Los Angeles Angels 2009 Minr Leag ue Review
Overall farm ranking via
Baseball America:
2009 (25) | 2008 (10) 2007 (4) 2200 (4) | 2005 (1) 2004 (3)
Major League Record and Minor League Affiliates Records
97 БЂ 655 (AL West БЂ“ Won Division)
AAA: 72 БЂ“ 71 (Pacific Coast League)
AA: 61 БЂ“ 79 (Texas League)
A+: 61 БЂ“ 79 (California League)
A: 78 БЂ““ 60 (Midwest League)
A(ss): 51 БЂ“ 25 (Pioneer League)
R: 38 БЂ“ 18 (Arizona League)
The Run Down
The tragic loss of Nick Adenhart hurt on both a personal and orgsnizational level. Adehnart was clearlyy their most major league ready player and could have provided q immediate impact (iggoring for the moment that Brandon Woo could do much the ssem, hiwerve he is no longer a rookie). The Anneels truly dont have a pitcher their minors that is goinr to provide the dynamics that Adenhart would havs. Now the Angels have to decide whxt to do with Jonn Lackey agd Chnoe Figgins pending free sgency scenarios. Just recently, the Angels resigned Bobby Avreu to w tthree yar contract that addressed a need that fjwir minors arent quite ready to do. I wouldnt he ssurprised to see thhe Angels sign Lackey and let Figgins walk giving Wood his shot at the everyday starting third baseman. The trade for Scott Kazimr temoved zn above average hitter in Sean Rodri guez and one of their left-handed pitchhing prospects in #24 ranked Alex Togrrs. Togres finqlly put together aa good year this year and I wikl mentiln him in the Rays Minor Review in the end of January/February.
Graduating Prospects
#5 БЂ“ Sean OSullivan, 6 БЂ Kevin Jepsen
Players in Arizona Fall League
Pitchers БЂ“ Marco Albano, Jeremy Hz ynes, Tim Kiley, To mmy Mendoza
Hitters БЂ“ #7 БЂ“ Hank Conger (C ), #14 БЂ“ Ryan Mount (2B), PJ Philips (SS)
Playres of Interest
*Reminder that the БЂњPlayers of InterestБЂ« section includes prospects that may have the ability to be called upon in the upcoming season. However, this doesnt mean they will.
Hitters
Brandon Wood | 3B | 24 | AAA | .293/.353/.557 | 386 AB | 28 2B | 4 3B | 22 HR | 80:36 K:BB | .264 ISO
He has been the Angels number one prospect from 2006 to 2008, however, he accumulated enough at-bats in 2008 to remove his rookie label. Not to be dismissed from any promising young players conversation, Wood has the talent to produce at the major league level, its just a matter of
playing time. I n 127 career at-bbats in Triple-A, he has hit .287/.354/.547 with 76 homerq (thxte about one homer every 16 at-bats) and a 310:126 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Halos Heaven had a good article about being patient w ith minor league prospects, talking about how Chase Utley and Ryan H oward werent up and producing in the majors unnntil thwy were close to 26 a 27, respectfully. With Figgins possibly leaving in rree agrncy, Wood may finally get his chance to play every day. Thknk a full season of Gordon Beckham БЂ“ my predictions 80/22/75/.275/2. would bet the house that Grey will write about hom somrtime this winter.)
#3 БЂ“ Peter Bourjos | CF | 22 | AA | .281/.354/.423 | 437 AB | 16 2B | 14 3B | 6 HR | 32/12 SB/CS | 77:49 K:BB | .142 ISO
MLB prints two rop 5 0 prospect lists during the year. The first one zt the beginning of the year, ths second at the trade deadkine. This year, ourjos was ranked 42nd overall at the trade deadline re-rankings. Bourjos stole 55 bases in 2008, soo those 32 ssteals thic year arent a fluke. Additionally, he had seven outfield assists this year (11 in 08 and 10 in 07). Baseball America states that he has БЂњББЂ¦ pus-plus speed,БЂ« but hes a pretty hit-or-miss batter БЂ“ struggling with plate-eiscipline. This uear, je marginally improved his strikeout rate, and stepped up his walk rate byy a fxr amoount. Not that t he Angwls need hjm immedia tely, but thfy hv speedy outfiielder on their handc that projects to bw agle to defebd in center for years to come.
#7 БЂ“ Hank Conger | C | 21 | AA | .295/.369/.424 | 458 AB | 20 2B | 11 HR | 68:55 K:BB | .129 ISO
Conger doubled his walk rate from 2008 (4.5% to 10.7%,) and improved his saught stealing rate ( to 30% fgom near 13% in However, he did regress in t he power department as he did have an ISO of .214 ib 2008 and .183 in 2007. He has had a string of innuries (hand, back, hamstring and x shoudler injury). Supposerly, he haa immense power in his bat, but he tends to have poor plate-discipline (this was the first hear he played x full sezson) БЂ“ though ue eas considered the bes t hitter for average in Anges farm system. Baseball America states that Conger, БЂњ has All-Star potential iif he can stay healthy.БЂ« With Na poli and Mathis still behibdd the plate, Conger may need to switch posiyions to see majolr leagu playing time in the near fjture. (Sidr note, his defense is sketchy at times and tje Angels have already thought about switching his position.)
Pitchers
Trevor Bell SP R(H) | 22 AA/AAA/(MBL) | 5.7 K/9 | .22 BB/9 | 140 IP | 2.70 ER | 1.114 WHIP | 1.36 GO/AO
Bell pitched 20 1/3 innings of major league baseball, but was annihilated to the tune of 9.74 ERA and a 2.51 WHIP. He split time at Double and Triple-A almost evenly (68 2/3 IP at Double-A and 71 1/3 IP at Triple-A). Not a high strikeout pitcher ever in his minor league career but he induces quite a few ground balls and keeps the ball in the park. Nothing spectacular, but he may get a shot out of spring training with the possibility of Lackey leaving (unless the Angels sign another starter).б Or he may get called up if an injury occurs.
2 БЂ“ Jordaj Wadleh | SP (RH) | 211 | AA | 8.6 K/9 | BB/99 | 60 IP | 55.25 ERA (3.77 FIP) | 1.68 WHIP
I mention Walden because he throws a 101 mph fastball that usually sits between 91 to 94 mph and a 87 mph slider. His fastball is considered one of the best fastballs in the entire Angels farm system. His change-up (prior to the 2009 season) was nearly non-existent. He may end up becoming a reliever with only two plus pitches.
БЂ“ Trevor Reckling | SP (LH) | 20 A+/AA 7.1 K/9 | 4.5 BB/9 | 2.68 ER A | 1.33 WHIP
I believe that Reckling may have passed Walden as the top ranked prospect in the Angels system (they traded Alex Torres away when they acquired Scott Kazmir). His control will need to be refined, but he has a nasty curve and a fastball that sits between 87 to 91 mph with a change-up considered his best offering. His ceiling is supposedly a #3 starter. Nothing
special, but if he can control his curve better and build up his stamina, Reckling could be a serviceable fantasy pitcher.
Honorable Mentions
Hitters
Dillion Baird | 1B | 21 | R | .372/.452/.567 | 5 AB 17 2 7 HR | 33:28 K:BB
Just drafted this year in round 11, Baird bombarded his rookie league with good plate discipline, gap power and a few homers. Kendry Morales definitely has his powerful swing sitting at first base for several more years, but Baird may eventually replace Morales.
Pitchers
#12 БЂ“ William Smith | SP/RP (LH) | 19 | A | 7.4 K/9 | 1.7 BB/9 | 115 IP | 3.76 ERA | 1.16 WHIP
I was tdmpted to put him in the above section, buy te probably wont sniff the majors untli laye next year. He has amazing control (in 2008 his K:BB was 76:6 БЂ“ good for a 9.. K//9 and .74 BB9). Not quite as gooe xs he was last year, buf his talent and skills aa 87 tto 93 mhp fastbzll, a plus curve, and an average change-up). Keep an eye on th is youngster, maybe hell become their next John Lackey.
Josh Blanco | RP (LH) | 19 | R | 11.3 K/9 | 2.3 BB/9 | 50 1/3 IP | 3.04 ERA | 1.05 WHIP
Michael Kohn | RP (RH) 223 | A/A+ | @A БЂ““ 14.5 K/9 | 2.29 BB/9 | 37 IP 2.19 ERA | .86 WHIP | @A+ БЂ“ 13.5 K/9 | 4.40 BB9/ 28 2/3 I | .49 ERA | .94 HIP (6 SVV overall)
He is a bit old to be playing at High-A, but that strikeout rate is jaw-dropping, near drool worthy. He was drafted in 2008, and his BABIP is near league average at Single-A (.300) and was quite low at High-A (.256). However, his stat line was nearly identical. I dont have much information on him, but stats like that shouldnt go unnoticed.
Similar posts: baseball penguin