It wasn’t that long ago when this Angels farm system was considered one of the worst in baseball. But you know how to give a lackluster system a gigantic shot in the arm? You draft a phenom like Jo Adell. That’s how. This is still borderline bottom-10 system overall, but recent drafts and international signings have stockpiled the lower levels with upside players that have breakout potential over the next year or two. So while this top-25 Los Angeles Angels prospects list might not knock your socks off in 2020, it’s certainly on the rise with some intriguing names to keep an eye on in deeper dynasty leagues. But how about we start off with a prospect that will knock your socks off and send them 430 feet over the outfield wall? In a Wander Franco-less world, Jo Adell would be the #1 prospect.
Overall System Grade: C-
Minor League Affiliates
Triple-A: Salt Lake – Pacific Coast League
Double-A: Rocket City – Southern League
Advanced Single-A: Inland Empire – California League
Low Single-A: Burlington – Midwest League
Short Single-A: None
Rookie: Orem – Pioneer League, Arizona League (1), Dominican Summer League (1)
All other team top-25 prospect rankings can be found here.
If you aren’t playing your dynasty leagues on Fantrax, you’re missing out on the deepest player pool and most customization around. Just starting out in a dynasty league? Then check out Eric Cross’ Top-250 prospects, Top-300 Dynasty League Rankings, & 2019 FYPD/J2 Rankings.
Also, make sure to check out the Fantrax Dynasty Baseball Podcast weekly with Nathan Dokken, Van Lee, and Ron Rigney!
Top-25 Los Angeles Angels Prospects – 2020
1. Jo Adell, OF
What can I say about Jo Adell that hasn’t already been said? Actually, I got something for you. If I had to pick one prospect in the minors right now to be the next Ronald Acuña Jr, it would be Adell. Is that an incredibly lofty comparison? Absolutely. No doubt about it. But with the mouth-watering tools that Adell possesses, he 110% has the type of elite upside that can make him a first-round pick in fantasy leagues for years to come. You don’t come across 60-hit, 70-power, 60-speed prospects often and they certainly don’t grow on trees. Unless that tree sprouts superstar prospects. Who knows what scientists are coming up with these days.
Jo Adell stolen base then takes 3rd on the throw.#MiLB #TheHaloWay #Angels pic.twitter.com/1UQaMSiGKs
— Eric Cross (@EricCross04) October 11, 2019
To start, Adell’s massive raw power is a thing of beauty. Watching his batting practice out in the Arizona Fall League was truly a spectacle to behold. I’m talking massive blasts to all fields that were easily clearing the fence and landing near the top of the hill that was right behind the left field wall. His combination of quick hands, raw strength, strong hips, and strong lower half creates exceptional bat speed and torque that allows him to drive the ball to all fields with authority. In addition, Adell’s swing is geared for hard contact in the air due to the natural backspin and loft created. Adell doesn’t need to sell out for his power either, giving him solid upside in the batting average department as well due to his plus contact skills and feel for the barrel.
This combination of strength, speed, and athleticism are very rare and gives Adell a legit .300/40/30 ceiling. He’s also a very smart player with outstanding instincts on the bases. You can see those instincts in the video above and in his 85.7% success rate stealing bases in his career. He didn’t even get that great of a jump on that attempt above either. Get ready, folks. The Jo Adell show is coming to a ballpark near you early in the 2020 season.
2. Brandon Marsh, OF
Drafted as a 2nd-rounder back in 2016, Brandon Marsh has had a quiet, yet productive minor league career to date. He’s posted solid batting averages, high walk rates, improving strikeout rate, and flashed plus speed. However, his plus raw power has yet to show up consistently in games with the 10 homers he hit in 127 games back in 2018 currently serving as his career-high. A big reason for that has been his approach at the plate. Needless to say, Marsh has employed a contact over power approach, spraying line drives over the field instead of hitting the ball in the air a ton. To date, a 32.1% fly-ball rate is the highest mark of his professional career.
Now, there’s definitely more power potential in Marsh’s bat. Some of the batting practice sessions I’ve seen are proof of that. From the left side, Marsh uses a slightly open set up and loads down and then back, synced with a moderate leg kick. Marsh has a strong frame, especially in the hips and legs and is able to create solid torque in his swing. When combined with his quick hands, he produces plus bat speed with a direct path to the ball. If Marsh can add some loft to his swing, 20 homers annually are very possible. Add 20 homers to his plus speed and above-average contact skills and we could see a .280/20/25 hitter at peak. Don’t sleep on him in dynasty leagues.
3. Jordyn Adams, OF
Outside of Adell, Jordyn Adams might be the toolsiest position prospect in this system. He incredibly quick and athletic, possessing truly elite speed with 80-grade run times. However, he’s still improving as a base stealer, converting only 70% of his 30 attempts thus far. Once he improves his reads, expect both the quality and quantity to rise with 40-plus steals annually attainable down the road.
That’s not the only area that needs to improve. I’ve said over and over since the 2018 draft that Adams needs to simplify his swing. Once he gets moving forward, Adams has above-average bat speed. However, his load is deep and slow to develop, often creating a longer swing. Thankfully, Adams’ quick wrists have helped him make up for the deeper load and post respectable batting averages so far in the low minors. I’m skeptical, however, that will continue as he faces more advanced competition when he reaches Double-A sometime in 2020.
His plate approach has been better than advertised so far, so if he can shorten his swing and make more consistent contact, a .270/.360 profile could be in store. A .360 OBP with his speed potential could be deadly and a major fantasy asset. And although he’ll never be a masher, Adams has flashed above-average raw power and projects as a 15-20 homer bat at peak. He’s still very raw overall, but the upside here is considerable.
4. Jeremiah Jackson, SS/2B
When the Angels drafted Jeremiah Jackson in the 2nd round of the 2018 draft, he projected as more of a hit over power type of middle infielder. You’d never believe that if you only saw his performance this year in the Pioneer League. In 65 games, Jackson cranked 23 home runs and finished with 39 extra-base hits in total. Not too shabby, Mr. Jackson. It’d be foolish to expect that type of power production to continue, but Jackson has certainly shown that he’s capable of adding above-average power to his above-average hit tool as well with 25 homers annually possible.
A big reason for the added power is his leveraged swing and the bulk that he’s added in the last year-plus since being drafted. He’s still listed at 160 pounds, but looks stronger and more filled out than when he was drafted. He also drastically lowered his ground ball rate, increased his fly ball rate to 47.9 %, and pulled the ball nearly 49.1% of the time in 2019, which is where most of his power lies. This approach didn’t have a major impact on his batting average, but Jackson will need to find that happy medium between contact and power or he’ll risk being exposed by more advanced competition in Single-A next season. That 33.0% strikeout rate will need to come down as well.
There’s still plenty of work to be done, but the upside here is that of an above-average offensive middle infielder with .280/25/10 potential at peak. Jackson split time between second base and shortstop in 2019, but his range fits better at the keystone in my mind.
5. Arol Vera, SS
To start this section on Arol Vera, let me direct you to the video below. That’s a beautiful swing right there, from both sides of the plate. As a switch hitter, Vera’s swing is fluid from both sides with incredibly quick wrists that produce plus bat speed. His swing is very similar from each side too, with a bigger leg kick from the right side being the only glaring difference.
Arol Vera has a smooooooth swing and a pretty leg kick from both sides of the plate.
Some scouts consider him the top SS out of Venezuela.
He reached an agreement with the Angels today.https://t.co/HIc3S4s8BN pic.twitter.com/plJ52jMdWS
— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) July 2, 2019
Do you ever watch a batter and it just looks like he’s comfortable and is in control of the plate? That’s the sense I get with Vera. From what I’ve seen, the barrel control is exceptional from both sides and when he connects, the crack of the bat is a beautiful sound. You know that sound. Vera has it. If you didn’t listen to the video below with sound on, I urge you to replay it with sound on high. “But Eric, I’m at work right now.” I don’t care. Your co-workers will enjoy the crack of Vera’s bat too.
As a 2019 J2 signing, Vera has yet to get into minor league game action yet with his professional debut coming this summer in the Dominican Summer League. With Vera’s barrel control and contact skills, I’m expecting him to hit for a fairly high average. With a smaller 170-pound frame, the in-game power likely won’t be robust to start, but Vera has displayed above-average or better raw power already and only stands to add more as he bulks up. It’s very early, but the tools are here for Vera to develop into a 60-hit, 60-raw power shortstop with the upside for double-digit steals as well, even after he likely loses a step as he matures physically. This is definitely a name you want to keep an eye on in dynasty leagues.
6. Alexander Ramirez, OF
In terms of pure upside, Alexander Ramirez would easily be inside the top-5 in this system. A 2018 international signing, Ramirez has some of the best raw power in the system outside of Jo Adell. Ramirez has a fairly quiet and simple setup from the right side. Load and weight transfer are quick and synced nicely with explosive bat speed through the zone. Although his 6’2 frame is still on the skinnier side, Ramirez has a strong lower half that he incorporates into his swing, creating a fair amount of torque. With some added bulk, his double-plus raw power should translate into plenty of game power with the upside for 30-plus homers.
The Angels signed Alexander Ramirez, the No. 25 overall international prospect, to a $1 million signing bonus today — Ramirez's 16th birthday.
He's one of the youngest eligible players in the class. https://t.co/GvlD1UyRmE pic.twitter.com/Z53mFkEEBS
— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) August 30, 2018
What makes Ramirez an intriguing prospect, outside of the power, is the athleticism he brings to the table. He’s not necessarily what you’d call speedy, but Ramirez has at least average foot speed and can add stolen base totals in the teens to go along with his power upside. If he can continue to make strides at the plate with his contact skills and approach, expect Ramirez to soar up prospect rankings in the next year or two.
7. Kyren Paris, SS
Sticking with the position prospect theme, the Angels dipped back into the shortstop pool with their 2nd pick in 2019, this time selecting Kyren Paris from the high school ranks. Paris is an enticing shortstop prospect that could really take off if his bat develops. The plus speed he possesses has been apparent both in the field and on the bases. His above-average range and strong throwing arm give him the tools needed to stick at shortstop moving forward, which is always nice to see for fantasy purposes.
But will he hit enough to make a fantasy impact? I believe he can. Paris is a quick-twitch hitter with plus bat speed from the right side of the plate. He doesn’t have a ton of power at present but makes consistent hard contact and can use the entire field to his advantage. There’s some physical projection left on his skinny 6′ frame too, so there’s room to add bulk. If he does, 15-20 home runs aren’t out of the question to pair with 20-plus steals. He’s one to keep an eye on moving forward, especially if the bat develops.
8. D’Shawn Knowles, OF
One of two 2017 J2 signing out of the Bahamas (Trent Deveaux), D’Shawn Knowles enjoyed a successful first minor league campaign in 2018, hitting .311 overall and finished the season with a .321 average in the Pioneer League. Back to that same Pioneer League for all of 2019, Knowles didn’t nearly have the same level of performance, ending with a .241 average in 64 games. Now, it wasn’t all bad. Knowles started off hot, hitting .304 in 14 June games and finished the season with a solid 9.0% walk rate.
That patient approach, above-average contact skills, and plus speed are Knowles’ most notable tools. As a switch-hitter, Knowles doesn’t have any platoon split issues and has shown a good feel for hitting from both sides. Most of his power is from the left side of the plate but power, in general, is never going to be a major part of Knowles’ game. At peak, he’s probably a 10-12 homer type, maybe in the 15 range with some added bulk. But when that comes with his AVG/SB upside, that power will play.
9. Jose Soriano, RHP
We almost made it out of the top-10 without talking about a single pitching prospect. Is it obvious yet that the strength of this system is on the offensive side of things? Even as the best pitcher in this system, Jose Soriano isn’t even going to sniff my top-250 overall. Now, that’s not to say he doesn’t possess some intriguing upside. Soriano sits in the mid-90’s with plenty of life on his fastball and can turn it over into a two-seamer with plus sink. Offsetting that is a plus hammer curveball with exceptional depth that serves as Soriano’s main out pitch. He’ll also flash an above-average changeup, but the pitch is still pretty inconsistent.
Speaking of inconsistent, that word can be used to describe Soriano’s command and control as well. Soriano often has problems throwing strikes and hitting his spots which limits the effectiveness of his arsenal. If he can improve his command, there’s mid-rotation upside here with Soriano. And with his easy and clean delivery, there’s hope he can do just that. I’d love to see him add a bit of bulk to his scrawny 6’3 frame though.
10. Trent Deveaux, OF
If anyone can rival Jordyn Adams in the speed department, it would be Trent Deveaux. The 19-year-old Bahama native has similar tools to Adams, but not quite as profound or developed. Adams is raw, Deveaux is rawer. In his 104 games, Deveaux has swiped 22 bases, but has also been caught 10 times for a 68.8% success rate. Sound familiar? I’m getting a major case of deja vu here. I’m not too concerned with that as of now, but Deveaux will need to improve his instincts on the bases to fully unleash his speed down the road.
That elite speed potential is the sole reason why Deveaux is ranked this highly. Because, honestly, his offensive profile teeters on 4th outfielder status at present. Both his approach and contact skills are well below average at this point with a 33.9% strikeout rate thus far. Mechanically, Deveaux has made some adjustments to his stance which is promising, creating more balance in his pre-pitch setup. He’s also shown a quick twitch in his swing with quick wrists creating plus bat speed. If he can work on making more consistent contact, Deveaux could really take off as a prospect thanks to his 15/40 power/speed upside. Keep an eye on him in 2020.
11. Jahmai Jones, 2B
At one point, not too long ago, Jahmai Jones was considered by many to be a top-100 prospect. In fact, Baseball Prospectus even had him within their top 100 before the start of the 2019 season. So what has been the problem? To put it simply, contact issues and a power/speed profile that seemingly is going backward. After posting career-bests with 29 doubles, 14 home runs, and 27 steals with a .282 average back in 2017, Jones has regressed in all facets, posting a .234/5/9 line in 134 games in 2019. The plate approach has been fine, but Jones has struggled to make consistent contact over the last two years. Those contact woes have been the driving factor behind his power regressions. As you can see below, his FB distance hasn’t dropped much at all and Jones is actually hitting more flyballs than ever before.
It’s not like I’m expecting him to transform into a big power threat, but I do anticipate the power to tick back up if he can improve his contact skills. And from the looks of his swing adjustment from 2018 to 2019, it appears he’s trying to focus on that, shortening up his swing and taking the bigger leg kick out in favor of small stride toward the pitcher.
Swing changes for #Angels Jahmai Jones: Arizona Fall League 2018 (L) and 2019 (R). @TheAthleticLA pic.twitter.com/DmexOARaqS
— Emily Waldon (@EmilyCWaldon) October 28, 2019
We haven’t seen if this will make an impact in the batting average department yet, but it’s encouraging to see these adjustments taking place. The overall offensive upside Jones has is still worth monitoring in dynasty leagues. He’ll be one I keep a closer eye on in 2020 to see if the swing adjustment has any effect, especially after a strong performance in the Arizona Fall League.
12. Jack Kochanowicz, RHP
After not having any pitchers in the top-9, we’re beginning to make up for lost time. And spoiler alert, there are a ton more arms on the way in these rankings. Along with Rodriguez, Jack Kochanowicz could be a big riser on this list in 2020. A big 6’6/220 right-hander, Kochanowicz was projected as more of a second-rounder but slid to the Angels at pick 92 in the third round. That could prove to be a great value pick if Kochanowicz hits on his upside.
Armed with a low-90’s fastball, Kochanowicz still has a little physical projection left, so it’s fair to project a mid-90’s fastball down the road. His higher 3/4 arm slot creates a nice downward plane on his fastball and allows him to snap off a big 12-6 curveball that projects as plus. He’s also shown some feel for an average or better changeup, but will need to develop more consistency with the offering. If Kochanowicz can maintain his solid command, there’s mid-rotation upside here. Keep an eye on him in deeper dynasty leagues.
13. Chris Rodriguez, RHP
On upside alone, Chris Rodriguez would be a few spots higher on this list. There’s no doubt in my mind that he has the highest upside of any pitcher in this Angels farm system right now. However, there’s one major concern holding him back right now. After missing all of 2018 with a stress reaction in his back, Rodriguez’s 2019 season ended early due to a stress fracture in his back. Yes, his back is holding him back. The Angels drafted Rodriguez as a 4th rounder back in 2016 with the upside of a mid-rotation starter with the upside for more.
In his limited time on the mound, Rodriguez has flashed his enticing upside. Out of a 3/4 arm slot, he’s worked with a mid-90’s four-seamer, low-90’s two-seamer, and a trio of secondaries that project as average to plus with his hard slider being the best of the bunch. The command has been there too with fairly clean mechanics, making Rodriguez arsenal that much better. Although, there is a little bit of effort in his delivery. If he can finally put the back issues behind him, Rodriguez’s prospect stock should soar.
14. Patrick Sandoval, LHP
Some might have Patrick Sandoval as the top arm in this system, which is fair. While I personally project Soriano to be the more impactful arm longterm, Sandoval is more polished with a higher floor. He’s also already made it to the Majors, making nine starts and one relief appearance for the Angels, posting a 5.03 ERA and over a strikeout per inning. Higher strikeout rates have become the norm for Sandoval. In each of the last three minor league seasons, Sandoval’s strikeout rate has finished at 10.7 K/9 or higher with a 9.6 mark or higher at every individual level along the way.
After sitting mostly around 90-91 mph range in the past, Sandoval has added some velocity over the last year or two and averaged 93.0 mph on average in his stint with the Angels. Outside of the fastball, Sandoval has shown a decent feel for a trio of secondaries, all of which flash above-average potential in his changeup, slider, and curveball. The changeup just might be the best of the bunch with solid fade and velocity separation from his fastball. While the upside isn’t overly high, Sandoval has the potential to settle in as a back-end starter if he can keep his command and control in check.
15. Aaron Hernandez, RHP
You’ll quickly see a trend in this system where stuff is more prominent than command or control. Aaron Hernandez is another prime example of that. His arsenal alone would put him in the top-10 here, but major command issues and issuing too many walks has held him back throughout his professional career and even back in his collegiate days as well.
Welp, a few weeks have passed and I still have a treasure trove of @MLBazFallLeague footage to dig through 😅…here’s #Angels 2018 3rd rounder Aaron Hernandez K’ing #FallStars MVP Royce Lewis:
90.6 mph fastball
77.8 mph curveball
90.9
82.4 mph curve
91.1 pic.twitter.com/hR2INEqAdL— Jacob Zweiback (@TheReelJZ) November 13, 2019
Hernandez will attack hitters with a low-90’s sinking fastball that he can ratchet up into the mid-90’s at times. With the riding and sinking action on the pitch, it’s a downright pain in the butt for right-handed batters when Hernandez runs it inside. He’ll mix in a trio of secondaries that all have flashed above-average at times, giving him four Major League average or better offerings to work with. But alas, the command issues routinely pop out and limit Hernandez to a back-end starters profile for now. If forced to move to the pen due to the command, his stuff would fit nicely in a mid-relief role
16. Adrian Placencia, SS
While Arol Vera was the big signing for the Angels this past year, don’t sleep on Adrian Placencia. The Angels signed Placencia out of the Dominican Republic for seven-figures as a shortstop, but his lack of range and foot speed put his long-term defensive home in question. More than likely, Placencia ends up at second base where he has the offensive skills to make an impact. As a switch hitter, Placencia has shown a good feel for hitting with solid bat speed from both sides. Currently a hit over power profile, there’s hope that he can add some power as he bulks up, putting him in the 55-hit, 50-raw power range eventually. He’ll need that power to come along as the speed upside is minimal, likely capped in the 5-10 SB range.
17. Jared Walsh, 1B/LHP
These two-way players are always difficult for me to rank. The Angels drafted Jared Walsh out of the University of Georgia back in 2015 in the 39th round. You rarely see players drafted that late have the potential to make an impact at the Major League level, but that’s exactly what we have here with Walsh who already made his debut last season.
Call it PCL inflation all you want, Walsh’s .325 average and 36 home runs in 98 games is impressive. That power is very legit too as Walsh has displayed plus or better raw power throughout his minor league career. I’m not expecting the average to be all that high due to below-average contact skills and some strikeout concerns, but that power will definitely play. Offensively is where Walsh will likely make most of his impact, but he’s also proven capable of pitching in a middle-relief bullpen role as well.
18. William Holmes, DH/RHP
Damn there are a lot of two-way players in this system. The Angels seem to fancy them as of late. Drafted in the 5th round of the 2018 draft, William Holmes (Or English), is your prototypical two-way player. He features a lively arm with plus arm strength when playing the outfield and the potential for a plus fastball. However, as you can expect, the secondaries plenty of TLC if he wants to stick on the mound moving forward. Holmes is also a sneaky-good athlete with above-average speed and at least average raw power potential. There’s still some physical projection left on his 6’3 frame as well, so don’t be surprised if his raw power trends up over the next couple of years.
He’s still very raw overall as a hitter and with his approach, but there’s enough upside at the plate and on the mound to keep an eye on his development moving forward. Holmes is still only 18 so there’s plenty of time to figure this out.
19. Luis Madero, RHP
When I started putting this top-25 together, I anticipated myself ranking Luis Madero a little higher than this. But as I started digging a little more in-depth, Madero lost a lot of appeal for me. After signing with the Diamondbacks way back in 2013, Madero came to the Angels via trade in 2017 and has mostly struggled during his time with the Halos. At present, Madero features two pitches in his low-90’s sinking fastball and slider that project as above-average to plus. He’s also done a good job at limiting his free passes. However, Madeo’s changeup is a work in progress and he’s much more control than command at this point. He’ll throw strikes, just not necessarily hit his spots which has gotten him into trouble. If he can improve in those areas, maybe he develops into a back-end mid-rotation arm. But for now, he’s a #5 starter for me.
20. Jose Bonilla, SS
Signed out of the Dominican Republic for $600K in 2018, Bonilla is a lesser-known shortstop, but one with intriguing offensive upside. From what I’ve seen in videos, Bonilla has a fairly smooth right-handed swing with solid barrel control, plenty of bat speed, and some natural loft/raw power as well. The Angels got him some DSL action in 2019 where he hit .284 with a .402 OBP in 20 games. While there doesn’t appear to be much speed upside with Bonilla, which could force him off of shortstop, the offensive tools make him a prospect to monitor.
21. Erik Rivera, OF/DH/LHP
Erik Rivera is the definition of a lottery ticket. The Angels drafted him in the 4th round this past June as a potential two-way player. He didn’t pitch at all after being drafted, but Rivera has a strong arm with the potential for a plus fastball. As you can expect from a young two-way, his secondaries are rough and need a ton of development if he wants to ever make it on the mound. But in my mind, there’s more potential for Rivera at the plate, which is why he was included on this list.
Offensively, plus raw power is Rivera’s calling card with a strong frame and swing that generates natural loft due to a slight uppercut swing path. Outside of that though, there are serious contact concerns and approach issues that make him a risky offensive prospect to put any dynasty stock into. If he can improve in those departments, his power would make him an intriguing prospect.
22. Kevin Maitan, 3B/2B
It’s gotten to the point where Kevin Maitan is in danger of falling completely out of this top-25. This once top Braves prospect turned top Angels prospect has struggled mightily during his professional career, both with production and staying in playing shape. His strong throwing arm from the hot corner has been there, but outside of that, it’s been a major disappointment. Maitan will still flash above-average to plus raw power, but his plate approach has limited his game power in more ways that one.
First, Maitan’s aggressive approach has hindered him in a big way. He goes up there hacking, chasing most everything he sees instead of remaining patient and waiting for a pitch to drive. And when he does get a pitch to drive, his groundball-heavy approach isn’t doing him any favors. At this point, even his once illustrious prospect name can’t give him any sliver of value. It’s best to leave him alone in dynasty leagues until Maitan shows signs that he can turn things around.
23. Stiward Aquino, RHP
It’s very easy to see why someone would be enticed with Steward Aquino as a pitching prospect. He’s a tall, 6’6 right-hander with a plus riding fastball in the mid-90’s. That combination alone is intriguing. However, when you’re 6’6 you tend to have longer levers (crazy, right?) which can lead to command/control and mechanical issues. Ding ding ding! That all rings very true for Aquino.
Throughout his professional career, Aquino has had issues commanding his arsenal and throwing strikes in general. When he’s on, Aquino’s fastball and potential plus curveball can carve up a minor league lineup. But the problem is his inconsistent command makes that a rare occurrence and his changeup is a major work in progress. Unless those areas improve, Aquino is destined for a bullpen role. He’s also a little behind the developmental curve after missing all of 2018 with Tommy John surgery.
24. Livan Soto, SS/2B
Another prospect the Angels were able to nab following the Braves international debacle, Livan Soto makes this list over others due to the fact that he has the tools necessary to make it to the Major Leagues. Whether that’s in a backup/utility role or as a starter remains to be seen, but Soto is a plus defender with above-average contact skills, solid speed, and an advanced plate approach that has seen him walk nearly as much as he strikes out. If everything clicks, Soto has the upside of a .275 hitter with a strong OBP and around 15-20 steals. But unfortunately, there’s very minimal power upside here, so the overall upside is quite limited.
25. Garrett Stallings, RHP
This one is much more floor than ceiling. Garrett Stallings was the Angels 5th round pick this past June out of the University of Tennessee. While he lacks any plus pitches, Stallings has a nice four-pitch mix of Major league average to above-average offerings and commands his arsenal quite well. The upside isn’t high here, but Stallings should move quickly and has the tools to develop into a back-end starter.
Others To Monitior
Jeremy Beasley, RHP:Â Love the split-change that Beasley throws, but his low-90’s fastball lacks life and he’s yet to develop his slider much. Back-end starter or mid-relief profile.
Hector Yan, LHP:Â Nice fastball/curveball combination from the left side, but like many in this system, his changeup and command are rough around the edges. Likely ends up in the bullpen.
Michael Hermosillo, OF: Has displayed a nice little power speed profile and hit for average in the low minors, but I question if he can hit enough to be an impactful Major League regular.
Gareth Morgan, OF:Â Gargantuan 6’4/265 corner outfielder with big raw power, but has struggled to hit for a respectable average until 2019. Hard to make too much from a 23-year-old excelling in the Class-A Advanced California League, but Morgan’s power makes him worth at least keeping an eye on.
Brennon Lund, OF:Â Has shown solid contact skills and above-average speed throughout his minor league career, but I’m not sure he hits for enough power to make an impact. I’m teetering on whether I project him as a low-end regular or 4th outfielder.
Media Credit: Robert Robinson, Baseball America, Minor Graphs by Prospects Live, Emily Waldon, Jacob Zweiback.
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