugging-heavy .261/.300/.870/1.170 line. 2019 has produced some new results for Hermosillo, who, like most AAA hitters, is clubbing more extra-base hits than ever, having now set a career high of 14 HR despite having missed most of the year. Hermosillo’s strikeout rate has inflated some, and his walks have decreased, but his defense and baserunning skills remain strong enough to keep him a viable 4th OF option. In his age 24 season, Hermosillo still has time on his side to realize a .250/.330/.420/.750 potential.
2019 (A+, AAA): .246/.337/.491/.828 with 7 doubles, 3 triples, 14 HR, 36 RBI, 23 BB, 75 K in 55 G/258 PA
3) Jahmai Jones – 2B/CF, AA Mobile:
At 21, Jahmai Jones is still one of the younger players in AA, and showing reasons why he should not yet be written off. Jones is in the midst of the brightest spot of his bleak 2019 campaign, having slashed .419/.490/.558/1.048 over the last two weeks, slapping 18 hits in 43 at-bats, and drawing five walks to 11 strikeouts, with four doubles, a triple, and two steals for good measure. Playing 2B almost exclusively this season, Jones did make a start in CF, his third in the last month or so, hinting that the Angels may still seek to utilize him as an occasional outfielder to extend his value to the major league club. This is an important detail, as Jones will be eligible for the Rule 5 draft this offseason, so the Angels will need to decide if it’s time to add Jones to the 40-man or run the risk of losing him in the draft. Jones’ recent strong play – he now has a very respectable  .288/.356/.387/.743 OPS over his last 250 plate appearances – will complicate their decision, whether or not he is added and protected.
2019 (AA): .232/.301/.312/.613 with 19 doubles, 2 triples, 4 HR, 43 RBI, 43 BB, 100 K in 117 G/493 PA
4) Drevian Williams-Nelson – 2B, Rookie Arizona:
Like Jackson, Williams-Nelson’s 8 games and 35 plate appearances would typically exclude him from being ranked, but being only 19 and showing a distinct difference between his 2018 and 2019 performance has led to his inclusion on this edition. Standing only 5’7″, Williams-Nelson profiles as an up-the-middle depth option. The Houston native has likely been the recipient of some good luck – he has a BAbip of .500 over the last two weeks – but a slash of .387/.457/.581/1.038 is hard to ignore, especially for a player of his age and stature. Williams-Nelson has exhibited a bit of pop – three doubles and a home run – and decent plate discipline – four walks to eight strikeouts – lending to a skill-set befitting a future utility player. If he can continue to slap the ball, cut back on strikeouts, and develop into a stolen-base threat (or at least add plus defense and baserunning) he could stand to move in at trajectory similar to David Fletcher.
2019 (AZL Rk.): .265/.359/.382/.741 with 7 doubles, 1 triple, 1 HR, 18 RBI, 13 BB, 30 K in 30 G/117 PA
5, tied) Brandon Marsh – OF, AA Mobile and Trent Deveaux – OF, Rookie Arizona:
Tying for the final slot on the position player Top 5 are two outfielders who have produced very similarly over the last two weeks, both possessing an interesting blend of defense, speed, pop, and contact. Brandon Marsh is overshadowed by uber-prospect Jo Adell, but the 21-yr old Georgian is putting together perhaps the most balanced, polished season of any Angel outfield prospect. Boasting a robust .300/.408/.450/.858 line over the last two weeks, Marsh is displaying plus contact, some power (three doubles, one home run), good plate discipline (seven walks to seven strikeouts) and some speed, stealing two bases, to go with what some call the best outfield defense on the farm. Don’t sleep on Marsh, who is just as likely to grace the Anaheim outfield in 2020 as Adell.
Like Marsh, Deveaux was also overshadowed, as fellow Bahamian D’Shawn Knowles’ 2018 campaign opened eyes where Deveaux struggled. This year has proved differently however, as the 19-year old is delivering a strong 2019 campaign in Rookie League Arizona. Deveaux has slashed .286/.375/.476/.851 over the last two weeks, with two doubles, and one two-homer game. Plate discipline still seems to be a crutch for Deveaux, with four walks to 18 strikeouts, but the improving contact, power, and speed (three steals) coupled with some solid defense keeps his ceiling high.
Marsh, 2019 (A/A+): .271/.357/.392/.749 with 18 doubles, 2 triples, 6 HR, 38 RBI, 17 SB, 42 BB, 89 K in 88 G/378 PA
Deveaux, 2019 (AZL Rk.): .261/.350/.467/.816 with 14 doubles, 4 triples, 5 HR, 22 RBI, 14 SB, 21 BB, 60 K in 44 G/206 PA
Honorable mention, hitters:
Justin Jones (1B, A): .385/.468/.615/1.083 with 1 double, 1 triple, 2 HR, 6 BB, 4 K – at 23, a bit too old for the competition
Ysaac Pena (C/1B/P, DSL Rk.): .359/.419/.615/1.034 with 3 doubles, 4 BB, 4 K a bit old at 21 for DSL
Jared Walsh (1B/DH/P, AAA): .280/.379/.640/1.019 with 3 doubles, 2 HR, 4 BB, 10 K  – a 31-HR campaign for Walsh, who also had one scoreless IP
Jose Verrier (LF/RF/1B/DH, Orem Rk.): .269/.424/.538/.963 with 4 doubles, 1 HR, 6 BB, 11 K – not enough PA to rank
D.C. Arendas (1B/3B/2B, A+): .241/.333/.621/.954 with 1 double, 2 triples, 2 HR,  4 BB, 12 K – at 25, a little old for A+ ball
Cristian Gomez (1B, AZL Rk.): .333/.439/.485/.924 with 3 doubles, 1 triple, 7 BB, 11 K – at 22, too old for competition
Jordyn Adams (CF, AZL Rk., A): .385/.448/.462/.910 with 2 doubles, 5 stolen bases, 2 BB, 4 K – limited at-bats, partially on rehab assignment
Bo Way (CF/LF/P, AA): .296/.345/.556/.900 with 1 double, 2 HR, 1 BB, 4 K 
Josh Thole (C, AAA): 292/.414/.500/.914 with 2 doubles, 1 HR, 5 BB, 7 K
Nick Franklin (2B/3B/SS, AAA): .333/.394/.500/.894 with 3 doubles, 1 triple, 3 BB, 5 K
Brandon White (CF/LF, Orem Rk.): .323/.382/.484/.866 with 1 triple, 1 HR, 3 SB, 3 BB, 5 K – solid debut season, at 21, a bit old for Orem
Johan Sala (RF/LF, Orem Rk.): .320/.438/.400/.838 with 2 doubles, 5 BB, 8 K 
6, tied) Kyle Bradish – RHP, A+ Inland Empire and Aaron Hernandez, RHP, A+ Inland Empire:
These two Angels’ picks from the early stages of the ’18 draft have put together solid pro debuts, and that continued the last two weeks, helping propel the two further into the Angels’ future pitching plans, and likely setting both up for 2020 seasons primarily at AA Mobile. Bradish made two starts, throwing 12.1 IP of 1.46 ERA ball, walking three, striking out twelve, coupled with a stingy .178 BAA. Bradish continues to rebound from an awkward June (12.75 ERA in 12 IP, 9 BB, 16 K) as he has now gone on to post a 3.96 ERA in his last 8 games, with 14 BB, 41 K in 36.1 IP, furthering the assessments that he profiles as a decent mid-to-back rotation option, possibly as soon as 2021.
Hernandez, still fluttering with command issues, has begun to demonstrate an increased ability to generate strikeouts and limit hits, as he posted a sparkling .116 BAA in his last three starts, only allowing five hits in 13.2 IP while striking out 12 and walking 8, to go with a 1.32 ERA. Hernandez has rarely topped the 80-pitch plateau this season, and has had difficulty pitching beyond the fourth or fifth innings, hinting that he might be better suited as a reliever, a move which could happen in the near future as the Angels continue to develop multiple A/A+ starting pitcher options.
Bradish 2019 (A+): 4.36 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, .228 BAA, only 8 HR allowed, 41 BB, 105 K, across 86.2 IP in 21 G/15 GS
Hernandez 2019 (A+): 4.32 ERA, 1.64 WHIP, .270 BAA, 40 BB, 73 K, across 66.2 IP in 18 G/14 GS
7) Kyle Tyler – RHP, A Burlington/A+ Inland Empire:
The Angels finally promoted Tyler following a dizzying summer where the 20th round pick of the 2018 draft posted an absurd 1.27 ERA and .173 BAA across 11 starts and 56.2 IP for Burlington. Tyler’s last two weeks included two more dominant starts at Burlington and a solid debut at Inland Empire, giving him a 1.88 ERA in 14.1 IP. Most encouraging however, was his walk-to-strikeout numbers in this time, as he allowed only three walks to 17 strikeouts – an intriguing number given his relatively pedestrian K rate on the year of 7.7. Should the Angels find a way to keep increasing Tyler’s strikeout ability, they might have found a diamond in the 20th round rough.
2019 (A/A+): 2.70 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, .198 BAA, 35 BB, 91 K across 106.2 IP in 22 G/16 GS
8) Cooper Criswell – RHP, A+ Inland Empire:
Frequently overlooked by the more intriguing arms at Inland Empire (Bradish, Hernandez, Ortega) is Cooper Criswell, the Angels’ 13th round pick in last year’s draft. The 6’6″ UNC product began the year with unimpressive numbers (5.45 ERA, 16 BB, 31 K in 38 IP) but has emerged as consistent, reliable arm over the summer months. Criswell’s last two weeks have produced three starts of 4.41 ERA ball, walking 7 and striking out 16 across 16.1 IP. While nothing impressive, it continues a good turnaround for the tall righty, as now has a 3.65 ERA in his last 14 games, walking only 17, allowing only 2 HR, and striking out 71 across 69 innings. Should he continue displaying solid command and consistency, Criswell could blossom into an option for the back of the rotation as early as 2021.
2019 (A+): 4.29 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, .283 BAA, 6 HR allowed, 33 BB, 102 K across 107 IP in 23 G/19 GS
9, tied) Luis Ramirez – RHP, Eduardo Del Rosario – RHP, Ethan Clark – RHP, Parker Joe Robinson – RHP, Greg Veliz – RHP, A Burlington:
In a year that has seen the Angels rely heavily on starting pitchers as multi-inning relievers and tandem starters, the traditional reliever has been something of a rarity on the Angels farm. The recent two weeks however has seen a strong quintet of relievers post big numbers for Burlington, giving the Angels minor league pitching depth an interesting new wrinkle as the season comes to a close. This group has combined for a 3.20 ERA in 39.1 IP, striking out 56 and only allowing two home runs, 12 walks, and 39 hits. Del Rosario, poached from Minnesota last year, has led the way with a 0.90 ERA and 15 K in 10 IP, Ramirez, recently plucked from the Phillies organization, has struck out 12 in 8.1 IP, Clark, a product of the TBR/MIA systems, added 9 more strikeouts, Parker Joe Robinson, an undrafted free agent last season boasted one walk to 11 strikeouts, and Veliz, a draftee this past June, struck out another 9, while also only allowing one walk.
Ramirez 2019 (Burlington, A): 3.71 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, .262 BAA, 2 HR allowed, 6 BB, 19 K across 17 IP in 10 G
Del Rosario 2019 (A/A+/AAA): 4.60 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, .255 BAA, 3 HR allowed, 24 BB, 37 K across 45 IP in 26 G
Clark 2019 (Orem Rk./A): 3.29 ERA, 1.54 WHIP, .240 BAA, 3 HR allowed, 18 BB, 37 K across 27,1 IP in 16 G
Robinson 2019 (A/A+): 4.66 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, .289 BAA, 2 HR allowed, 7 BB, 43 K across 38.2 IP in 21 G
Veliz 2019 (Orem Rk./A): 2.63 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, .191 BAA, 1 HR allowed, 5 BB, 29 K across 24 IP in 15 G
10) Hector Yan – LHP, A Burlington:
Yan once again places on the hotlist, adding two more solid appearances to a breakout campaign. Yan’s 8/8 start saw the lefty post another gaudy strikeout total – 10 in 5 IP while walking only one, again reaffirming the 20-year old’s increasingly improved control – he’s walked 8 in his last 34.2 IP, compared to 18 in the 33.2 IP prior to that, and 19 in 30 IP to start the year. While he did allow 4 runs in his last start, Yan still posted a strong 3 walks to 16 strikeouts in his last 9 IP. The Angels might look to limit the youngsters innings soon, so a few skipped starts or pitch limits, even a temporary DL stint, could crop up.
2019 (A): 3.48 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, .192 BAA, only 5 HR allowed, 45 BB, 138 K (12.6 K/9) across 98.1 IP in 23 G/19 GS
Honorable mention, pitchers:
Nick Tropeano (RHP, AAA):15.1 IP, 8 BB, 14 K, .250 BAA, 3.52 ERA in 3 GS – likely getting another shot to help the Angels rotation with Suarez sent down
Greg Mahle (LHP, AA): 14.2 IP, 3 BB, 8 K, .222 BAA, 1.23 ERA in 2 GS – Remember him? Don’t rule out a September appearance
Jose Soriano (RHP, AZL Rk.): 4.2 IP, 3 BB, 8 K, .263 BAA, 1.93 ERA in 3 GS – rehabbing
Emilker Guzman (RHP, Orem Rk.): 6 IP, 1 BB, 8 K, .174 BAA, 1.50 ERA in 2 GS – not enough playing time, but he’s one to watch
Robinson Pina (RHP, A): 4.1 IP, 2 BB, 12 K, .200 BAA, 4.15 ERA in 2 GS
Jerryell Rivera (LHP, Orem Rk.): 6.2 IP, 3 BB, 7 K, .208 BAA, 2.70 ERA in 2 GS games  – baby steps back in the right direction
Stiward Aquino (RHP, Orem Rk.): 8.2 IP, 2 BB, 14 K, .273 BAA, 5.19 ERA in 2 GS – encouraging Orem debut for one of the Angels’ highest-upside pitching prospects
Jose Natera (RHP, Orem Rk.): 7.2 IP, 1 BB, 8 K, .344 BAA, 3.52 ERA in 2 GS – 19-year old showing decent early results in Orem
Connor Van Scoyoc (RHP, AZL Rk.): 8.2 IP, 10 BB, 12 K, .290 BAA, 3.12 ERA in 2 G- command an issue, strong K numbers from the 19-year old  2018 11th rounder
Clayton Chatham (RHP, A): 11.1 IP, 1 BB, 13 K, .222 BAA, 2.38 ERA in 2 GS – at 24, old for competition, but good results 
Chase Chaney (RHP, AZL Rk.): 10 IP, 4 BB, 6 K, .171 BAA, 0.90 ERA in two games for the 19-year old
Adam McCreery (LHP, AAA): 4.1 IP, 3 BB, 7 K, .188 BAA, 2.08 ERA in three games – 6’7″ lefty pitching well in PCL
Chad Sykes (RHP, A): 5.2 IP, 1 BB, 7 K, .280 BAA, 3.18 ERA in three games – continued strong numbers for ’19 10th rounder
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(Photo by Rick Dykhuizen)
By Tres Hefter, AngelsWin.com Columnist
1) Jeremiah Jackson – SS/2B, Rookie Orem: 
Typically, Jackson’s 9 G/41 PA would not be enough to qualify him (in my own arbitrary criteria) to rank, but the 19-year old infielder’s record-breaking campaign could not be ignored. Jackson slashed .333/.390/1.056/1.446 over the last two weeks, swatting seven home runs (including a 3-HR performance on 8/15) over his last nine games, with three doubles and a triple as well. Further encouraging numbers include a reasonable 3 walks to 9 strikeouts, and a BAbip of only .238. With six multi-homer games on the year and 21 on the season, Jackson has likely taken advantage of HR-friendly Pioneer League environs, but the recent improvements in contact and discipline make any true power he possesses a real plus.
2019 (Orem Rk.): .273/.344/.651/.995 with 12 doubles, 2 triples, 21 HR, 52 RBI, 23 BB, 75 K in 53 G/241 PA
2, Michael Hermosillo – CF/RF, AAA Salt Lake:
Hermosillo slots in second on this edition, with perhaps the strongest runner-up showing yet. Hermosillo had three multi-home games in the last two weeks, including a 3-HR game one day after Jeremiah Jackson’s. Hermosillo clubbed nine home runs in his last 11 games, propelling a slugging-heavy .261/.300/.870/1.170 line. 2019 has produced some new results for Hermosillo, who, like most AAA hitters, is clubbing more extra-base hits than ever, having now set a career high of 14 HR despite having missed most of the year. Hermosillo’s strikeout rate has inflated some, and his walks have decreased, but his defense and baserunning skills remain strong enough to keep him a viable 4th OF option. In his age 24 season, Hermosillo still has time on his side to realize a .250/.330/.420/.750 potential.
2019 (A+, AAA): .246/.337/.491/.828 with 7 doubles, 3 triples, 14 HR, 36 RBI, 23 BB, 75 K in 55 G/258 PA
3) Jahmai Jones – 2B/CF, AA Mobile:
At 21, Jahmai Jones is still one of the younger players in AA, and showing reasons why he should not yet be written off. Jones is in the midst of the brightest spot of his bleak 2019 campaign, having slashed .419/.490/.558/1.048 over the last two weeks, slapping 18 hits in 43 at-bats, and drawing five walks to 11 strikeouts, with four doubles, a triple, and two steals for good measure. Playing 2B almost exclusively this season, Jones did make a start in CF, his third in the last month or so, hinting that the Angels may still seek to utilize him as an occasional outfielder to extend his value to the major league club. This is an important detail, as Jones will be eligible for the Rule 5 draft this offseason, so the Angels will need to decide if it’s time to add Jones to the 40-man or run the risk of losing him in the draft. Jones’ recent strong play – he now has a very respectable  .288/.356/.387/.743 OPS over his last 250 plate appearances – will complicate their decision, whether or not he is added and protected.
2019 (AA): .232/.301/.312/.613 with 19 doubles, 2 triples, 4 HR, 43 RBI, 43 BB, 100 K in 117 G/493 PA
4) Drevian Williams-Nelson – 2B, Rookie Arizona:
Like Jackson, Williams-Nelson’s 8 games and 35 plate appearances would typically exclude him from being ranked, but being only 19 and showing a distinct difference between his 2018 and 2019 performance has led to his inclusion on this edition. Standing only 5’7″, Williams-Nelson profiles as an up-the-middle depth option. The Houston native has likely been the recipient of some good luck – he has a BAbip of .500 over the last two weeks – but a slash of .387/.457/.581/1.038 is hard to ignore, especially for a player of his age and stature. Williams-Nelson has exhibited a bit of pop – three doubles and a home run – and decent plate discipline – four walks to eight strikeouts – lending to a skill-set befitting a future utility player. If he can continue to slap the ball, cut back on strikeouts, and develop into a stolen-base threat (or at least add plus defense and baserunning) he could stand to move in at trajectory similar to David Fletcher.
2019 (AZL Rk.): .265/.359/.382/.741 with 7 doubles, 1 triple, 1 HR, 18 RBI, 13 BB, 30 K in 30 G/117 PA
5, tied) Brandon Marsh – OF, AA Mobile and Trent Deveaux – OF, Rookie Arizona:
Tying for the final slot on the position player Top 5 are two outfielders who have produced very similarly over the last two weeks, both possessing an interesting blend of defense, speed, pop, and contact. Brandon Marsh is overshadowed by uber-prospect Jo Adell, but the 21-yr old Georgian is putting together perhaps the most balanced, polished season of any Angel outfield prospect. Boasting a robust .300/.408/.450/.858 line over the last two weeks, Marsh is displaying plus contact, some power (three doubles, one home run), good plate discipline (seven walks to seven strikeouts) and some speed, stealing two bases, to go with what some call the best outfield defense on the farm. Don’t sleep on Marsh, who is just as likely to grace the Anaheim outfield in 2020 as Adell.
Like Marsh, Deveaux was also overshadowed, as fellow Bahamian D’Shawn Knowles’ 2018 campaign opened eyes where Deveaux struggled. This year has proved differently however, as the 19-year old is delivering a strong 2019 campaign in Rookie League Arizona. Deveaux has slashed .286/.375/.476/.851 over the last two weeks, with two doubles, and one two-homer game. Plate discipline still seems to be a crutch for Deveaux, with four walks to 18 strikeouts, but the improving contact, power, and speed (three steals) coupled with some solid defense keeps his ceiling high.
Marsh, 2019 (A/A+): .271/.357/.392/.749 with 18 doubles, 2 triples, 6 HR, 38 RBI, 17 SB, 42 BB, 89 K in 88 G/378 PA
Deveaux, 2019 (AZL Rk.): .261/.350/.467/.816 with 14 doubles, 4 triples, 5 HR, 22 RBI, 14 SB, 21 BB, 60 K in 44 G/206 PA
Honorable mention, hitters:
Justin Jones (1B, A): .385/.468/.615/1.083 with 1 double, 1 triple, 2 HR, 6 BB, 4 K – at 23, a bit too old for the competition
Ysaac Pena (C/1B/P, DSL Rk.): .359/.419/.615/1.034 with 3 doubles, 4 BB, 4 K a bit old at 21 for DSL
Jared Walsh (1B/DH/P, AAA): .280/.379/.640/1.019 with 3 doubles, 2 HR, 4 BB, 10 K  – a 31-HR campaign for Walsh, who also had one scoreless IP
Jose Verrier (LF/RF/1B/DH, Orem Rk.): .269/.424/.538/.963 with 4 doubles, 1 HR, 6 BB, 11 K – not enough PA to rank
D.C. Arendas (1B/3B/2B, A+): .241/.333/.621/.954 with 1 double, 2 triples, 2 HR,  4 BB, 12 K – at 25, a little old for A+ ball
Cristian Gomez (1B, AZL Rk.): .333/.439/.485/.924 with 3 doubles, 1 triple, 7 BB, 11 K – at 22, too old for competition
Jordyn Adams (CF, AZL Rk., A): .385/.448/.462/.910 with 2 doubles, 5 stolen bases, 2 BB, 4 K – limited at-bats, partially on rehab assignment
Bo Way (CF/LF/P, AA): .296/.345/.556/.900 with 1 double, 2 HR, 1 BB, 4 K 
Josh Thole (C, AAA): 292/.414/.500/.914 with 2 doubles, 1 HR, 5 BB, 7 K
Nick Franklin (2B/3B/SS, AAA): .333/.394/.500/.894 with 3 doubles, 1 triple, 3 BB, 5 K
Brandon White (CF/LF, Orem Rk.): .323/.382/.484/.866 with 1 triple, 1 HR, 3 SB, 3 BB, 5 K – solid debut season, at 21, a bit old for Orem
Johan Sala (RF/LF, Orem Rk.): .320/.438/.400/.838 with 2 doubles, 5 BB, 8 K 
6, tied) Kyle Bradish – RHP, A+ Inland Empire and Aaron Hernandez, RHP, A+ Inland Empire:
These two Angels’ picks from the early stages of the ’18 draft have put together solid pro debuts, and that continued the last two weeks, helping propel the two further into the Angels’ future pitching plans, and likely setting both up for 2020 seasons primarily at AA Mobile. Bradish made two starts, throwing 12.1 IP of 1.46 ERA ball, walking three, striking out twelve, coupled with a stingy .178 BAA. Bradish continues to rebound from an awkward June (12.75 ERA in 12 IP, 9 BB, 16 K) as he has now gone on to post a 3.96 ERA in his last 8 games, with 14 BB, 41 K in 36.1 IP, furthering the assessments that he profiles as a decent mid-to-back rotation option, possibly as soon as 2021.
Hernandez, still fluttering with command issues, has begun to demonstrate an increased ability to generate strikeouts and limit hits, as he posted a sparkling .116 BAA in his last three starts, only allowing five hits in 13.2 IP while striking out 12 and walking 8, to go with a 1.32 ERA. Hernandez has rarely topped the 80-pitch plateau this season, and has had difficulty pitching beyond the fourth or fifth innings, hinting that he might be better suited as a reliever, a move which could happen in the near future as the Angels continue to develop multiple A/A+ starting pitcher options.
Bradish 2019 (A+): 4.36 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, .228 BAA, only 8 HR allowed, 41 BB, 105 K, across 86.2 IP in 21 G/15 GS
Hernandez 2019 (A+): 4.32 ERA, 1.64 WHIP, .270 BAA, 40 BB, 73 K, across 66.2 IP in 18 G/14 GS
7) Kyle Tyler – RHP, A Burlington/A+ Inland Empire:
The Angels finally promoted Tyler following a dizzying summer where the 20th round pick of the 2018 draft posted an absurd 1.27 ERA and .173 BAA across 11 starts and 56.2 IP for Burlington. Tyler’s last two weeks included two more dominant starts at Burlington and a solid debut at Inland Empire, giving him a 1.88 ERA in 14.1 IP. Most encouraging however, was his walk-to-strikeout numbers in this time, as he allowed only three walks to 17 strikeouts – an intriguing number given his relatively pedestrian K rate on the year of 7.7. Should the Angels find a way to keep increasing Tyler’s strikeout ability, they might have found a diamond in the 20th round rough.
2019 (A/A+): 2.70 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, .198 BAA, 35 BB, 91 K across 106.2 IP in 22 G/16 GS
8) Cooper Criswell – RHP, A+ Inland Empire:
Frequently overlooked by the more intriguing arms at Inland Empire (Bradish, Hernandez, Ortega) is Cooper Criswell, the Angels’ 13th round pick in last year’s draft. The 6’6″ UNC product began the year with unimpressive numbers (5.45 ERA, 16 BB, 31 K in 38 IP) but has emerged as consistent, reliable arm over the summer months. Criswell’s last two weeks have produced three starts of 4.41 ERA ball, walking 7 and striking out 16 across 16.1 IP. While nothing impressive, it continues a good turnaround for the tall righty, as now has a 3.65 ERA in his last 14 games, walking only 17, allowing only 2 HR, and striking out 71 across 69 innings. Should he continue displaying solid command and consistency, Criswell could blossom into an option for the back of the rotation as early as 2021.
2019 (A+): 4.29 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, .283 BAA, 6 HR allowed, 33 BB, 102 K across 107 IP in 23 G/19 GS
9, tied) Luis Ramirez – RHP, Eduardo Del Rosario – RHP, Ethan Clark – RHP, Parker Joe Robinson – RHP, Greg Veliz – RHP, A Burlington:
In a year that has seen the Angels rely heavily on starting pitchers as multi-inning relievers and tandem starters, the traditional reliever has been something of a rarity on the Angels farm. The recent two weeks however has seen a strong quintet of relievers post big numbers for Burlington, giving the Angels minor league pitching depth an interesting new wrinkle as the season comes to a close. This group has combined for a 3.20 ERA in 39.1 IP, striking out 56 and only allowing two home runs, 12 walks, and 39 hits. Del Rosario, poached from Minnesota last year, has led the way with a 0.90 ERA and 15 K in 10 IP, Ramirez, recently plucked from the Phillies organization, has struck out 12 in 8.1 IP, Clark, a product of the TBR/MIA systems, added 9 more strikeouts, Parker Joe Robinson, an undrafted free agent last season boasted one walk to 11 strikeouts, and Veliz, a draftee this past June, struck out another 9, while also only allowing one walk.
Ramirez 2019 (Burlington, A): 3.71 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, .262 BAA, 2 HR allowed, 6 BB, 19 K across 17 IP in 10 G
Del Rosario 2019 (A/A+/AAA): 4.60 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, .255 BAA, 3 HR allowed, 24 BB, 37 K across 45 IP in 26 G
Clark 2019 (Orem Rk./A): 3.29 ERA, 1.54 WHIP, .240 BAA, 3 HR allowed, 18 BB, 37 K across 27,1 IP in 16 G
Robinson 2019 (A/A+): 4.66 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, .289 BAA, 2 HR allowed, 7 BB, 43 K across 38.2 IP in 21 G
Veliz 2019 (Orem Rk./A): 2.63 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, .191 BAA, 1 HR allowed, 5 BB, 29 K across 24 IP in 15 G
10) Hector Yan – LHP, A Burlington:
Yan once again places on the hotlist, adding two more solid appearances to a breakout campaign. Yan’s 8/8 start saw the lefty post another gaudy strikeout total – 10 in 5 IP while walking only one, again reaffirming the 20-year old’s increasingly improved control – he’s walked 8 in his last 34.2 IP, compared to 18 in the 33.2 IP prior to that, and 19 in 30 IP to start the year. While he did allow 4 runs in his last start, Yan still posted a strong 3 walks to 16 strikeouts in his last 9 IP. The Angels might look to limit the youngsters innings soon, so a few skipped starts or pitch limits, even a temporary DL stint, could crop up.
2019 (A): 3.48 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, .192 BAA, only 5 HR allowed, 45 BB, 138 K (12.6 K/9) across 98.1 IP in 23 G/19 GS
Honorable mention, pitchers:
Nick Tropeano (RHP, AAA):15.1 IP, 8 BB, 14 K, .250 BAA, 3.52 ERA in 3 GS – likely getting another shot to help the Angels rotation with Suarez sent down
Greg Mahle (LHP, AA): 14.2 IP, 3 BB, 8 K, .222 BAA, 1.23 ERA in 2 GS – Remember him? Don’t rule out a September appearance
Jose Soriano (RHP, AZL Rk.): 4.2 IP, 3 BB, 8 K, .263 BAA, 1.93 ERA in 3 GS – rehabbing
Emilker Guzman (RHP, Orem Rk.): 6 IP, 1 BB, 8 K, .174 BAA, 1.50 ERA in 2 GS – not enough playing time, but he’s one to watch
Robinson Pina (RHP, A): 4.1 IP, 2 BB, 12 K, .200 BAA, 4.15 ERA in 2 GS
Jerryell Rivera (LHP, Orem Rk.): 6.2 IP, 3 BB, 7 K, .208 BAA, 2.70 ERA in 2 GS games  – baby steps back in the right direction
Stiward Aquino (RHP, Orem Rk.): 8.2 IP, 2 BB, 14 K, .273 BAA, 5.19 ERA in 2 GS – encouraging Orem debut for one of the Angels’ highest-upside pitching prospects
Jose Natera (RHP, Orem Rk.): 7.2 IP, 1 BB, 8 K, .344 BAA, 3.52 ERA in 2 GS – 19-year old showing decent early results in Orem
Connor Van Scoyoc (RHP, AZL Rk.): 8.2 IP, 10 BB, 12 K, .290 BAA, 3.12 ERA in 2 G- command an issue, strong K numbers from the 19-year old  2018 11th rounder
Clayton Chatham (RHP, A): 11.1 IP, 1 BB, 13 K, .222 BAA, 2.38 ERA in 2 GS – at 24, old for competition, but good results 
Chase Chaney (RHP, AZL Rk.): 10 IP, 4 BB, 6 K, .171 BAA, 0.90 ERA in two games for the 19-year old
Adam McCreery (LHP, AAA): 4.1 IP, 3 BB, 7 K, .188 BAA, 2.08 ERA in three games – 6’7″ lefty pitching well in PCL
Chad Sykes (RHP, A): 5.2 IP, 1 BB, 7 K, .280 BAA, 3.18 ERA in three games – continued strong numbers for ’19 10th rounder
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ARLINGTON, Texas — Growing up in Oklahoma, Andrew Heaney saw his first major league game at the 25-year-old ballpark that has been the home of the Texas Rangers, who were his favorite team as a kid.
Now?
“I hate this place,” the Angels pitcher said as he sat in the visiting team clubhouse at Globe Life Park on Monday. “That happened, and it completely erases all the good memories I had here. I’m over it. I’m glad there will be a new (ballpark) next year.”
That, of course, is the tragedy that still hangs over the Angels. The last time the Angels were here, Tyler Skaggs was found dead in his hotel room, rocking the organization and all of major league baseball.
It’s been seven weeks since Skaggs died on July 1, and questions remain, along with the grief.
Spokespeople from the Southlake Police Dept. and Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s office both said on Monday that no further information can be released because the case is still open. The police said at the time that neither suicide nor foul play was suspected, but there has been no other information to explain the sudden passing of a seemingly healthy 27-year-old.
The day Skaggs died, the Angels’ game against the Rangers was postponed. That game will be made up on Tuesday, the first game of a split-admission doubleheader.
The Angels’ return to Arlington naturally reopens the emotional wounds that have been slowly healing.
“It brings back a lot of memories,” outfielder Kole Calhoun said. “It definitely makes you think about Skaggs and his family, (mother) Debbie and (wife) Carli, just keep hoping that they’re doing all right in this tough time. … A little bit takes you back to an empty kind of feeling.”
The Angels no longer stay in the hotel in suburban Southlake, about 20 minutes north of the ballpark, where Skaggs died. That night they switched to a hotel in downtown Dallas, and they returned to that hotel for this trip.
They are in the same clubhouse where they first pulled on their uniforms, bearing patches with Skaggs’ No. 45, to begin the return to the field in the wake of his death. They played the remaining three games of what had been scheduled to be a four-game series in July, winning two.
Skaggs’ jersey still hangs in a locker at Globe Life Park, just as it does in every clubhouse when the Angels are on the road. The Angels have left his locker at Angel Stadium exactly as he left it, down to the piece of bubblegum sitting next to his shoes.
The only addition is a baseball sitting on the top shelf. It is a memento from the combined no-hitter that Taylor Cole and Félix Peña pitched on July 12, the day all the players wore Skaggs’ name and number on their jerseys.
It was a high moment amid a tumultuous seven weeks, in which the Angels have played their best and worst baseball of the season.
They won 12 of the first 18 games after Skaggs’ death, reaching a high-water mark of five games over .500. Then they lost 14 of the next 18, essentially falling out of the playoff race and leaving them to play out the string of the season.
“It’s been a lot of extremely low moments,” Heaney said. “We’ve had some really great moments. We’ve come together as a group. Obviously, on the field, it’s been a little bit hit or miss. It’s just kind of been tough.”
The Angels’ recent struggles must be viewed in light of what they’ve endured. Not only did they lose their best starting pitcher, but one of the most well-liked, longest-tenured members of the team.
Heaney, who was one of Skaggs’ closest friends, said the healing has been slow.
“It’s like a new kind of normal, but it’s just a different norm,” he said. “It’s not the same. I don’t know. I already have a hard enough time understanding my own feelings and emotions about it.”
Mike Trout, who was Skaggs’ roommate during their first stop in the minor leagues after they were both drafted in 2009, said he knew this trip back to Arlington would be a challenge.
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Of some small consolation to the Angels, they will not come back to this ballpark again. The Rangers are opening a new ballpark across the street next season. The Angels, in fact, will play the first regular-season games there next March.
Although the players will be sitting in a new clubhouse, and with the hope of a new season, they will certainly still be dealing, to some extent, with the loss of Skaggs.
“Everything we do, it reminds you of him,” Trout said. “You see his jersey up. You see his locker. It’s tough as a friend, a teammate. We’ll get through it. We’re always going to be thinking about him.”
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(Photo by Rick Dykhuizen)
By Tres Hefter, AngelsWin.com Columnist
1) Jeremiah Jackson – SS/2B, Rookie Orem: 
Typically, Jackson’s 9 G/41 PA would not be enough to qualify him (in my own arbitrary criteria) to rank, but the 19-year old infielder’s record-breaking campaign could not be ignored. Jackson slashed .333/.390/1.056/1.446 over the last two weeks, swatting seven home runs (including a 3-HR performance on 8/15) over his last nine games, with three doubles and a triple as well. Further encouraging numbers include a reasonable 3 walks to 9 strikeouts, and a BAbip of only .238. With six multi-homer games on the year and 21 on the season, Jackson has likely taken advantage of HR-friendly Pioneer League environs, but the recent improvements in contact and discipline make any true power he possesses a real plus.
2019 (Orem Rk.): .273/.344/.651/.995 with 12 doubles, 2 triples, 21 HR, 52 RBI, 23 BB, 75 K in 53 G/241 PA
2, Michael Hermosillo – CF/RF, AAA Salt Lake:
Hermosillo slots in second on this edition, with perhaps the strongest runner-up showing yet. Hermosillo had three multi-home games in the last two weeks, including a 3-HR game one day after Jeremiah Jackson’s. Hermosillo clubbed nine home runs in his last 11 games, propelling a slugging-heavy .261/.300/.870/1.170 line. 2019 has produced some new results for Hermosillo, who, like most AAA hitters, is clubbing more extra-base hits than ever, having now set a career high of 14 HR despite having missed most of the year. Hermosillo’s strikeout rate has inflated some, and his walks have decreased, but his defense and baserunning skills remain strong enough to keep him a viable 4th OF option. In his age 24 season, Hermosillo still has time on his side to realize a .250/.330/.420/.750 potential.
2019 (A+, AAA): .246/.337/.491/.828 with 7 doubles, 3 triples, 14 HR, 36 RBI, 23 BB, 75 K in 55 G/258 PA
3) Jahmai Jones – 2B/CF, AA Mobile:
At 21, Jahmai Jones is still one of the younger players in AA, and showing reasons why he should not yet be written off. Jones is in the midst of the brightest spot of his bleak 2019 campaign, having slashed .419/.490/.558/1.048 over the last two weeks, slapping 18 hits in 43 at-bats, and drawing five walks to 11 strikeouts, with four doubles, a triple, and two steals for good measure. Playing 2B almost exclusively this season, Jones did make a start in CF, his third in the last month or so, hinting that the Angels may still seek to utilize him as an occasional outfielder to extend his value to the major league club. This is an important detail, as Jones will be eligible for the Rule 5 draft this offseason, so the Angels will need to decide if it’s time to add Jones to the 40-man or run the risk of losing him in the draft. Jones’ recent strong play – he now has a very respectable  .288/.356/.387/.743 OPS over his last 250 plate appearances – will complicate their decision, whether or not he is added and protected.
2019 (AA): .232/.301/.312/.613 with 19 doubles, 2 triples, 4 HR, 43 RBI, 43 BB, 100 K in 117 G/493 PA
4) Drevian Williams-Nelson – 2B, Rookie Arizona:
Like Jackson, Williams-Nelson’s 8 games and 35 plate appearances would typically exclude him from being ranked, but being only 19 and showing a distinct difference between his 2018 and 2019 performance has led to his inclusion on this edition. Standing only 5’7″, Williams-Nelson profiles as an up-the-middle depth option. The Houston native has likely been the recipient of some good luck – he has a BAbip of .500 over the last two weeks – but a slash of .387/.457/.581/1.038 is hard to ignore, especially for a player of his age and stature. Williams-Nelson has exhibited a bit of pop – three doubles and a home run – and decent plate discipline – four walks to eight strikeouts – lending to a skill-set befitting a future utility player. If he can continue to slap the ball, cut back on strikeouts, and develop into a stolen-base threat (or at least add plus defense and baserunning) he could stand to move in at trajectory similar to David Fletcher.
2019 (AZL Rk.): .265/.359/.382/.741 with 7 doubles, 1 triple, 1 HR, 18 RBI, 13 BB, 30 K in 30 G/117 PA
5, tied) Brandon Marsh – OF, AA Mobile and Trent Deveaux – OF, Rookie Arizona:
Tying for the final slot on the position player Top 5 are two outfielders who have produced very similarly over the last two weeks, both possessing an interesting blend of defense, speed, pop, and contact. Brandon Marsh is overshadowed by uber-prospect Jo Adell, but the 21-yr old Georgian is putting together perhaps the most balanced, polished season of any Angel outfield prospect. Boasting a robust .300/.408/.450/.858 line over the last two weeks, Marsh is displaying plus contact, some power (three doubles, one home run), good plate discipline (seven walks to seven strikeouts) and some speed, stealing two bases, to go with what some call the best outfield defense on the farm. Don’t sleep on Marsh, who is just as likely to grace the Anaheim outfield in 2020 as Adell.
Like Marsh, Deveaux was also overshadowed, as fellow Bahamian D’Shawn Knowles’ 2018 campaign opened eyes where Deveaux struggled. This year has proved differently however, as the 19-year old is delivering a strong 2019 campaign in Rookie League Arizona. Deveaux has slashed .286/.375/.476/.851 over the last two weeks, with two doubles, and one two-homer game. Plate discipline still seems to be a crutch for Deveaux, with four walks to 18 strikeouts, but the improving contact, power, and speed (three steals) coupled with some solid defense keeps his ceiling high.
Marsh, 2019 (A/A+): .271/.357/.392/.749 with 18 doubles, 2 triples, 6 HR, 38 RBI, 17 SB, 42 BB, 89 K in 88 G/378 PA
Deveaux, 2019 (AZL Rk.): .261/.350/.467/.816 with 14 doubles, 4 triples, 5 HR, 22 RBI, 14 SB, 21 BB, 60 K in 44 G/206 PA
Honorable mention, hitters:
Justin Jones (1B, A): .385/.468/.615/1.083 with 1 double, 1 triple, 2 HR, 6 BB, 4 K – at 23, a bit too old for the competition
Ysaac Pena (C/1B/P, DSL Rk.): .359/.419/.615/1.034 with 3 doubles, 4 BB, 4 K a bit old at 21 for DSL
Jared Walsh (1B/DH/P, AAA): .280/.379/.640/1.019 with 3 doubles, 2 HR, 4 BB, 10 K  – a 31-HR campaign for Walsh, who also had one scoreless IP
Jose Verrier (LF/RF/1B/DH, Orem Rk.): .269/.424/.538/.963 with 4 doubles, 1 HR, 6 BB, 11 K – not enough PA to rank
D.C. Arendas (1B/3B/2B, A+): .241/.333/.621/.954 with 1 double, 2 triples, 2 HR,  4 BB, 12 K – at 25, a little old for A+ ball
Cristian Gomez (1B, AZL Rk.): .333/.439/.485/.924 with 3 doubles, 1 triple, 7 BB, 11 K – at 22, too old for competition
Jordyn Adams (CF, AZL Rk., A): .385/.448/.462/.910 with 2 doubles, 5 stolen bases, 2 BB, 4 K – limited at-bats, partially on rehab assignment
Bo Way (CF/LF/P, AA): .296/.345/.556/.900 with 1 double, 2 HR, 1 BB, 4 K 
Josh Thole (C, AAA): 292/.414/.500/.914 with 2 doubles, 1 HR, 5 BB, 7 K
Nick Franklin (2B/3B/SS, AAA): .333/.394/.500/.894 with 3 doubles, 1 triple, 3 BB, 5 K
Brandon White (CF/LF, Orem Rk.): .323/.382/.484/.866 with 1 triple, 1 HR, 3 SB, 3 BB, 5 K – solid debut season, at 21, a bit old for Orem
Johan Sala (RF/LF, Orem Rk.): .320/.438/.400/.838 with 2 doubles, 5 BB, 8 K 
6, tied) Kyle Bradish – RHP, A+ Inland Empire and Aaron Hernandez, RHP, A+ Inland Empire:
These two Angels’ picks from the early stages of the ’18 draft have put together solid pro debuts, and that continued the last two weeks, helping propel the two further into the Angels’ future pitching plans, and likely setting both up for 2020 seasons primarily at AA Mobile. Bradish made two starts, throwing 12.1 IP of 1.46 ERA ball, walking three, striking out twelve, coupled with a stingy .178 BAA. Bradish continues to rebound from an awkward June (12.75 ERA in 12 IP, 9 BB, 16 K) as he has now gone on to post a 3.96 ERA in his last 8 games, with 14 BB, 41 K in 36.1 IP, furthering the assessments that he profiles as a decent mid-to-back rotation option, possibly as soon as 2021.
Hernandez, still fluttering with command issues, has begun to demonstrate an increased ability to generate strikeouts and limit hits, as he posted a sparkling .116 BAA in his last three starts, only allowing five hits in 13.2 IP while striking out 12 and walking 8, to go with a 1.32 ERA. Hernandez has rarely topped the 80-pitch plateau this season, and has had difficulty pitching beyond the fourth or fifth innings, hinting that he might be better suited as a reliever, a move which could happen in the near future as the Angels continue to develop multiple A/A+ starting pitcher options.
Bradish 2019 (A+): 4.36 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, .228 BAA, only 8 HR allowed, 41 BB, 105 K, across 86.2 IP in 21 G/15 GS
Hernandez 2019 (A+): 4.32 ERA, 1.64 WHIP, .270 BAA, 40 BB, 73 K, across 66.2 IP in 18 G/14 GS
7) Kyle Tyler – RHP, A Burlington/A+ Inland Empire:
The Angels finally promoted Tyler following a dizzying summer where the 20th round pick of the 2018 draft posted an absurd 1.27 ERA and .173 BAA across 11 starts and 56.2 IP for Burlington. Tyler’s last two weeks included two more dominant starts at Burlington and a solid debut at Inland Empire, giving him a 1.88 ERA in 14.1 IP. Most encouraging however, was his walk-to-strikeout numbers in this time, as he allowed only three walks to 17 strikeouts – an intriguing number given his relatively pedestrian K rate on the year of 7.7. Should the Angels find a way to keep increasing Tyler’s strikeout ability, they might have found a diamond in the 20th round rough.
2019 (A/A+): 2.70 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, .198 BAA, 35 BB, 91 K across 106.2 IP in 22 G/16 GS
8) Cooper Criswell – RHP, A+ Inland Empire:
Frequently overlooked by the more intriguing arms at Inland Empire (Bradish, Hernandez, Ortega) is Cooper Criswell, the Angels’ 13th round pick in last year’s draft. The 6’6″ UNC product began the year with unimpressive numbers (5.45 ERA, 16 BB, 31 K in 38 IP) but has emerged as consistent, reliable arm over the summer months. Criswell’s last two weeks have produced three starts of 4.41 ERA ball, walking 7 and striking out 16 across 16.1 IP. While nothing impressive, it continues a good turnaround for the tall righty, as now has a 3.65 ERA in his last 14 games, walking only 17, allowing only 2 HR, and striking out 71 across 69 innings. Should he continue displaying solid command and consistency, Criswell could blossom into an option for the back of the rotation as early as 2021.
2019 (A+): 4.29 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, .283 BAA, 6 HR allowed, 33 BB, 102 K across 107 IP in 23 G/19 GS
9, tied) Luis Ramirez – RHP, Eduardo Del Rosario – RHP, Ethan Clark – RHP, Parker Joe Robinson – RHP, Greg Veliz – RHP, A Burlington:
In a year that has seen the Angels rely heavily on starting pitchers as multi-inning relievers and tandem starters, the traditional reliever has been something of a rarity on the Angels farm. The recent two weeks however has seen a strong quintet of relievers post big numbers for Burlington, giving the Angels minor league pitching depth an interesting new wrinkle as the season comes to a close. This group has combined for a 3.20 ERA in 39.1 IP, striking out 56 and only allowing two home runs, 12 walks, and 39 hits. Del Rosario, poached from Minnesota last year, has led the way with a 0.90 ERA and 15 K in 10 IP, Ramirez, recently plucked from the Phillies organization, has struck out 12 in 8.1 IP, Clark, a product of the TBR/MIA systems, added 9 more strikeouts, Parker Joe Robinson, an undrafted free agent last season boasted one walk to 11 strikeouts, and Veliz, a draftee this past June, struck out another 9, while also only allowing one walk.
Ramirez 2019 (Burlington, A): 3.71 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, .262 BAA, 2 HR allowed, 6 BB, 19 K across 17 IP in 10 G
Del Rosario 2019 (A/A+/AAA): 4.60 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, .255 BAA, 3 HR allowed, 24 BB, 37 K across 45 IP in 26 G
Clark 2019 (Orem Rk./A): 3.29 ERA, 1.54 WHIP, .240 BAA, 3 HR allowed, 18 BB, 37 K across 27,1 IP in 16 G
Robinson 2019 (A/A+): 4.66 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, .289 BAA, 2 HR allowed, 7 BB, 43 K across 38.2 IP in 21 G
Veliz 2019 (Orem Rk./A): 2.63 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, .191 BAA, 1 HR allowed, 5 BB, 29 K across 24 IP in 15 G
10) Hector Yan – LHP, A Burlington:
Yan once again places on the hotlist, adding two more solid appearances to a breakout campaign. Yan’s 8/8 start saw the lefty post another gaudy strikeout total – 10 in 5 IP while walking only one, again reaffirming the 20-year old’s increasingly improved control – he’s walked 8 in his last 34.2 IP, compared to 18 in the 33.2 IP prior to that, and 19 in 30 IP to start the year. While he did allow 4 runs in his last start, Yan still posted a strong 3 walks to 16 strikeouts in his last 9 IP. The Angels might look to limit the youngsters innings soon, so a few skipped starts or pitch limits, even a temporary DL stint, could crop up.
2019 (A): 3.48 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, .192 BAA, only 5 HR allowed, 45 BB, 138 K (12.6 K/9) across 98.1 IP in 23 G/19 GS
Honorable mention, pitchers:
Nick Tropeano (RHP, AAA):15.1 IP, 8 BB, 14 K, .250 BAA, 3.52 ERA in 3 GS – likely getting another shot to help the Angels rotation with Suarez sent down
Greg Mahle (LHP, AA): 14.2 IP, 3 BB, 8 K, .222 BAA, 1.23 ERA in 2 GS – Remember him? Don’t rule out a September appearance
Jose Soriano (RHP, AZL Rk.): 4.2 IP, 3 BB, 8 K, .263 BAA, 1.93 ERA in 3 GS – rehabbing
Emilker Guzman (RHP, Orem Rk.): 6 IP, 1 BB, 8 K, .174 BAA, 1.50 ERA in 2 GS – not enough playing time, but he’s one to watch
Robinson Pina (RHP, A): 4.1 IP, 2 BB, 12 K, .200 BAA, 4.15 ERA in 2 GS
Jerryell Rivera (LHP, Orem Rk.): 6.2 IP, 3 BB, 7 K, .208 BAA, 2.70 ERA in 2 GS games  – baby steps back in the right direction
Stiward Aquino (RHP, Orem Rk.): 8.2 IP, 2 BB, 14 K, .273 BAA, 5.19 ERA in 2 GS – encouraging Orem debut for one of the Angels’ highest-upside pitching prospects
Jose Natera (RHP, Orem Rk.): 7.2 IP, 1 BB, 8 K, .344 BAA, 3.52 ERA in 2 GS – 19-year old showing decent early results in Orem
Connor Van Scoyoc (RHP, AZL Rk.): 8.2 IP, 10 BB, 12 K, .290 BAA, 3.12 ERA in 2 G- command an issue, strong K numbers from the 19-year old  2018 11th rounder
Clayton Chatham (RHP, A): 11.1 IP, 1 BB, 13 K, .222 BAA, 2.38 ERA in 2 GS – at 24, old for competition, but good results 
Chase Chaney (RHP, AZL Rk.): 10 IP, 4 BB, 6 K, .171 BAA, 0.90 ERA in two games for the 19-year old
Adam McCreery (LHP, AAA): 4.1 IP, 3 BB, 7 K, .188 BAA, 2.08 ERA in three games – 6’7″ lefty pitching well in PCL
Chad Sykes (RHP, A): 5.2 IP, 1 BB, 7 K, .280 BAA, 3.18 ERA in three games – continued strong numbers for ’19 10th rounder
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(Photo by Rick Dykhuizen)
By Tres Hefter, AngelsWin.com Columnist
1) Jeremiah Jackson – SS/2B, Rookie Orem: 
Typically, Jackson’s 9 G/41 PA would not be enough to qualify him (in my own arbitrary criteria) to rank, but the 19-year old infielder’s record-breaking campaign could not be ignored. Jackson slashed .333/.390/1.056/1.446 over the last two weeks, swatting seven home runs (including a 3-HR performance on 8/15) over his last nine games, with three doubles and a triple as well. Further encouraging numbers include a reasonable 3 walks to 9 strikeouts, and a BAbip of only .238. With six multi-homer games on the year and 21 on the season, Jackson has likely taken advantage of HR-friendly Pioneer League environs, but the recent improvements in contact and discipline make any true power he possesses a real plus.
2019 (Orem Rk.): .273/.344/.651/.995 with 12 doubles, 2 triples, 21 HR, 52 RBI, 23 BB, 75 K in 53 G/241 PA
2, Michael Hermosillo – CF/RF, AAA Salt Lake:
Hermosillo slots in second on this edition, with perhaps the strongest runner-up showing yet. Hermosillo had three multi-home games in the last two weeks, including a 3-HR game one day after Jeremiah Jackson’s. Hermosillo clubbed nine home runs in his last 11 games, propelling a slugging-heavy .261/.300/.870/1.170 line. 2019 has produced some new results for Hermosillo, who, like most AAA hitters, is clubbing more extra-base hits than ever, having now set a career high of 14 HR despite having missed most of the year. Hermosillo’s strikeout rate has inflated some, and his walks have decreased, but his defense and baserunning skills remain strong enough to keep him a viable 4th OF option. In his age 24 season, Hermosillo still has time on his side to realize a .250/.330/.420/.750 potential.
2019 (A+, AAA): .246/.337/.491/.828 with 7 doubles, 3 triples, 14 HR, 36 RBI, 23 BB, 75 K in 55 G/258 PA
3) Jahmai Jones – 2B/CF, AA Mobile:
At 21, Jahmai Jones is still one of the younger players in AA, and showing reasons why he should not yet be written off. Jones is in the midst of the brightest spot of his bleak 2019 campaign, having slashed .419/.490/.558/1.048 over the last two weeks, slapping 18 hits in 43 at-bats, and drawing five walks to 11 strikeouts, with four doubles, a triple, and two steals for good measure. Playing 2B almost exclusively this season, Jones did make a start in CF, his third in the last month or so, hinting that the Angels may still seek to utilize him as an occasional outfielder to extend his value to the major league club. This is an important detail, as Jones will be eligible for the Rule 5 draft this offseason, so the Angels will need to decide if it’s time to add Jones to the 40-man or run the risk of losing him in the draft. Jones’ recent strong play – he now has a very respectable  .288/.356/.387/.743 OPS over his last 250 plate appearances – will complicate their decision, whether or not he is added and protected.
2019 (AA): .232/.301/.312/.613 with 19 doubles, 2 triples, 4 HR, 43 RBI, 43 BB, 100 K in 117 G/493 PA
4) Drevian Williams-Nelson – 2B, Rookie Arizona:
Like Jackson, Williams-Nelson’s 8 games and 35 plate appearances would typically exclude him from being ranked, but being only 19 and showing a distinct difference between his 2018 and 2019 performance has led to his inclusion on this edition. Standing only 5’7″, Williams-Nelson profiles as an up-the-middle depth option. The Houston native has likely been the recipient of some good luck – he has a BAbip of .500 over the last two weeks – but a slash of .387/.457/.581/1.038 is hard to ignore, especially for a player of his age and stature. Williams-Nelson has exhibited a bit of pop – three doubles and a home run – and decent plate discipline – four walks to eight strikeouts – lending to a skill-set befitting a future utility player. If he can continue to slap the ball, cut back on strikeouts, and develop into a stolen-base threat (or at least add plus defense and baserunning) he could stand to move in at trajectory similar to David Fletcher.
2019 (AZL Rk.): .265/.359/.382/.741 with 7 doubles, 1 triple, 1 HR, 18 RBI, 13 BB, 30 K in 30 G/117 PA
5, tied) Brandon Marsh – OF, AA Mobile and Trent Deveaux – OF, Rookie Arizona:
Tying for the final slot on the position player Top 5 are two outfielders who have produced very similarly over the last two weeks, both possessing an interesting blend of defense, speed, pop, and contact. Brandon Marsh is overshadowed by uber-prospect Jo Adell, but the 21-yr old Georgian is putting together perhaps the most balanced, polished season of any Angel outfield prospect. Boasting a robust .300/.408/.450/.858 line over the last two weeks, Marsh is displaying plus contact, some power (three doubles, one home run), good plate discipline (seven walks to seven strikeouts) and some speed, stealing two bases, to go with what some call the best outfield defense on the farm. Don’t sleep on Marsh, who is just as likely to grace the Anaheim outfield in 2020 as Adell.
Like Marsh, Deveaux was also overshadowed, as fellow Bahamian D’Shawn Knowles’ 2018 campaign opened eyes where Deveaux struggled. This year has proved differently however, as the 19-year old is delivering a strong 2019 campaign in Rookie League Arizona. Deveaux has slashed .286/.375/.476/.851 over the last two weeks, with two doubles, and one two-homer game. Plate discipline still seems to be a crutch for Deveaux, with four walks to 18 strikeouts, but the improving contact, power, and speed (three steals) coupled with some solid defense keeps his ceiling high.
Marsh, 2019 (A/A+): .271/.357/.392/.749 with 18 doubles, 2 triples, 6 HR, 38 RBI, 17 SB, 42 BB, 89 K in 88 G/378 PA
Deveaux, 2019 (AZL Rk.): .261/.350/.467/.816 with 14 doubles, 4 triples, 5 HR, 22 RBI, 14 SB, 21 BB, 60 K in 44 G/206 PA
Honorable mention, hitters:
Justin Jones (1B, A): .385/.468/.615/1.083 with 1 double, 1 triple, 2 HR, 6 BB, 4 K – at 23, a bit too old for the competition
Ysaac Pena (C/1B/P, DSL Rk.): .359/.419/.615/1.034 with 3 doubles, 4 BB, 4 K a bit old at 21 for DSL
Jared Walsh (1B/DH/P, AAA): .280/.379/.640/1.019 with 3 doubles, 2 HR, 4 BB, 10 K  – a 31-HR campaign for Walsh, who also had one scoreless IP
Jose Verrier (LF/RF/1B/DH, Orem Rk.): .269/.424/.538/.963 with 4 doubles, 1 HR, 6 BB, 11 K – not enough PA to rank
D.C. Arendas (1B/3B/2B, A+): .241/.333/.621/.954 with 1 double, 2 triples, 2 HR,  4 BB, 12 K – at 25, a little old for A+ ball
Cristian Gomez (1B, AZL Rk.): .333/.439/.485/.924 with 3 doubles, 1 triple, 7 BB, 11 K – at 22, too old for competition
Jordyn Adams (CF, AZL Rk., A): .385/.448/.462/.910 with 2 doubles, 5 stolen bases, 2 BB, 4 K – limited at-bats, partially on rehab assignment
Bo Way (CF/LF/P, AA): .296/.345/.556/.900 with 1 double, 2 HR, 1 BB, 4 K 
Josh Thole (C, AAA): 292/.414/.500/.914 with 2 doubles, 1 HR, 5 BB, 7 K
Nick Franklin (2B/3B/SS, AAA): .333/.394/.500/.894 with 3 doubles, 1 triple, 3 BB, 5 K
Brandon White (CF/LF, Orem Rk.): .323/.382/.484/.866 with 1 triple, 1 HR, 3 SB, 3 BB, 5 K – solid debut season, at 21, a bit old for Orem
Johan Sala (RF/LF, Orem Rk.): .320/.438/.400/.838 with 2 doubles, 5 BB, 8 K 
6, tied) Kyle Bradish – RHP, A+ Inland Empire and Aaron Hernandez, RHP, A+ Inland Empire:
These two Angels’ picks from the early stages of the ’18 draft have put together solid pro debuts, and that continued the last two weeks, helping propel the two further into the Angels’ future pitching plans, and likely setting both up for 2020 seasons primarily at AA Mobile. Bradish made two starts, throwing 12.1 IP of 1.46 ERA ball, walking three, striking out twelve, coupled with a stingy .178 BAA. Bradish continues to rebound from an awkward June (12.75 ERA in 12 IP, 9 BB, 16 K) as he has now gone on to post a 3.96 ERA in his last 8 games, with 14 BB, 41 K in 36.1 IP, furthering the assessments that he profiles as a decent mid-to-back rotation option, possibly as soon as 2021.
Hernandez, still fluttering with command issues, has begun to demonstrate an increased ability to generate strikeouts and limit hits, as he posted a sparkling .116 BAA in his last three starts, only allowing five hits in 13.2 IP while striking out 12 and walking 8, to go with a 1.32 ERA. Hernandez has rarely topped the 80-pitch plateau this season, and has had difficulty pitching beyond the fourth or fifth innings, hinting that he might be better suited as a reliever, a move which could happen in the near future as the Angels continue to develop multiple A/A+ starting pitcher options.
Bradish 2019 (A+): 4.36 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, .228 BAA, only 8 HR allowed, 41 BB, 105 K, across 86.2 IP in 21 G/15 GS
Hernandez 2019 (A+): 4.32 ERA, 1.64 WHIP, .270 BAA, 40 BB, 73 K, across 66.2 IP in 18 G/14 GS
7) Kyle Tyler – RHP, A Burlington/A+ Inland Empire:
The Angels finally promoted Tyler following a dizzying summer where the 20th round pick of the 2018 draft posted an absurd 1.27 ERA and .173 BAA across 11 starts and 56.2 IP for Burlington. Tyler’s last two weeks included two more dominant starts at Burlington and a solid debut at Inland Empire, giving him a 1.88 ERA in 14.1 IP. Most encouraging however, was his walk-to-strikeout numbers in this time, as he allowed only three walks to 17 strikeouts – an intriguing number given his relatively pedestrian K rate on the year of 7.7. Should the Angels find a way to keep increasing Tyler’s strikeout ability, they might have found a diamond in the 20th round rough.
2019 (A/A+): 2.70 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, .198 BAA, 35 BB, 91 K across 106.2 IP in 22 G/16 GS
8) Cooper Criswell – RHP, A+ Inland Empire:
Frequently overlooked by the more intriguing arms at Inland Empire (Bradish, Hernandez, Ortega) is Cooper Criswell, the Angels’ 13th round pick in last year’s draft. The 6’6″ UNC product began the year with unimpressive numbers (5.45 ERA, 16 BB, 31 K in 38 IP) but has emerged as consistent, reliable arm over the summer months. Criswell’s last two weeks have produced three starts of 4.41 ERA ball, walking 7 and striking out 16 across 16.1 IP. While nothing impressive, it continues a good turnaround for the tall righty, as now has a 3.65 ERA in his last 14 games, walking only 17, allowing only 2 HR, and striking out 71 across 69 innings. Should he continue displaying solid command and consistency, Criswell could blossom into an option for the back of the rotation as early as 2021.
2019 (A+): 4.29 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, .283 BAA, 6 HR allowed, 33 BB, 102 K across 107 IP in 23 G/19 GS
9, tied) Luis Ramirez – RHP, Eduardo Del Rosario – RHP, Ethan Clark – RHP, Parker Joe Robinson – RHP, Greg Veliz – RHP, A Burlington:
In a year that has seen the Angels rely heavily on starting pitchers as multi-inning relievers and tandem starters, the traditional reliever has been something of a rarity on the Angels farm. The recent two weeks however has seen a strong quintet of relievers post big numbers for Burlington, giving the Angels minor league pitching depth an interesting new wrinkle as the season comes to a close. This group has combined for a 3.20 ERA in 39.1 IP, striking out 56 and only allowing two home runs, 12 walks, and 39 hits. Del Rosario, poached from Minnesota last year, has led the way with a 0.90 ERA and 15 K in 10 IP, Ramirez, recently plucked from the Phillies organization, has struck out 12 in 8.1 IP, Clark, a product of the TBR/MIA systems, added 9 more strikeouts, Parker Joe Robinson, an undrafted free agent last season boasted one walk to 11 strikeouts, and Veliz, a draftee this past June, struck out another 9, while also only allowing one walk.
Ramirez 2019 (Burlington, A): 3.71 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, .262 BAA, 2 HR allowed, 6 BB, 19 K across 17 IP in 10 G
Del Rosario 2019 (A/A+/AAA): 4.60 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, .255 BAA, 3 HR allowed, 24 BB, 37 K across 45 IP in 26 G
Clark 2019 (Orem Rk./A): 3.29 ERA, 1.54 WHIP, .240 BAA, 3 HR allowed, 18 BB, 37 K across 27,1 IP in 16 G
Robinson 2019 (A/A+): 4.66 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, .289 BAA, 2 HR allowed, 7 BB, 43 K across 38.2 IP in 21 G
Veliz 2019 (Orem Rk./A): 2.63 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, .191 BAA, 1 HR allowed, 5 BB, 29 K across 24 IP in 15 G
10) Hector Yan – LHP, A Burlington:
Yan once again places on the hotlist, adding two more solid appearances to a breakout campaign. Yan’s 8/8 start saw the lefty post another gaudy strikeout total – 10 in 5 IP while walking only one, again reaffirming the 20-year old’s increasingly improved control – he’s walked 8 in his last 34.2 IP, compared to 18 in the 33.2 IP prior to that, and 19 in 30 IP to start the year. While he did allow 4 runs in his last start, Yan still posted a strong 3 walks to 16 strikeouts in his last 9 IP. The Angels might look to limit the youngsters innings soon, so a few skipped starts or pitch limits, even a temporary DL stint, could crop up.
2019 (A): 3.48 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, .192 BAA, only 5 HR allowed, 45 BB, 138 K (12.6 K/9) across 98.1 IP in 23 G/19 GS
Honorable mention, pitchers:
Nick Tropeano (RHP, AAA):15.1 IP, 8 BB, 14 K, .250 BAA, 3.52 ERA in 3 GS – likely getting another shot to help the Angels rotation with Suarez sent down
Greg Mahle (LHP, AA): 14.2 IP, 3 BB, 8 K, .222 BAA, 1.23 ERA in 2 GS – Remember him? Don’t rule out a September appearance
Jose Soriano (RHP, AZL Rk.): 4.2 IP, 3 BB, 8 K, .263 BAA, 1.93 ERA in 3 GS – rehabbing
Emilker Guzman (RHP, Orem Rk.): 6 IP, 1 BB, 8 K, .174 BAA, 1.50 ERA in 2 GS – not enough playing time, but he’s one to watch
Robinson Pina (RHP, A): 4.1 IP, 2 BB, 12 K, .200 BAA, 4.15 ERA in 2 GS
Jerryell Rivera (LHP, Orem Rk.): 6.2 IP, 3 BB, 7 K, .208 BAA, 2.70 ERA in 2 GS games  – baby steps back in the right direction
Stiward Aquino (RHP, Orem Rk.): 8.2 IP, 2 BB, 14 K, .273 BAA, 5.19 ERA in 2 GS – encouraging Orem debut for one of the Angels’ highest-upside pitching prospects
Jose Natera (RHP, Orem Rk.): 7.2 IP, 1 BB, 8 K, .344 BAA, 3.52 ERA in 2 GS – 19-year old showing decent early results in Orem
Connor Van Scoyoc (RHP, AZL Rk.): 8.2 IP, 10 BB, 12 K, .290 BAA, 3.12 ERA in 2 G- command an issue, strong K numbers from the 19-year old  2018 11th rounder
Clayton Chatham (RHP, A): 11.1 IP, 1 BB, 13 K, .222 BAA, 2.38 ERA in 2 GS – at 24, old for competition, but good results 
Chase Chaney (RHP, AZL Rk.): 10 IP, 4 BB, 6 K, .171 BAA, 0.90 ERA in two games for the 19-year old
Adam McCreery (LHP, AAA): 4.1 IP, 3 BB, 7 K, .188 BAA, 2.08 ERA in three games – 6’7″ lefty pitching well in PCL
Chad Sykes (RHP, A): 5.2 IP, 1 BB, 7 K, .280 BAA, 3.18 ERA in three games – continued strong numbers for ’19 10th rounder
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(Photo by Rick Dykhuizen)
By Tres Hefter, AngelsWin.com Columnist
1) Jeremiah Jackson – SS/2B, Rookie Orem: 
Typically, Jackson’s 9 G/41 PA would not be enough to qualify him (in my own arbitrary criteria) to rank, but the 19-year old infielder’s record-breaking campaign could not be ignored. Jackson slashed .333/.390/1.056/1.446 over the last two weeks, swatting seven home runs (including a 3-HR performance on 8/15) over his last nine games, with three doubles and a triple as well. Further encouraging numbers include a reasonable 3 walks to 9 strikeouts, and a BAbip of only .238. With six multi-homer games on the year and 21 on the season, Jackson has likely taken advantage of HR-friendly Pioneer League environs, but the recent improvements in contact and discipline make any true power he possesses a real plus.
2019 (Orem Rk.): .273/.344/.651/.995 with 12 doubles, 2 triples, 21 HR, 52 RBI, 23 BB, 75 K in 53 G/241 PA
2, Michael Hermosillo – CF/RF, AAA Salt Lake:
Hermosillo slots in second on this edition, with perhaps the strongest runner-up showing yet. Hermosillo had three multi-home games in the last two weeks, including a 3-HR game one day after Jeremiah Jackson’s. Hermosillo clubbed nine home runs in his last 11 games, propelling a slugging-heavy .261/.300/.870/1.170 line. 2019 has produced some new results for Hermosillo, who, like most AAA hitters, is clubbing more extra-base hits than ever, having now set a career high of 14 HR despite having missed most of the year. Hermosillo’s strikeout rate has inflated some, and his walks have decreased, but his defense and baserunning skills remain strong enough to keep him a viable 4th OF option. In his age 24 season, Hermosillo still has time on his side to realize a .250/.330/.420/.750 potential.
2019 (A+, AAA): .246/.337/.491/.828 with 7 doubles, 3 triples, 14 HR, 36 RBI, 23 BB, 75 K in 55 G/258 PA
3) Jahmai Jones – 2B/CF, AA Mobile:
At 21, Jahmai Jones is still one of the younger players in AA, and showing reasons why he should not yet be written off. Jones is in the midst of the brightest spot of his bleak 2019 campaign, having slashed .419/.490/.558/1.048 over the last two weeks, slapping 18 hits in 43 at-bats, and drawing five walks to 11 strikeouts, with four doubles, a triple, and two steals for good measure. Playing 2B almost exclusively this season, Jones did make a start in CF, his third in the last month or so, hinting that the Angels may still seek to utilize him as an occasional outfielder to extend his value to the major league club. This is an important detail, as Jones will be eligible for the Rule 5 draft this offseason, so the Angels will need to decide if it’s time to add Jones to the 40-man or run the risk of losing him in the draft. Jones’ recent strong play – he now has a very respectable  .288/.356/.387/.743 OPS over his last 250 plate appearances – will complicate their decision, whether or not he is added and protected.
2019 (AA): .232/.301/.312/.613 with 19 doubles, 2 triples, 4 HR, 43 RBI, 43 BB, 100 K in 117 G/493 PA
4) Drevian Williams-Nelson – 2B, Rookie Arizona:
Like Jackson, Williams-Nelson’s 8 games and 35 plate appearances would typically exclude him from being ranked, but being only 19 and showing a distinct difference between his 2018 and 2019 performance has led to his inclusion on this edition. Standing only 5’7″, Williams-Nelson profiles as an up-the-middle depth option. The Houston native has likely been the recipient of some good luck – he has a BAbip of .500 over the last two weeks – but a slash of .387/.457/.581/1.038 is hard to ignore, especially for a player of his age and stature. Williams-Nelson has exhibited a bit of pop – three doubles and a home run – and decent plate discipline – four walks to eight strikeouts – lending to a skill-set befitting a future utility player. If he can continue to slap the ball, cut back on strikeouts, and develop into a stolen-base threat (or at least add plus defense and baserunning) he could stand to move in at trajectory similar to David Fletcher.
2019 (AZL Rk.): .265/.359/.382/.741 with 7 doubles, 1 triple, 1 HR, 18 RBI, 13 BB, 30 K in 30 G/117 PA
5, tied) Brandon Marsh – OF, AA Mobile and Trent Deveaux – OF, Rookie Arizona:
Tying for the final slot on the position player Top 5 are two outfielders who have produced very similarly over the last two weeks, both possessing an interesting blend of defense, speed, pop, and contact. Brandon Marsh is overshadowed by uber-prospect Jo Adell, but the 21-yr old Georgian is putting together perhaps the most balanced, polished season of any Angel outfield prospect. Boasting a robust .300/.408/.450/.858 line over the last two weeks, Marsh is displaying plus contact, some power (three doubles, one home run), good plate discipline (seven walks to seven strikeouts) and some speed, stealing two bases, to go with what some call the best outfield defense on the farm. Don’t sleep on Marsh, who is just as likely to grace the Anaheim outfield in 2020 as Adell.
Like Marsh, Deveaux was also overshadowed, as fellow Bahamian D’Shawn Knowles’ 2018 campaign opened eyes where Deveaux struggled. This year has proved differently however, as the 19-year old is delivering a strong 2019 campaign in Rookie League Arizona. Deveaux has slashed .286/.375/.476/.851 over the last two weeks, with two doubles, and one two-homer game. Plate discipline still seems to be a crutch for Deveaux, with four walks to 18 strikeouts, but the improving contact, power, and speed (three steals) coupled with some solid defense keeps his ceiling high.
Marsh, 2019 (A/A+): .271/.357/.392/.749 with 18 doubles, 2 triples, 6 HR, 38 RBI, 17 SB, 42 BB, 89 K in 88 G/378 PA
Deveaux, 2019 (AZL Rk.): .261/.350/.467/.816 with 14 doubles, 4 triples, 5 HR, 22 RBI, 14 SB, 21 BB, 60 K in 44 G/206 PA
Honorable mention, hitters:
Justin Jones (1B, A): .385/.468/.615/1.083 with 1 double, 1 triple, 2 HR, 6 BB, 4 K – at 23, a bit too old for the competition
Ysaac Pena (C/1B/P, DSL Rk.): .359/.419/.615/1.034 with 3 doubles, 4 BB, 4 K a bit old at 21 for DSL
Jared Walsh (1B/DH/P, AAA): .280/.379/.640/1.019 with 3 doubles, 2 HR, 4 BB, 10 K  – a 31-HR campaign for Walsh, who also had one scoreless IP
Jose Verrier (LF/RF/1B/DH, Orem Rk.): .269/.424/.538/.963 with 4 doubles, 1 HR, 6 BB, 11 K – not enough PA to rank
D.C. Arendas (1B/3B/2B, A+): .241/.333/.621/.954 with 1 double, 2 triples, 2 HR,  4 BB, 12 K – at 25, a little old for A+ ball
Cristian Gomez (1B, AZL Rk.): .333/.439/.485/.924 with 3 doubles, 1 triple, 7 BB, 11 K – at 22, too old for competition
Jordyn Adams (CF, AZL Rk., A): .385/.448/.462/.910 with 2 doubles, 5 stolen bases, 2 BB, 4 K – limited at-bats, partially on rehab assignment
Bo Way (CF/LF/P, AA): .296/.345/.556/.900 with 1 double, 2 HR, 1 BB, 4 K 
Josh Thole (C, AAA): 292/.414/.500/.914 with 2 doubles, 1 HR, 5 BB, 7 K
Nick Franklin (2B/3B/SS, AAA): .333/.394/.500/.894 with 3 doubles, 1 triple, 3 BB, 5 K
Brandon White (CF/LF, Orem Rk.): .323/.382/.484/.866 with 1 triple, 1 HR, 3 SB, 3 BB, 5 K – solid debut season, at 21, a bit old for Orem
Johan Sala (RF/LF, Orem Rk.): .320/.438/.400/.838 with 2 doubles, 5 BB, 8 K 
6, tied) Kyle Bradish – RHP, A+ Inland Empire and Aaron Hernandez, RHP, A+ Inland Empire:
These two Angels’ picks from the early stages of the ’18 draft have put together solid pro debuts, and that continued the last two weeks, helping propel the two further into the Angels’ future pitching plans, and likely setting both up for 2020 seasons primarily at AA Mobile. Bradish made two starts, throwing 12.1 IP of 1.46 ERA ball, walking three, striking out twelve, coupled with a stingy .178 BAA. Bradish continues to rebound from an awkward June (12.75 ERA in 12 IP, 9 BB, 16 K) as he has now gone on to post a 3.96 ERA in his last 8 games, with 14 BB, 41 K in 36.1 IP, furthering the assessments that he profiles as a decent mid-to-back rotation option, possibly as soon as 2021.
Hernandez, still fluttering with command issues, has begun to demonstrate an increased ability to generate strikeouts and limit hits, as he posted a sparkling .116 BAA in his last three starts, only allowing five hits in 13.2 IP while striking out 12 and walking 8, to go with a 1.32 ERA. Hernandez has rarely topped the 80-pitch plateau this season, and has had difficulty pitching beyond the fourth or fifth innings, hinting that he might be better suited as a reliever, a move which could happen in the near future as the Angels continue to develop multiple A/A+ starting pitcher options.
Bradish 2019 (A+): 4.36 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, .228 BAA, only 8 HR allowed, 41 BB, 105 K, across 86.2 IP in 21 G/15 GS
Hernandez 2019 (A+): 4.32 ERA, 1.64 WHIP, .270 BAA, 40 BB, 73 K, across 66.2 IP in 18 G/14 GS
7) Kyle Tyler – RHP, A Burlington/A+ Inland Empire:
The Angels finally promoted Tyler following a dizzying summer where the 20th round pick of the 2018 draft posted an absurd 1.27 ERA and .173 BAA across 11 starts and 56.2 IP for Burlington. Tyler’s last two weeks included two more dominant starts at Burlington and a solid debut at Inland Empire, giving him a 1.88 ERA in 14.1 IP. Most encouraging however, was his walk-to-strikeout numbers in this time, as he allowed only three walks to 17 strikeouts – an intriguing number given his relatively pedestrian K rate on the year of 7.7. Should the Angels find a way to keep increasing Tyler’s strikeout ability, they might have found a diamond in the 20th round rough.
2019 (A/A+): 2.70 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, .198 BAA, 35 BB, 91 K across 106.2 IP in 22 G/16 GS
8) Cooper Criswell – RHP, A+ Inland Empire:
Frequently overlooked by the more intriguing arms at Inland Empire (Bradish, Hernandez, Ortega) is Cooper Criswell, the Angels’ 13th round pick in last year’s draft. The 6’6″ UNC product began the year with unimpressive numbers (5.45 ERA, 16 BB, 31 K in 38 IP) but has emerged as consistent, reliable arm over the summer months. Criswell’s last two weeks have produced three starts of 4.41 ERA ball, walking 7 and striking out 16 across 16.1 IP. While nothing impressive, it continues a good turnaround for the tall righty, as now has a 3.65 ERA in his last 14 games, walking only 17, allowing only 2 HR, and striking out 71 across 69 innings. Should he continue displaying solid command and consistency, Criswell could blossom into an option for the back of the rotation as early as 2021.
2019 (A+): 4.29 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, .283 BAA, 6 HR allowed, 33 BB, 102 K across 107 IP in 23 G/19 GS
9, tied) Luis Ramirez – RHP, Eduardo Del Rosario – RHP, Ethan Clark – RHP, Parker Joe Robinson – RHP, Greg Veliz – RHP, A Burlington:
In a year that has seen the Angels rely heavily on starting pitchers as multi-inning relievers and tandem starters, the traditional reliever has been something of a rarity on the Angels farm. The recent two weeks however has seen a strong quintet of relievers post big numbers for Burlington, giving the Angels minor league pitching depth an interesting new wrinkle as the season comes to a close. This group has combined for a 3.20 ERA in 39.1 IP, striking out 56 and only allowing two home runs, 12 walks, and 39 hits. Del Rosario, poached from Minnesota last year, has led the way with a 0.90 ERA and 15 K in 10 IP, Ramirez, recently plucked from the Phillies organization, has struck out 12 in 8.1 IP, Clark, a product of the TBR/MIA systems, added 9 more strikeouts, Parker Joe Robinson, an undrafted free agent last season boasted one walk to 11 strikeouts, and Veliz, a draftee this past June, struck out another 9, while also only allowing one walk.
Ramirez 2019 (Burlington, A): 3.71 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, .262 BAA, 2 HR allowed, 6 BB, 19 K across 17 IP in 10 G
Del Rosario 2019 (A/A+/AAA): 4.60 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, .255 BAA, 3 HR allowed, 24 BB, 37 K across 45 IP in 26 G
Clark 2019 (Orem Rk./A): 3.29 ERA, 1.54 WHIP, .240 BAA, 3 HR allowed, 18 BB, 37 K across 27,1 IP in 16 G
Robinson 2019 (A/A+): 4.66 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, .289 BAA, 2 HR allowed, 7 BB, 43 K across 38.2 IP in 21 G
Veliz 2019 (Orem Rk./A): 2.63 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, .191 BAA, 1 HR allowed, 5 BB, 29 K across 24 IP in 15 G
10) Hector Yan – LHP, A Burlington:
Yan once again places on the hotlist, adding two more solid appearances to a breakout campaign. Yan’s 8/8 start saw the lefty post another gaudy strikeout total – 10 in 5 IP while walking only one, again reaffirming the 20-year old’s increasingly improved control – he’s walked 8 in his last 34.2 IP, compared to 18 in the 33.2 IP prior to that, and 19 in 30 IP to start the year. While he did allow 4 runs in his last start, Yan still posted a strong 3 walks to 16 strikeouts in his last 9 IP. The Angels might look to limit the youngsters innings soon, so a few skipped starts or pitch limits, even a temporary DL stint, could crop up.
2019 (A): 3.48 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, .192 BAA, only 5 HR allowed, 45 BB, 138 K (12.6 K/9) across 98.1 IP in 23 G/19 GS
Honorable mention, pitchers:
Nick Tropeano (RHP, AAA):15.1 IP, 8 BB, 14 K, .250 BAA, 3.52 ERA in 3 GS – likely getting another shot to help the Angels rotation with Suarez sent down
Greg Mahle (LHP, AA): 14.2 IP, 3 BB, 8 K, .222 BAA, 1.23 ERA in 2 GS – Remember him? Don’t rule out a September appearance
Jose Soriano (RHP, AZL Rk.): 4.2 IP, 3 BB, 8 K, .263 BAA, 1.93 ERA in 3 GS – rehabbing
Emilker Guzman (RHP, Orem Rk.): 6 IP, 1 BB, 8 K, .174 BAA, 1.50 ERA in 2 GS – not enough playing time, but he’s one to watch
Robinson Pina (RHP, A): 4.1 IP, 2 BB, 12 K, .200 BAA, 4.15 ERA in 2 GS
Jerryell Rivera (LHP, Orem Rk.): 6.2 IP, 3 BB, 7 K, .208 BAA, 2.70 ERA in 2 GS games  – baby steps back in the right direction
Stiward Aquino (RHP, Orem Rk.): 8.2 IP, 2 BB, 14 K, .273 BAA, 5.19 ERA in 2 GS – encouraging Orem debut for one of the Angels’ highest-upside pitching prospects
Jose Natera (RHP, Orem Rk.): 7.2 IP, 1 BB, 8 K, .344 BAA, 3.52 ERA in 2 GS – 19-year old showing decent early results in Orem
Connor Van Scoyoc (RHP, AZL Rk.): 8.2 IP, 10 BB, 12 K, .290 BAA, 3.12 ERA in 2 G- command an issue, strong K numbers from the 19-year old  2018 11th rounder
Clayton Chatham (RHP, A): 11.1 IP, 1 BB, 13 K, .222 BAA, 2.38 ERA in 2 GS – at 24, old for competition, but good results 
Chase Chaney (RHP, AZL Rk.): 10 IP, 4 BB, 6 K, .171 BAA, 0.90 ERA in two games for the 19-year old
Adam McCreery (LHP, AAA): 4.1 IP, 3 BB, 7 K, .188 BAA, 2.08 ERA in three games – 6’7″ lefty pitching well in PCL
Chad Sykes (RHP, A): 5.2 IP, 1 BB, 7 K, .280 BAA, 3.18 ERA in three games – continued strong numbers for ’19 10th rounder
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(Photo by Rick Dykhuizen)
By Tres Hefter, AngelsWin.com Columnist
1) Jeremiah Jackson – SS/2B, Rookie Orem: 
Typically, Jackson’s 9 G/41 PA would not be enough to qualify him (in my own arbitrary criteria) to rank, but the 19-year old infielder’s record-breaking campaign could not be ignored. Jackson slashed .333/.390/1.056/1.446 over the last two weeks, swatting seven home runs (including a 3-HR performance on 8/15) over his last nine games, with three doubles and a triple as well. Further encouraging numbers include a reasonable 3 walks to 9 strikeouts, and a BAbip of only .238. With six multi-homer games on the year and 21 on the season, Jackson has likely taken advantage of HR-friendly Pioneer League environs, but the recent improvements in contact and discipline make any true power he possesses a real plus.
2019 (Orem Rk.): .273/.344/.651/.995 with 12 doubles, 2 triples, 21 HR, 52 RBI, 23 BB, 75 K in 53 G/241 PA
2, Michael Hermosillo – CF/RF, AAA Salt Lake:
Hermosillo slots in second on this edition, with perhaps the strongest runner-up showing yet. Hermosillo had three multi-home games in the last two weeks, including a 3-HR game one day after Jeremiah Jackson’s. Hermosillo clubbed nine home runs in his last 11 games, propelling a slugging-heavy .261/.300/.870/1.170 line. 2019 has produced some new results for Hermosillo, who, like most AAA hitters, is clubbing more extra-base hits than ever, having now set a career high of 14 HR despite having missed most of the year. Hermosillo’s strikeout rate has inflated some, and his walks have decreased, but his defense and baserunning skills remain strong enough to keep him a viable 4th OF option. In his age 24 season, Hermosillo still has time on his side to realize a .250/.330/.420/.750 potential.
2019 (A+, AAA): .246/.337/.491/.828 with 7 doubles, 3 triples, 14 HR, 36 RBI, 23 BB, 75 K in 55 G/258 PA
3) Jahmai Jones – 2B/CF, AA Mobile:
At 21, Jahmai Jones is still one of the younger players in AA, and showing reasons why he should not yet be written off. Jones is in the midst of the brightest spot of his bleak 2019 campaign, having slashed .419/.490/.558/1.048 over the last two weeks, slapping 18 hits in 43 at-bats, and drawing five walks to 11 strikeouts, with four doubles, a triple, and two steals for good measure. Playing 2B almost exclusively this season, Jones did make a start in CF, his third in the last month or so, hinting that the Angels may still seek to utilize him as an occasional outfielder to extend his value to the major league club. This is an important detail, as Jones will be eligible for the Rule 5 draft this offseason, so the Angels will need to decide if it’s time to add Jones to the 40-man or run the risk of losing him in the draft. Jones’ recent strong play – he now has a very respectable  .288/.356/.387/.743 OPS over his last 250 plate appearances – will complicate their decision, whether or not he is added and protected.
2019 (AA): .232/.301/.312/.613 with 19 doubles, 2 triples, 4 HR, 43 RBI, 43 BB, 100 K in 117 G/493 PA
4) Drevian Williams-Nelson – 2B, Rookie Arizona:
Like Jackson, Williams-Nelson’s 8 games and 35 plate appearances would typically exclude him from being ranked, but being only 19 and showing a distinct difference between his 2018 and 2019 performance has led to his inclusion on this edition. Standing only 5’7″, Williams-Nelson profiles as an up-the-middle depth option. The Houston native has likely been the recipient of some good luck – he has a BAbip of .500 over the last two weeks – but a slash of .387/.457/.581/1.038 is hard to ignore, especially for a player of his age and stature. Williams-Nelson has exhibited a bit of pop – three doubles and a home run – and decent plate discipline – four walks to eight strikeouts – lending to a skill-set befitting a future utility player. If he can continue to slap the ball, cut back on strikeouts, and develop into a stolen-base threat (or at least add plus defense and baserunning) he could stand to move in at trajectory similar to David Fletcher.
2019 (AZL Rk.): .265/.359/.382/.741 with 7 doubles, 1 triple, 1 HR, 18 RBI, 13 BB, 30 K in 30 G/117 PA
5, tied) Brandon Marsh – OF, AA Mobile and Trent Deveaux – OF, Rookie Arizona:
Tying for the final slot on the position player Top 5 are two outfielders who have produced very similarly over the last two weeks, both possessing an interesting blend of defense, speed, pop, and contact. Brandon Marsh is overshadowed by uber-prospect Jo Adell, but the 21-yr old Georgian is putting together perhaps the most balanced, polished season of any Angel outfield prospect. Boasting a robust .300/.408/.450/.858 line over the last two weeks, Marsh is displaying plus contact, some power (three doubles, one home run), good plate discipline (seven walks to seven strikeouts) and some speed, stealing two bases, to go with what some call the best outfield defense on the farm. Don’t sleep on Marsh, who is just as likely to grace the Anaheim outfield in 2020 as Adell.
Like Marsh, Deveaux was also overshadowed, as fellow Bahamian D’Shawn Knowles’ 2018 campaign opened eyes where Deveaux struggled. This year has proved differently however, as the 19-year old is delivering a strong 2019 campaign in Rookie League Arizona. Deveaux has slashed .286/.375/.476/.851 over the last two weeks, with two doubles, and one two-homer game. Plate discipline still seems to be a crutch for Deveaux, with four walks to 18 strikeouts, but the improving contact, power, and speed (three steals) coupled with some solid defense keeps his ceiling high.
Marsh, 2019 (A/A+): .271/.357/.392/.749 with 18 doubles, 2 triples, 6 HR, 38 RBI, 17 SB, 42 BB, 89 K in 88 G/378 PA
Deveaux, 2019 (AZL Rk.): .261/.350/.467/.816 with 14 doubles, 4 triples, 5 HR, 22 RBI, 14 SB, 21 BB, 60 K in 44 G/206 PA
Honorable mention, hitters:
Justin Jones (1B, A): .385/.468/.615/1.083 with 1 double, 1 triple, 2 HR, 6 BB, 4 K – at 23, a bit too old for the competition
Ysaac Pena (C/1B/P, DSL Rk.): .359/.419/.615/1.034 with 3 doubles, 4 BB, 4 K a bit old at 21 for DSL
Jared Walsh (1B/DH/P, AAA): .280/.379/.640/1.019 with 3 doubles, 2 HR, 4 BB, 10 K  – a 31-HR campaign for Walsh, who also had one scoreless IP
Jose Verrier (LF/RF/1B/DH, Orem Rk.): .269/.424/.538/.963 with 4 doubles, 1 HR, 6 BB, 11 K – not enough PA to rank
D.C. Arendas (1B/3B/2B, A+): .241/.333/.621/.954 with 1 double, 2 triples, 2 HR,  4 BB, 12 K – at 25, a little old for A+ ball
Cristian Gomez (1B, AZL Rk.): .333/.439/.485/.924 with 3 doubles, 1 triple, 7 BB, 11 K – at 22, too old for competition
Jordyn Adams (CF, AZL Rk., A): .385/.448/.462/.910 with 2 doubles, 5 stolen bases, 2 BB, 4 K – limited at-bats, partially on rehab assignment
Bo Way (CF/LF/P, AA): .296/.345/.556/.900 with 1 double, 2 HR, 1 BB, 4 K 
Josh Thole (C, AAA): 292/.414/.500/.914 with 2 doubles, 1 HR, 5 BB, 7 K
Nick Franklin (2B/3B/SS, AAA): .333/.394/.500/.894 with 3 doubles, 1 triple, 3 BB, 5 K
Brandon White (CF/LF, Orem Rk.): .323/.382/.484/.866 with 1 triple, 1 HR, 3 SB, 3 BB, 5 K – solid debut season, at 21, a bit old for Orem
Johan Sala (RF/LF, Orem Rk.): .320/.438/.400/.838 with 2 doubles, 5 BB, 8 K 
6, tied) Kyle Bradish – RHP, A+ Inland Empire and Aaron Hernandez, RHP, A+ Inland Empire:
These two Angels’ picks from the early stages of the ’18 draft have put together solid pro debuts, and that continued the last two weeks, helping propel the two further into the Angels’ future pitching plans, and likely setting both up for 2020 seasons primarily at AA Mobile. Bradish made two starts, throwing 12.1 IP of 1.46 ERA ball, walking three, striking out twelve, coupled with a stingy .178 BAA. Bradish continues to rebound from an awkward June (12.75 ERA in 12 IP, 9 BB, 16 K) as he has now gone on to post a 3.96 ERA in his last 8 games, with 14 BB, 41 K in 36.1 IP, furthering the assessments that he profiles as a decent mid-to-back rotation option, possibly as soon as 2021.
Hernandez, still fluttering with command issues, has begun to demonstrate an increased ability to generate strikeouts and limit hits, as he posted a sparkling .116 BAA in his last three starts, only allowing five hits in 13.2 IP while striking out 12 and walking 8, to go with a 1.32 ERA. Hernandez has rarely topped the 80-pitch plateau this season, and has had difficulty pitching beyond the fourth or fifth innings, hinting that he might be better suited as a reliever, a move which could happen in the near future as the Angels continue to develop multiple A/A+ starting pitcher options.
Bradish 2019 (A+): 4.36 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, .228 BAA, only 8 HR allowed, 41 BB, 105 K, across 86.2 IP in 21 G/15 GS
Hernandez 2019 (A+): 4.32 ERA, 1.64 WHIP, .270 BAA, 40 BB, 73 K, across 66.2 IP in 18 G/14 GS
7) Kyle Tyler – RHP, A Burlington/A+ Inland Empire:
The Angels finally promoted Tyler following a dizzying summer where the 20th round pick of the 2018 draft posted an absurd 1.27 ERA and .173 BAA across 11 starts and 56.2 IP for Burlington. Tyler’s last two weeks included two more dominant starts at Burlington and a solid debut at Inland Empire, giving him a 1.88 ERA in 14.1 IP. Most encouraging however, was his walk-to-strikeout numbers in this time, as he allowed only three walks to 17 strikeouts – an intriguing number given his relatively pedestrian K rate on the year of 7.7. Should the Angels find a way to keep increasing Tyler’s strikeout ability, they might have found a diamond in the 20th round rough.
2019 (A/A+): 2.70 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, .198 BAA, 35 BB, 91 K across 106.2 IP in 22 G/16 GS
8) Cooper Criswell – RHP, A+ Inland Empire:
Frequently overlooked by the more intriguing arms at Inland Empire (Bradish, Hernandez, Ortega) is Cooper Criswell, the Angels’ 13th round pick in last year’s draft. The 6’6″ UNC product began the year with unimpressive numbers (5.45 ERA, 16 BB, 31 K in 38 IP) but has emerged as consistent, reliable arm over the summer months. Criswell’s last two weeks have produced three starts of 4.41 ERA ball, walking 7 and striking out 16 across 16.1 IP. While nothing impressive, it continues a good turnaround for the tall righty, as now has a 3.65 ERA in his last 14 games, walking only 17, allowing only 2 HR, and striking out 71 across 69 innings. Should he continue displaying solid command and consistency, Criswell could blossom into an option for the back of the rotation as early as 2021.
2019 (A+): 4.29 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, .283 BAA, 6 HR allowed, 33 BB, 102 K across 107 IP in 23 G/19 GS
9, tied) Luis Ramirez – RHP, Eduardo Del Rosario – RHP, Ethan Clark – RHP, Parker Joe Robinson – RHP, Greg Veliz – RHP, A Burlington:
In a year that has seen the Angels rely heavily on starting pitchers as multi-inning relievers and tandem starters, the traditional reliever has been something of a rarity on the Angels farm. The recent two weeks however has seen a strong quintet of relievers post big numbers for Burlington, giving the Angels minor league pitching depth an interesting new wrinkle as the season comes to a close. This group has combined for a 3.20 ERA in 39.1 IP, striking out 56 and only allowing two home runs, 12 walks, and 39 hits. Del Rosario, poached from Minnesota last year, has led the way with a 0.90 ERA and 15 K in 10 IP, Ramirez, recently plucked from the Phillies organization, has struck out 12 in 8.1 IP, Clark, a product of the TBR/MIA systems, added 9 more strikeouts, Parker Joe Robinson, an undrafted free agent last season boasted one walk to 11 strikeouts, and Veliz, a draftee this past June, struck out another 9, while also only allowing one walk.
Ramirez 2019 (Burlington, A): 3.71 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, .262 BAA, 2 HR allowed, 6 BB, 19 K across 17 IP in 10 G
Del Rosario 2019 (A/A+/AAA): 4.60 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, .255 BAA, 3 HR allowed, 24 BB, 37 K across 45 IP in 26 G
Clark 2019 (Orem Rk./A): 3.29 ERA, 1.54 WHIP, .240 BAA, 3 HR allowed, 18 BB, 37 K across 27,1 IP in 16 G
Robinson 2019 (A/A+): 4.66 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, .289 BAA, 2 HR allowed, 7 BB, 43 K across 38.2 IP in 21 G
Veliz 2019 (Orem Rk./A): 2.63 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, .191 BAA, 1 HR allowed, 5 BB, 29 K across 24 IP in 15 G
10) Hector Yan – LHP, A Burlington:
Yan once again places on the hotlist, adding two more solid appearances to a breakout campaign. Yan’s 8/8 start saw the lefty post another gaudy strikeout total – 10 in 5 IP while walking only one, again reaffirming the 20-year old’s increasingly improved control – he’s walked 8 in his last 34.2 IP, compared to 18 in the 33.2 IP prior to that, and 19 in 30 IP to start the year. While he did allow 4 runs in his last start, Yan still posted a strong 3 walks to 16 strikeouts in his last 9 IP. The Angels might look to limit the youngsters innings soon, so a few skipped starts or pitch limits, even a temporary DL stint, could crop up.
2019 (A): 3.48 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, .192 BAA, only 5 HR allowed, 45 BB, 138 K (12.6 K/9) across 98.1 IP in 23 G/19 GS
Honorable mention, pitchers:
Nick Tropeano (RHP, AAA):15.1 IP, 8 BB, 14 K, .250 BAA, 3.52 ERA in 3 GS – likely getting another shot to help the Angels rotation with Suarez sent down
Greg Mahle (LHP, AA): 14.2 IP, 3 BB, 8 K, .222 BAA, 1.23 ERA in 2 GS – Remember him? Don’t rule out a September appearance
Jose Soriano (RHP, AZL Rk.): 4.2 IP, 3 BB, 8 K, .263 BAA, 1.93 ERA in 3 GS – rehabbing
Emilker Guzman (RHP, Orem Rk.): 6 IP, 1 BB, 8 K, .174 BAA, 1.50 ERA in 2 GS – not enough playing time, but he’s one to watch
Robinson Pina (RHP, A): 4.1 IP, 2 BB, 12 K, .200 BAA, 4.15 ERA in 2 GS
Jerryell Rivera (LHP, Orem Rk.): 6.2 IP, 3 BB, 7 K, .208 BAA, 2.70 ERA in 2 GS games  – baby steps back in the right direction
Stiward Aquino (RHP, Orem Rk.): 8.2 IP, 2 BB, 14 K, .273 BAA, 5.19 ERA in 2 GS – encouraging Orem debut for one of the Angels’ highest-upside pitching prospects
Jose Natera (RHP, Orem Rk.): 7.2 IP, 1 BB, 8 K, .344 BAA, 3.52 ERA in 2 GS – 19-year old showing decent early results in Orem
Connor Van Scoyoc (RHP, AZL Rk.): 8.2 IP, 10 BB, 12 K, .290 BAA, 3.12 ERA in 2 G- command an issue, strong K numbers from the 19-year old  2018 11th rounder
Clayton Chatham (RHP, A): 11.1 IP, 1 BB, 13 K, .222 BAA, 2.38 ERA in 2 GS – at 24, old for competition, but good results 
Chase Chaney (RHP, AZL Rk.): 10 IP, 4 BB, 6 K, .171 BAA, 0.90 ERA in two games for the 19-year old
Adam McCreery (LHP, AAA): 4.1 IP, 3 BB, 7 K, .188 BAA, 2.08 ERA in three games – 6’7″ lefty pitching well in PCL
Chad Sykes (RHP, A): 5.2 IP, 1 BB, 7 K, .280 BAA, 3.18 ERA in three games – continued strong numbers for ’19 10th rounder
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Angels slugger Mike Trout is the face of baseball, and he’s shattering records left and right, even at only 28 years of age.
Trout is currently in the prime of his career, but he still has much to accomplish, which shows just how high his ceiling is. He’s hit .306 for his career, with 281 home runs and 744 RBIs.
But he’s really just getting started.
The crazy thing is that Trout just tied Derek Jeter in an important statistic, and it’s important to note that it took the Yankees legend 20 years to accomplish it.

Trout just keeps setting the bar higher and higher.
View the full article

Angels slugger Mike Trout is the face of baseball, and he’s shattering records left and right, even at only 28 years of age.
Trout is currently in the prime of his career, but he still has much to accomplish, which shows just how high his ceiling is. He’s hit .306 for his career, with 281 home runs and 744 RBIs.
But he’s really just getting started.
The crazy thing is that Trout just tied Derek Jeter in an important statistic, and it’s important to note that it took the Yankees legend 20 years to accomplish it.

Trout just keeps setting the bar higher and higher.
View the full article

Angels slugger Mike Trout is the face of baseball, and he’s shattering records left and right, even at only 28 years of age.
Trout is currently in the prime of his career, but he still has much to accomplish, which shows just how high his ceiling is. He’s hit .306 for his career, with 281 home runs and 744 RBIs.
But he’s really just getting started.
The crazy thing is that Trout just tied Derek Jeter in an important statistic, and it’s important to note that it took the Yankees legend 20 years to accomplish it.

Trout just keeps setting the bar higher and higher.
View the full article

Los Angeles Angels catcher Anthony Bemboom, left, tags out Chicago White Sox’ Jon Jay, trying to score on a single to center field by James McCann, during the sixth inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Sunday, Aug. 18, 2019. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

Los Angeles Angels catcher Anthony Bemboom, right, holds onto the ball after tagging out Chicago White Sox’s Jon Jay, center, with home plate umpire Chris Segal, left, watching during the sixth inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Sunday, Aug. 18, 2019. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
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Los Angeles Angels center fielder Brian Goodwin slides and traps the ball hit for a single by Chicago White Sox’s James McCann with shortstop Wilfredo Tovar, left, watching during the sixth inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Sunday, Aug. 18, 2019. Goodwin was able to recover the ball and throw out White Sox’s John Jay at the plate. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

Los Angeles Angels center fielder Brian Goodwin has the ball pop out of his glove for a single by Chicago White Sox’s James McCann during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox in Anaheim, Calif., Sunday, Aug. 18, 2019. Goodwin was able to recover and throw out White Sox’s Jon Jay at home. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

Los Angeles Angels’ Matt Thaiss, center, is congratulated by Luis Rengifo and Kole Calhoun after hitting a three-run home run against the Chicago White Sox during the second inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Sunday, Aug. 18, 2019. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

Chicago White Sox’s James McCann is congratulated by teammates after scoring on a triple by Eloy Jimenez during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim, Calif., Sunday, Aug. 18, 2019. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

Chicago White Sox’s Jose Abreu, right, is checked by the team trainer and manager Rick Renteria, left, after being hit by a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim, Calif., Sunday, Aug. 18, 2019. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

Chicago White Sox’s Jose Abreu, left, is hit by a pitch with Los Angeles Angels catcher Anthony Bemboom, center, and home plate umpire Chris Segal watching during the first inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Sunday, Aug. 18, 2019. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Shohei Ohtani, right, flies out to right field with Chicago White Sox catcher James McCann, center, and umpire Chris Segal watching during the fifth inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Sunday, Aug. 18, 2019. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

Chicago White Sox’ Yolmer Sanchez, center, reacts after striking out, with Los Angeles Angels catcher Anthony Bemboom, right, throwing the ball out and home plate umpire Chris Segal, left, looking away during the fifth inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Sunday, Aug. 18, 2019. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Shohei Ohtani runs to first after hitting a ground out during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox in Anaheim, Calif., Sunday, Aug. 18, 2019. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

Chicago White Sox’ Jose Abreu, right, is checked by the team trainer and manager Rick Renteria, left, after being hit by a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim, Calif., Sunday, Aug. 18, 2019. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Dylan Cease throws to a Los Angeles Angels batter during the first inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Sunday, Aug. 18, 2019. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Griffin Canning throws to a Chicago White Sox batter during the first inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Sunday, Aug. 18, 2019. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
Show Caption of
Expand ANAHEIM — As the Angels’ season increasingly becomes more about the future than the present, a few rookies provided encouraging signs on Sunday.
Griffin Canning gave up one run in seven innings and Matt Thaiss had three hits and drove in four runs, leading the Angels to a 9-2 victory over the Chicago White Sox.
The Angels won for the fourth time in five games, even with Mike Trout getting his first day off in more than a month.
The hot streak may be coming too late to get the Angels (62-64) back in the race, but the performance of the young players nonetheless gives reason for hope.
Besides Canning and Thaiss, fellow rookie Luís Rengifo also had two hits and reached base three times. Rookie catcher Anthony Bemboom hit a two-run homer, the first of his eight-gamer big league career. Last year’s rookie of the year, Shohei Ohtani, hit a two-run homer. It was Ohtani’s first homer of the month, and second since the All-Star break.
Starting pitching, though, has been the Angels’ biggest issue, so Canning took top billing in this game.
It was his second quality start in three games, sandwiched around a trip to the injured list because of elbow inflammation. Canning gave up three runs in four innings in his first start back, on Tuesday, but this time he put together one of his best starts of the season.
Canning finished seven innings for just the second time. He struck out eight, which tied his high from his first 17 starts.
Canning faced just 10 hitters and needed just 35 pitches to get through the first three innings, without allowing a hit. The first White Sox hit was a high fly ball that center fielder Brian Goodwin lost in the sun at the warning track. It fell for an RBI triple.
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Angels send struggling rookie Jose Suarez to Triple-A The hits are falling for Shohei Ohtani, but not landing over the fence Brian Goodwin’s bases-loaded walk completes the Angels’ comeback rally Angels’ loss to the Chicago White Sox is not poetry in motion The Chicago White Sox broadcast booth is a good place for Michael Schur That was the only run that Canning allowed. He gave up a leadoff double to Tim Anderson in the fifth, but then he picked him off second. In the sixth, a two-out bloop single dropped just out of the reach of Goodwin, but he was able to throw out Jon Jay at the plate to end the inning.
Canning got all the run support he needed on one swing of Thaiss’ bat in the second inning.
Dylan Cease, one of baseball’s top pitching prospects, threw Thaiss a first-pitch 96 mph fastball at the top of the zone, and Thaiss blasted it over the right-field fence for his sixth homer of the season.
Thaiss, who came into the game in a 3-for-27 slump, singled in the fourth and drove in a run with a double in the sixth.
In between the RBIs from Thaiss, Kole Calhoun hit his 27th homer, which set a new career high.
More to come on this story.


View the full article

Angels slugger Mike Trout is the face of baseball, and he’s shattering records left and right, even at only 28 years of age.
Trout is currently in the prime of his career, but he still has much to accomplish, which shows just how high his ceiling is. He’s hit .306 for his career, with 281 home runs and 744 RBIs.
But he’s really just getting started.
The crazy thing is that Trout just tied Derek Jeter in an important statistic, and it’s important to note that it took the Yankees legend 20 years to accomplish it.

Trout just keeps setting the bar higher and higher.
View the full article

By Adam Dodge, AngelsWin.com Senior Writer - 
In high school I had a classmate named Trevor. Orange High was, and I assume still is, a school populated mainly by the children of working-class families. We didn't have a bunch of rich kids. Most of us grew up in pretty modest homes with two working parents. We drove used cars when we turned sixteen, worked P/T jobs and went to community colleges after graduation - a very average school with a very average student body. Except for the Asians, of course.   Trevor didn't fit an Orange High student profile. He was very poor. He lived in a trailer park with his uncle. He couldn't afford even modest shoes and clothes. He was in the same jeans and a white t-shirt every day. His shoes were worn. He had no car. Physically, he was unattractive. Scrawny with acne, Trevor was far from being a BMOC (big man on campus).    Despite his disadvantages, Trevor consistently pulled the finest sixteen and seventeen year-old tail in the city limits. We're not talking about the nerdy band chicks who were secretly hot under their glasses and stupid faux lettermen jackets. We're talking cheerleaders and bitchy student government broads with tans and racks.    It was baffling.   He must have had a great personality and a ton of confidence, right?   Nope. He was a shy dipshit with no sense of humor.    He must have been incredibly bright and articulate, right?   Not at all. He was in and out of the continuation school down the street all four years and never graduated.    There can be only one explanation. While it has never been confirmed, deductive reasoning allows for only one conclusion. Trevor was hung like six horses.    As the Angels head into the land of brawling pregnant whores to take on the Oakland Athletics, we're faced with yet another mystery. How can a team so disadvantaged - with no money or fans, an awful ballpark in one of the worst neighborhoods in North America, comprised of has beens, never will bes and never wases consistently dominate the standings?   There can be only one answer. The A's must not have a single dong measuring anything less than 8 inches.    Good looks and riches cannot compete with an overgrown pork sword on a day to day basis. Think about it. The guy in the band with a third leg is sleeping right now. Soon, he'll wake up, eat a burrito, pop open a beer and watch cartoons. Meanwhile, the well paid accountant is on his third cup of lukewarm Folger's, knee deep in P & Ls..    What is the lawyer up to this weekend? He'll be up at 7am to tend to his garden before spending his day at the soccer field watching seven year-olds do nothing for hours on end. Our bassist with the python? He will be at the beach with a bunch of chicks on a 48 hour bender.    Sucks, right?    Well, not so fast. Who's going to be spending weeks in Hawaii in 15 years? Who will have a big house, nice car, successful children and a 10 handicap when it really matters? Who will the prom queen wake up next to every morning in the end?    Not our buddy with the anaconda. He'll be sneaking off to the dive bar for some Buds on his lunch break from Guitar Center. He'll share a frozen pizza with his three roommates for dinner every night. His girlfriend will have five kids from six different dads, all named Spider.    This A's team will party. It will likely party for the entirety of the regular season. But like every other overgrown bologna pony, it will lose out to a classier, cleaner more established penis come October.

By Adam Dodge, AngelsWin.com Senior Writer - 
In high school I had a classmate named Trevor. Orange High was, and I assume still is, a school populated mainly by the children of working-class families. We didn't have a bunch of rich kids. Most of us grew up in pretty modest homes with two working parents. We drove used cars when we turned sixteen, worked P/T jobs and went to community colleges after graduation - a very average school with a very average student body. Except for the Asians, of course.   Trevor didn't fit an Orange High student profile. He was very poor. He lived in a trailer park with his uncle. He couldn't afford even modest shoes and clothes. He was in the same jeans and a white t-shirt every day. His shoes were worn. He had no car. Physically, he was unattractive. Scrawny with acne, Trevor was far from being a BMOC (big man on campus).    Despite his disadvantages, Trevor consistently pulled the finest sixteen and seventeen year-old tail in the city limits. We're not talking about the nerdy band chicks who were secretly hot under their glasses and stupid faux lettermen jackets. We're talking cheerleaders and bitchy student government broads with tans and racks.    It was baffling.   He must have had a great personality and a ton of confidence, right?   Nope. He was a shy dipshit with no sense of humor.    He must have been incredibly bright and articulate, right?   Not at all. He was in and out of the continuation school down the street all four years and never graduated.    There can be only one explanation. While it has never been confirmed, deductive reasoning allows for only one conclusion. Trevor was hung like six horses.    As the Angels head into the land of brawling pregnant whores to take on the Oakland Athletics, we're faced with yet another mystery. How can a team so disadvantaged - with no money or fans, an awful ballpark in one of the worst neighborhoods in North America, comprised of has beens, never will bes and never wases consistently dominate the standings?   There can be only one answer. The A's must not have a single dong measuring anything less than 8 inches.    Good looks and riches cannot compete with an overgrown pork sword on a day to day basis. Think about it. The guy in the band with a third leg is sleeping right now. Soon, he'll wake up, eat a burrito, pop open a beer and watch cartoons. Meanwhile, the well paid accountant is on his third cup of lukewarm Folger's, knee deep in P & Ls..    What is the lawyer up to this weekend? He'll be up at 7am to tend to his garden before spending his day at the soccer field watching seven year-olds do nothing for hours on end. Our bassist with the python? He will be at the beach with a bunch of chicks on a 48 hour bender.    Sucks, right?    Well, not so fast. Who's going to be spending weeks in Hawaii in 15 years? Who will have a big house, nice car, successful children and a 10 handicap when it really matters? Who will the prom queen wake up next to every morning in the end?    Not our buddy with the anaconda. He'll be sneaking off to the dive bar for some Buds on his lunch break from Guitar Center. He'll share a frozen pizza with his three roommates for dinner every night. His girlfriend will have five kids from six different dads, all named Spider.    This A's team will party. It will likely party for the entirety of the regular season. But like every other overgrown bologna pony, it will lose out to a classier, cleaner more established penis come October.

Fact: Through Sunday, 14 of Major League Baseball’s 30 teams had experienced attendance decreases from this point last season.
Also a fact: The Red Sox avoided being one of those, by just 20,429 fans, thanks to two crowds of 59,659 and 59,059 in their London games with the Yankees. Meanwhile the Angels, despite being the home team for two games in Monterrey, Mexico in May and drawing 18,177 and 17,614, were just 2,861 behind their 2018 home attendance pace.
That latter number helps speak to the strength of Southern California as a baseball region.
The Dodgers, with their season-long dominance on the field, are not only the first team to top 3 million this season but (albeit with four extra home dates) more than 654,000 fans better than No. 2, the self-proclaimed Best Fans In Baseball in St. Louis. The Angels, in 55 games in Anaheim, are at 2.131 million and averaging 37,505, which really is quite good for a team that was on the fringe of wild-card contention most of the summer and now seems to have fallen out of the race.
The point – and thank you for your patience in allowing us to meander toward it – is that your perception of the game’s condition largely depends on (a) where you live and (b) how the local team is doing. Shifts, pace of game, lack of action, strike zones that sometimes defy description … if the home team is winning (and if you can see it on TV nightly), those issues don’t stop you from partaking. (Unless you root for the A’s or Rays, but that’s a different discussion altogether.)
Still, the game has plenty of room for improvement. A year ago, we made some suggestions on making baseball better, and readers subsequently chimed in with their own opinions. Some were really good, some were funny – totally intended that way, I’m sure – and some were get-off-my-lawn cranky.
(Warning: The proprietor is the only one allowed to shoo the kids out of the front yard in This Space. He rarely exercises that privilege.)
So if it’s early August, it’s time to revisit our brainstorming. Call it Fixing Baseball, Part II.
And we start by critiquing the people responsible for marketing and promoting the game – you know, the ones with such PR savvy that they timed the release of their 2020 schedule for Monday, the very same day that the NBA announced its schedule.
Can they be more tone-deaf? Well …
• Uniforms. MLB’s marketers just can’t leave the uniforms and colors alone. They’ve insisted on unnecessarily messing with teams’ individual brands for each holiday, but their latest plan, for next week’s Players Weekend, borders on out-and-out blasphemy. They scheduled that promotion on the weekend that the Yankees and Dodgers play each other, a matchup of iconic teams with iconic uniforms. So, naturally, MLB mandated white-on-off white for home teams (Dodgers) and black-on-black for visitors (Yankees).
Nary a team color to be found, but that’s not the worst part: It has always been my contention that if you can’t see the numbers distinctly from the top row, the uniforms have failed their basic function. This?  Epic fail. What good are the nicknames on the backs if you can’t see them?
• The strike zone. I, for one, am rooting for the experiment in the independent Atlantic League with an electronic strike zone to succeed. Yes, the box you see on televised games is deceptive and doesn’t always show where a pitch truly crossed the plate, though announcers often seem to treat that graphic as the last word. (And let’s face it: Pitchers are better than ever before at manipulating the ball and creating wicked movement, which suggests both hitters and umpires are overmatched.)
Automated ball-strike calls would solve two problems. The electronic strike zone would prevent catchers from stealing strikes via “framing.” And it would get rid of the Incredible Floating Strike Zone, i.e., each umpire’s interpretation of the zone as if he’s performing a song or critiquing a painting. Giving a pitcher the corner is one thing. Umpiring as if the plate is low and outside is quite another.
Oh, and it’s also time to revise the rule book and move the upper limit of the strike zone closer to the letters than the belly button, please. More strikes means more swinging the bat, and that means potentially more action.
• The shift. I would still prefer a rule change stipulating two fielders on each side of second base, but for some reason I’m not bothered by extreme shifts as much as I was in the past. Maybe I’m getting used to it. Horrifying thought.
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Orange County Football Preview 2019: Two-sport star Wilson expects improvement from No. 5 Servite Francis Jacobs joins Orange County SC and becomes youngest male to sign soccer contract in the U.S. UCLA football’s Josh Woods brings leadership, motivation to field after injuries Angels 2020 schedule highlights Clippers schedule: They hope home is sweet in early going of 2019-20 season • YouTube. I was prepared to dislike the streaming service’s first foray into live baseball coverage. But I don’t, though the play-by-play guys they bring in could be a little less chatty. (Pro tip: Once you turn off the viewer comments button, it’s a lot more enjoyable.) It is a boon for those who are otherwise shut out (hello, deprived Dodger fans), though I can also see where it’s an issue for those who don’t have smart TVs or are simply grappling with the notion of watching baseball on a tablet or phone.
So, again, can we revise the MLB.TV rules and make everything available everywhere, with no blackouts? The sport has an opportunity to get ahead of the curve here and recapture the attention of cord cutters, rather than being held back by its loyalty to cable networks who are shedding subscribers as we speak.
• The baseball. Is it time to deaden the ball just a bit? Or maybe put the balls into humidors at sea level, as well as at altitude? Yes, people love home runs, but people love sweets, too. In both cases, overconsumption is dangerous.
Those are some of my thoughts. I welcome yours.
jalexander@scng.com
@Jim_Alexander on Twitter
 
 
 
View the full article

Fact: Through Sunday, 14 of Major League Baseball’s 30 teams had experienced attendance decreases from this point last season.
Also a fact: The Red Sox avoided being one of those, by just 20,429 fans, thanks to two crowds of 59,659 and 59,059 in their London games with the Yankees. Meanwhile the Angels, despite being the home team for two games in Monterrey, Mexico in May and drawing 18,177 and 17,614, were just 2,861 behind their 2018 home attendance pace.
That latter number helps speak to the strength of Southern California as a baseball region.
The Dodgers, with their season-long dominance on the field, are not only the first team to top 3 million this season but (albeit with four extra home dates) more than 654,000 fans better than No. 2, the self-proclaimed Best Fans In Baseball in St. Louis. The Angels, in 55 games in Anaheim, are at 2.131 million and averaging 37,505, which really is quite good for a team that was on the fringe of wild-card contention most of the summer and now seems to have fallen out of the race.
The point – and thank you for your patience in allowing us to meander toward it – is that your perception of the game’s condition largely depends on (a) where you live and (b) how the local team is doing. Shifts, pace of game, lack of action, strike zones that sometimes defy description … if the home team is winning (and if you can see it on TV nightly), those issues don’t stop you from partaking. (Unless you root for the A’s or Rays, but that’s a different discussion altogether.)
Still, the game has plenty of room for improvement. A year ago, we made some suggestions on making baseball better, and readers subsequently chimed in with their own opinions. Some were really good, some were funny – totally intended that way, I’m sure – and some were get-off-my-lawn cranky.
(Warning: The proprietor is the only one allowed to shoo the kids out of the front yard in This Space. He rarely exercises that privilege.)
So if it’s early August, it’s time to revisit our brainstorming. Call it Fixing Baseball, Part II.
And we start by critiquing the people responsible for marketing and promoting the game – you know, the ones with such PR savvy that they timed the release of their 2020 schedule for Monday, the very same day that the NBA announced its schedule.
Can they be more tone-deaf? Well …
• Uniforms. MLB’s marketers just can’t leave the uniforms and colors alone. They’ve insisted on unnecessarily messing with teams’ individual brands for each holiday, but their latest plan, for next week’s Players Weekend, borders on out-and-out blasphemy. They scheduled that promotion on the weekend that the Yankees and Dodgers play each other, a matchup of iconic teams with iconic uniforms. So, naturally, MLB mandated white-on-off white for home teams (Dodgers) and black-on-black for visitors (Yankees).
Nary a team color to be found, but that’s not the worst part: It has always been my contention that if you can’t see the numbers distinctly from the top row, the uniforms have failed their basic function. This?  Epic fail. What good are the nicknames on the backs if you can’t see them?
• The strike zone. I, for one, am rooting for the experiment in the independent Atlantic League with an electronic strike zone to succeed. Yes, the box you see on televised games is deceptive and doesn’t always show where a pitch truly crossed the plate, though announcers often seem to treat that graphic as the last word. (And let’s face it: Pitchers are better than ever before at manipulating the ball and creating wicked movement, which suggests both hitters and umpires are overmatched.)
Automated ball-strike calls would solve two problems. The electronic strike zone would prevent catchers from stealing strikes via “framing.” And it would get rid of the Incredible Floating Strike Zone, i.e., each umpire’s interpretation of the zone as if he’s performing a song or critiquing a painting. Giving a pitcher the corner is one thing. Umpiring as if the plate is low and outside is quite another.
Oh, and it’s also time to revise the rule book and move the upper limit of the strike zone closer to the letters than the belly button, please. More strikes means more swinging the bat, and that means potentially more action.
• The shift. I would still prefer a rule change stipulating two fielders on each side of second base, but for some reason I’m not bothered by extreme shifts as much as I was in the past. Maybe I’m getting used to it. Horrifying thought.
Related Articles
Orange County Football Preview 2019: Two-sport star Wilson expects improvement from No. 5 Servite Francis Jacobs joins Orange County SC and becomes youngest male to sign soccer contract in the U.S. UCLA football’s Josh Woods brings leadership, motivation to field after injuries Angels 2020 schedule highlights Clippers schedule: They hope home is sweet in early going of 2019-20 season • YouTube. I was prepared to dislike the streaming service’s first foray into live baseball coverage. But I don’t, though the play-by-play guys they bring in could be a little less chatty. (Pro tip: Once you turn off the viewer comments button, it’s a lot more enjoyable.) It is a boon for those who are otherwise shut out (hello, deprived Dodger fans), though I can also see where it’s an issue for those who don’t have smart TVs or are simply grappling with the notion of watching baseball on a tablet or phone.
So, again, can we revise the MLB.TV rules and make everything available everywhere, with no blackouts? The sport has an opportunity to get ahead of the curve here and recapture the attention of cord cutters, rather than being held back by its loyalty to cable networks who are shedding subscribers as we speak.
• The baseball. Is it time to deaden the ball just a bit? Or maybe put the balls into humidors at sea level, as well as at altitude? Yes, people love home runs, but people love sweets, too. In both cases, overconsumption is dangerous.
Those are some of my thoughts. I welcome yours.
jalexander@scng.com
@Jim_Alexander on Twitter
 
 
 
View the full article