Organizational Talent Rankings via Baseball America
2014 (30) | 2013 (30) | 2012 (18) | 2011 (15) | 2010 (26)
2014 Affiliate Records
MLB: [98-64] AL West
AAA: [60-84] Pacific Coast League – Salt Lake
AA: [75-65] Texas League – Arkansas
A+: [62-78] California League – Inland Empire
A: [68-71] Midwest League – Burlington
Graduated Prospects
C.J. Cron, 1B | Cory Rasmus, RHP | Mike Morin, RHP | Matt Shoemaker, RHP
The Gist
The Angels checked in at #30 in Baseball America’s organizational rankings for the second year in a row. A win now approach has left the farm in poor shape, and it got worse this past season when the organization sent Taylor Lindsey, R.J. Alvarez, and Jose Rondon to San Diego in exchange for Huston Street. What’s left is a pitching heavy top ten and very few impact prospects for fantasy purposes.
Top Ten Fantasy Prospects
1. Sean Newcomb, LHP | Age: 21 | ETA: 2017
| W | L | ERA | G | GS | SV | IP | H | R | ER | HR | BB/9 | K/9 | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 1 | 6.14 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 14.2 | 16 | 10 | 10 | 2 | 3.7 | 11.0 | .286 |
The 15th overall pick in the 2014 draft, Newcomb slots right in as the Angels’ number one prospect. The 21-year-old is a big lefty with a low to mid-90s fastball and a good slider. Obviously his first season was limited in terms of innings pitched, but his final outing of 2014 gives us an idea of what his upside might look like. He struck out ten batters with no walks allowed in four innings of work. Newcomb also throws a changeup and curve although they don’t currently grade as high as his other two pitches. The southpaw has the potential to be a front end starter in the majors and is a welcome first round talent for an otherwise weak system.
2. Cam Bedrosian, RHP | Age: 23 | ETA: 2015
| W | L | ERA | G | GS | SV | IP | H | R | ER | HR | BB/9 | K/9 | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 1 | 2.00 | 43 | 0 | 18 | 45.0 | 16 | 11 | 10 | 1 | 3.6 | 16.4 | .109 |
Bedrosian settled back into his reliever role in 2013 and really flourished there in 2014. He moved through three levels of the minors and struck out 82 batters in 45 innings before earning a promotion to the big club in August. Unfortunately, the success didn’t continue with the Angels as he was knocked around for 14 earned runs in just over 19 innings. Still, he managed more than a strikeout per inning in that time and he appears to be the heir apparent to the Angels’ closer gig.
3. Ricardo Sanchez, LHP | Age: 17 | ETA: 2018
| W | L | ERA | G | GS | SV | IP | H | R | ER | HR | BB/9 | K/9 | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2 | 3.49 | 12 | 9 | 0 | 38.2 | 40 | 22 | 15 | 0 | 5.1 | 10.0 | .258 |
At just 17 years old, Sanchez already has a good fastball and curveball and is working on developing a better feel for pitching. The Angels saw potential here when they signed him for $580K in 2013. He’s only listed at 5’11” 170 lb. right now, but the Venezuelan southpaw won’t turn 18 until April. He was one of the youngest players in the AZL and held his own with 43 strikeouts in 38.2 innings. The walks are a work in progress and he still has a long way to go developmentally, but there’s about as much upside here as any arm in the system. UPDATE: Traded to Atlanta
4. Jairo Diaz, RHP | Age: 23 | ETA: 2015
| W | L | ERA | G | GS | SV | IP | H | R | ER | HR | BB/9 | K/9 | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 4 | 3.43 | 56 | 0 | 15 | 64.2 | 61 | 26 | 25 | 4 | 2.9 | 11.7 | .246 |
If Cam Bedrosian doesn’t end up with the closer gig, the Angels might just want to give Diaz a look in that role. He hits triple digits with his fastball and has increased his strikeout rates each of the past three years (6.6, 7.8, 11.7). Even more impressive was his control this season – his walk rate stayed under three per nine in both High A and Double A. Diaz got a cup of coffee this past September, striking out eight in 5.2 major league innings. He should be making appearances in the late innings in 2015 and could be a valuable commodity as a high strikeout reliever. UPDATE: Traded to Colorado
5. Victor Alcantara, RHP | Age: 21 | ETA: 2017
| W | L | ERA | G | GS | SV | IP | H | R | ER | HR | BB/9 | K/9 | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 6 | 3.81 | 27 | 20 | 1 | 125.1 | 98 | 57 | 53 | 6 | 4.3 | 8.4 | .219 |
It’s possible that Alcantara ends up in the bullpen when it’s all said and done, but the Angels will continue to work him as a starter for now. He has a fastball that touches the upper 90s and a good slider and changeup, but I haven’t found a report on him yet that doesn’t mention his wonky delivery. There’s still time to iron out the kinks at just 21 years old, and his numbers improved across the board after a disappointing 2013. He’s one to watch in 2015 as he has some of the best stuff in the Angels’ system.
6. Kody Eaves, 2B | Age: 21 | ETA: 2017
| PA | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB% | K% | SB | CS | AVG | OBP | SLG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 587 | 74 | 147 | 37 | 7 | 10 | 44 | 4.9% | 24.0% | 25 | 10 | .268 | .308 | .415 |
Time for a hitting prospect. Eaves looks like he can stick at second and offers a combination of power and speed that would be valuable from a fantasy middle infielder. He’s still only 21 and has time to improve on the ten homers he hit this year in the Midwest League. The strikeouts are a concern but at this stage of the game it’s not going to raise too many eyebrows. Next year he should see time in the High-A California League and we’ll have a much better idea of his power potential in what will be just his second full season.
7. Natanael Delgado, OF | Age: 18 | ETA: 2017
| PA | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB% | K% | SB | CS | AVG | OBP | SLG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 162 | 23 | 46 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 21 | 3.1% | 21.0% | 4 | 0 | .301 | .333 | .464 |
Delgado might be my favorite prospect on this list. He skipped straight to the AZL at 17 years old and held his own in the Pioneer League at 18 before a concussion ended his season. He has already shown an ability to square up fastballs and there’s power in the bat that should surface more as he continues to mature. Delgado is one to watch as he enters his first full season in the Midwest League. If he polishes his approach and continues to develop power, he could be ranking near the top of the Angels’ system by year’s end.
8. Alex Yarbrough, 2B | Age: 23 | ETA: 2015
| PA | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB% | K% | SB | CS | AVG | OBP | SLG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 592 | 66 | 154 | 38 | 4 | 5 | 72 | 5.6% | 20.9% | 6 | 6 | .283 | .319 | .395 |
Another second base prospect, Yarbrough is more polished than Eaves but lacks the power/speed upside. The switch-hitter won the 2014 Texas League MVP after leading the league in both hits and doubles. Unlike Eaves, he might not have the defensive ability to stick at second base and his hit tool is his bread and butter. That means he’ll be a useful piece for the Angels in real life, but not necessarily what you want in fantasy.
9. Nate Smith, LHP | Age: 23 | ETA: 2015
| W | L | ERA | G | GS | SV | IP | H | R | ER | HR | BB/9 | K/9 | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 3 | 2.60 | 21 | 21 | 0 | 142 | 98 | 47 | 41 | 6 | 3.2 | 8.0 | .210 |
Smith might not have the high velos and high ceilings as some of the other names on this list, but the 23-year-old lefty has shown good control in the minors and might be the safest to project as a useful starter. He throws a fastball, curve, and changeup and can command all three pitches. He’ll likely start back in Double-A next season to add some more polish.
10. Hunter Green, LHP | Age: 19 | ETA: 2018 *did not pitch in 2014*
It was hard to decide where to put Green on this list. On one hand he’s a lefty with great stuff and tons of potential. On the other hand, he lost a full year of development to a back injury. Even at 19, it’s tough to lose that much time. Green had put on some weight but then lost it all after the injury. He has a good fastball and curve and that’s what keeps him in the conversation, but the bottom line is he needs to get more healthy innings under his belt.
