SB Nation User Blog: rghan

Carlos Ramirez: Best Angels Prospect Performance #2

rghan — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:08:01 -0000

2) Carlos Ramirez, 21 - C, Advanced Rookie Pioneer League

.389/.514/.695 with 10 HR and 0 SB's. +36 bat, +8 glove

Sammy Swenson. Matt Pali. Josh Gray. Sergio Contreras. Grodon Gronkowski. Those are some other guys who pounded the ball in the Pioneer League over the past decade, but never encored against advanced competition. I mention them only to provide the perspective one has to have when looking at ridiculous Pioneer League stats.

That said, Ramirez' offensive production was better than all of them, and better than the production of more well known Pioneer League mashers Chris Pettit, Roberto Lopez, Dallas McPherson, Howie Kendrick and Sean Rodriguez. He didn't make his debut until July 19th, so only managed 214 PA's, but they were the best PA's Orem has seen in at least a decade. Throw in the fact that he's an above average receiver with excellent intangibles, and we may have a major leaguer on our hands. Behind Conger and Wilson there is little standout catching depth, so Ramirez, who is just a hair younger than Conger, could move very quickly next year.

And if you still need convincing, let me insert a quote from Sean Smith, creator of TotalZone, who was interested in putting Ramirez' college numbers from ASU into context:

Comparing [Ramirez' college] numbers to a pair of Sun Devils, Andre Ethier and Dustin Pedroia, I get:

avg slg

C-Ram 361 635

Ped 384 544

AE 371 559

I only have Carlo's walk numbers for 2009 so I didn't compare OBP, but his walk rate is similar to theirs, though he strikes out more often than they did.

The Halos tried and failed to sign Ramirez after selecting him in the 34th round of the 2007 draft. Makes you wonder why he was still around in the 8th round this year, doesn't it?

Again, remember that this list is based entirely on statistical performance in 2009, and is not a traditional "best prospects" ranking.

Sean Rodriguez: Best Angels Prospect Performance #3

rghan — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 02:17:14 -0000

More photos » by Paul Battaglia - AP

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3) Sean Rodriguez, 24 - 2B, OF, SS, AAA

.299/.400/.616 with 29 HRs and 9 SBs. +36 bat, -2 glove

Rodriguez has ranked among the Angels' top ten minor league performers every year going back to 2005, and in the top five three times. He's the only Halos' farmhand to do that, avoiding major injuries, prolonged slumps, or even bouts of just average performance. That's astounding, and it wouldn't surprise me if the 23.8 "wins above replacement" that he accumulated over that 5 year period surpassed that of every other minor leaguer. I think he's going to find a niche for himself in Tampa and grow into an everyday player for them, most likely at second base.

Again, remember that this list is based entirely on statistical performance in 2009, and is not a traditional "best prospects" ranking.

Alexander Torres: Best Angels Prospect Performance #4

rghan — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 04:06:09 -0000

4) Alexander Torres, 21 - LH SP, High A and AA

13 wins, 4 losses. 147.1 IP, 2.75 ERA, 149 SO/80 BB. +28 runs saved

According to the runs saved metric, Torres had the best season of any Halos pitching prospect since Stephen Marek and Joe Saunders shut down their respective leagues in 2006. Between Rancho Cucamonga and Arkansas, he posted a 57% groundball rate and a 1.01 K/IP ratio - pure gold from a sabermetric standpoint. However, the scouting perspective yields significant projection questions, like how likely is it that a 5'10", 160 pound pitcher continues to hold up under a starters' workload? Or, can he repeat his delivery reliably enough to show the necessary improvement in control? Or, can his sometimes-plus breaking ball stay consistent enough against better competition? It pains me that he's going to answer those questions in another organization, but the Halos FO is a scouting-centered bunch, are consequently much higher on Trevor Reckling's future, and Kazmir seems all the more valuable now that we're headed into a potentially Lackey-less future.

Again, remember that this list is based entirely on statistical performance in 2009, and is not a traditional "best prospects" ranking.

Trevor Reckling: Best Angels Prospect Performance #5

rghan — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 10:09:02 -0000

5) Trevor Reckling, 20 - LH SP, High A, AA

9 wins, 9 losses. 154.1 IP, 2.68 ERA, 122 SO/78 BB. +25 runs saved

The most heartening commentary I heard about the Angels' farm system all year was Eddie Bane repeating, "Reckling has the stuff to get major league hitters out right now." Sure it's his job to plug his players, but that doesn't mean he didn't believe it. Reckling debuted in AA while still a teenager, making him the youngest player in the Texas League for much of May and June. He looked the part: clearly raw, he struggled with his control to the point of walking 13% of the batters he faced while racking up high pitch counts; but the quality of his stuff would secure the timely punch-out or double play, allowing him to escape jams time and again. His K and groundball rates slipped slightly after his promotion, but given the growing gap between his age and competition's, I'm not worried. He's got a reputation for being an athletic, smart player, so most commentators expect his control to improve as he gains more consistency with his quick, whip-like delivery. Still, we're going to have to keep watching the walk rate, because that appears to be the last hurtle he must clear before claiming a middle-of-the-rotation job in the MLB.

Again, remember that this list is based entirely on statistical performance in 2009, and is not a traditional "best prospects" ranking.

Trevor Bell: Best Angels Prospect Performance #6

rghan — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 14:21:33 -0000

More photos » by Tony Dejak - AP

What does the future hold for Trevor Bell?

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6) Trevor Bell, 22 - RH SP, AA, AAA, Majors

7 wins, 7 losses. 140 IP, 2.70 ERA, 89 SO/35 BB. +23 runs saved

Bell had a fantastic 2009, resurrecting his prospect status by plowing through two minor league levels and making his MLB debut in August. We all saw him take his knocks with the big league club, of course, but that does not diminish the fact that the 22-year-old was stellar in AA and AAA. Now, the question is, what do we expect from him going forward? Bell's component ratios are eerily similar to Anthony Ortega's last year, Tommy Mendoza's this year, and what we would have expected from Sean O'Sullivan had he spent more time in the minors: a pedestrian K/IP rate, a low BB rate, moderate groundball tendencies, and the ability to consistently go 6+ innings per start. That's the definition of a back-of-the-rotation starter in the MLB, and a major storyline for the Halos in upcoming seasons is which one of those guys is going to claim that role. If I had to guess, I'd say Bell spends a few years bouncing between Salt Lake and Anaheim as a spot starter before settling in as quality reliever with the big league club. He's seen success in that role before, and it might allow his solid fastball/curve combo to play up that much more.

I'll continue posting the top performances through next week. Again, remember that this list is based entirely on statistical performance in 2009, and is not a traditional "best prospects" ranking.

Peter Bourjos: Angels Best Prospect Performance #7

rghan — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:48:34 -0000

7) Peter Bourjos, 22 - CF, AA

.281/.354/.423 with 6 HR and 32 SB's. +7 bat, +15 glove

Like last year, Bourjos' bat tailed off in the second half. Turns out, it was injury related: he underwent surgery last month to clean up his wrist, which had been bothering him since June. Once healthy and in Salt Lake, it would not surprise me at all to see him return to his first half, ~.800+ OPS ways. Given Bourjos' power potential and the PCL's generous hitting environment, we may see some more homeruns as well. Looking further out, I think it's likely his early career mirrors Erick Aybar's, where he spends a good chunk of time as an under-appreciated backup on the mlb club, quietly contributing outstanding defense and speed, while steadily improving with the bat to the point where he gets leadoff consideration.

I'll continue posting the top performances through next week. Again, remember that this list is based entirely on statistical performance in 2009, and is not a traditional "best prospects" ranking.

Robert Mosebach: Angels Best Prospect Performance #8

rghan — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:27:09 -0000

8) Robert Mosebach, 24 - RH RP, AA and AAA

4 wins, 2 losses. 66.2 IP, 1.49 ERA, 47 K/27 BB. +24 runs saved

Who knew Mosebach's first season in the 'pen was that good? He split time between two minor league levels and the major league club, obscuring the sum value of his contributions over the season, but he was the best performing reliever the Halos' system has seen Douglas Brandt in 2007 (who had the advantage of making a number of starts). A 60% groundball rate allowed him to shut down AA hitters despite the lack of K's. He regressed slightly against AAA opposition, but that means he was "just" a well-above-average reliever for Salt Lake. His major league debut wasn't pretty, but he's certainly not alone in that. I don't think he makes the Halos' pen out of spring training next year, and the lack of K's limits his upside, but Mosebach has the makings of a pretty good reliever.

Dillon Baird: Angels Best Prospect Performance #9

rghan — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:21:53 -0000

9) Dillon Baird, 21 - 1B, Advanced Rookie Pioneer League

.372/.454/.568 with 8 HR and 1 SB. +26 bat, +2 glove

Baird was the second Halos' prospect in as many years to win the Pioneer League batting title, showing some patience, pop and plus defense in his pro debut. Moreover, his power increased as the season wore on. He's got a beautiful left-handed stroke and will likely hit for average anywhere, but if he's confined to first base then he'll have to keep hitting for at least above average power. Whether or not he's able to do that in Cedar Rapids will tell us a lot. I'm optimistic.

I'll continue posting the top performances through next week. Again, remember that this list is based entirely on statistical performance in 2009, and is not a traditional "best prospects" ranking.

Michael Kohn: Angels Top Prospect Performance #10

rghan — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:15:53 -0000

10) Michael Kohn, 22 - RH RP, A-Ball and High A

6 Wins, 1 Loss, 9 Saves. 65.2 IP, 1.64 ERA, 103 SO/26 BB. +22 runs saved.

Kohn's numbers were even more ridiculously good after a promotion to High A. I saw both the Cedar Rapids and Rancho Cucamonga clubs play last year, yet still missed seeing him pitch, so I'll just rehash what we know from BA, John Sickles, and the Cedar Rapids Gazette: he pitches with deceptively short arm action, helping his mid 90's fastball to jump on hitters, and he's been working to establish consistency with a hard breaking ball. Everything looks good, though if we see him in the bigs before September of next year, something's likely gone very wrong in our pen.

I'll continue posting the top performances through next week. Again, remember that this list is based entirely on statistical performance in 2009, and is not a traditional "best prospects" ranking.

Top Angels' Prospect Performances of 2009: Just How Good Was Mike Trout?

rghan — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:01:17 -0000

20) Nate Sutton, 26 - Utility, AA

.305/.387/.391 with 2 HR's and 21 SB's. +8 bat, +0 glove

Sutton provided patience at the plate and a veteran presence in the field, which helped to balance an Arkansas club built around young, less polished players. My guess is that he'll start at 2nd base for the Bees next year, while Mount gives AA another go. That puts him just one or two injuries away from the big league club.

19) Rolando Gomez, 20 - SS, Arizona Rookie League

.304/.408/.464 with 2 HR's and 12 SB's. +7 bat, +5 glove

This season was only his second out of high school, so Gomez should be considered a "young" 20. Still, we need to see him play against better competition to get a clearer idea of his value. He's the early favorite to land the starting shortstop job in the Midwest League, though he needs to beat out Jon Karcich. He's got some patience and pop, but most encouraging is the +5 glove, despite the 18 errors he made in the field.

18) Jeremy Moore, 22 - OF, A+ and AA

.279/.330/.443 with 11 HR's and 17 SB's. -2 bat, +8 glove

I took an extensive look at Moore in July. He was a different player in '09 than previously, spraying more line drives and consequently hitting for better average; but he also flashed less homerun pop and speed on the base paths. According to the runs created metric, the net result was slightly negative. His defense remained solid, and Total Zone even liked him in center, rating him at +4 in limited playing time. If Moore continues to hit line drives like he did last year and return to his homerun bopping ways, he could be a very good player in the upper minors and even see big league time come 2011 or 2012.

17) Andrew Taylor, 22 - LH RP, A

4 wins, 0 losses. 57 IP, 2.05 ERA, 91 K/27 BB. +18 runs saved.

Taylor has attracted notice as a potential sleeper for 2010. He put up ridiculous numbers in the Midwest League with a vicious fastball/slider combo, though he struggled earlier in the year in a brief trial in the California League. Lefties with his kind of stuff are rare, so he could move very quickly in 2010.

16) Thomas Mendoza, 21 - RH SP, AA and AAA

9 wins, 8 losses. 150.1 IP, 3.29 ERA, 96 SO/42 BB. +6 runs saved.

It wasn't all that long ago that Mendoza was considered a top Angels field hand - BA ranked him the 10th best Halos prospect in both 2006 and 2007. Two seasons of inconsistency followed, but he reemerged this year with a solid AA campaign and an impressive AAA debut. His fastball has always been a great pitch - he makes it better by cutting it and changing velocity - but his secondary stuff has been slower to develop, and he still lacks an outpitch. He's held up ok in the Arizona Fall League so far, striking out 10 while walking none over 15 innings, but has remained too hittable, leading to a less-than-stellar ERA of 5.40 over 4 games.

15) Mike Trout, 17 - CF, Arizona Summer League

.360/.418/.506 with 1 HR and 13 SB's. +10 bat, +9 glove.

What can I say, other than he looks great with both the bat and glove. BA agreed, ranking him the best prospect in Arizona last summer. I'm looking forward to seeing how he does against Midwest League competition.

14) Brandon Wood, 24 - SS, 3B, AAA

.293/.353/.557 with 22 HRs and 1 SB. +18 bat, -8 glove.

Keep in mind that Wood accrued this value over just 99 games; had he played the full 144, he would have ranked significantly higher here. The -8 glove is a tad disappointing, but the bad score is due entirely to his time at short. He was +1 at third, where he's likely to play next year, and will likely improve from there.

13) Tyson Auer, 23 - CF, A-Ball

.277/.344/.346 with 2 HR's and 43 SB's. -10 bat, +17 glove

Not bad for an undrafted free agent fresh out of college. He wasn't great with the bat, though the Fangraphs "runs created" formula (which gives Cedar Rapids a more substantial park factor and seems to value speed a bit more) puts him at almost average. And how about that +17 glove? Scouting reports back it up: Midwest League managers voted Auer the top defensive centerfielder in the league.

12) Hank Conger, 21 - Catcher, AA

.295/.369/.424 with 11 HR's and 4 SB's. + 9 bat, -1 glove

For a 21-year-old catcher in AA who continually draws the "raw" and "not sure he'll stick" clichés, a -1 glove amidst high-level competition is pretty damn good. I don't think that's a fluke either: he caught more baserunners and permitted fewer passed balls than the average Texas League catcher. Once he figures out how not to play catch with the centerfielder, he has a shot at being a solid average - or even better - receiver. He's off to a slow start in the Arizona Fall League, hitting just .222, but it looks like that's mostly bad luck: his 8 K/5 BB ratio over 45 AB's is fine, and his .178 ISO with 2 HR's isn't too far off where it should be. He could explode any game now.

11) Gabriel Perez, 18 - Pitcher, Dominican Summer League

8 wins, 2 losses. 89.1 IP, 2.22 ERA, 70 SO/27 BB. +17 runs saved.

As with most DSL pitchers, I don't know too much about them beyond the numbers. Perez led the DSL Halos in IP and K's, and was second in ERA. He's only 6' and his K/IP isn't comparable to what Fabio Martinez Mesa, Baudillio Lopez, and Ariel Pena achieved last year, so let's wait and see what he does stateside before getting too excited. Nevertheless, even after making a huge adjustment for his home park, the 148 ERA+ and +17 runs saved are impressive.

I'll post the top 10 performances later this week!