[존 시켈스] LA 엔젤스, 유망주 TOP 20

존 시켈스가 엔젤스의 유망주 랭킹을 올렸습니다. 엔젤스도 근래에 FA 영입으로 인해서 드래프트 상위픽을 거의 행사를 하지 못한 것으로 알고 있는데 확실히 팜의 퀄러티를 떨어지는 느낌입니다. 올해도 조쉬 해밀튼을 영입했기 때문에 드래프트에서 쓸 돈이 적습니다. 겨우 5명의 선수가 B-등급 이상을 받았는데 올해 존 시켈스가 발표한 유망주 랭킹에서 유망주가 가장 적은 팜이 아닐까 싶군요. 

1) Kaleb Cowart, 3B, Grade B+: Clearly the class of the system. Has developed into a very good fielder, perhaps excellent, and his bat is showing steady improvements. Expect him to be a moderate batting average, solid OBP, good power guy with a great glove. Switch-hitting Mike Lowell?

2) Nick Maronde, LHP, Grade B: Borderline B+. I think he has B+ talent but his durability is questionable and he probably fits best as a reliever, which dings his stock a bit. Still the best pitching prospect in the organization by far.

3) Randal Grichuk, OF, Grade B-: His slash line (.298/.335/.488) was decent but not great by Cal League standards. Good power potential, baserunning and fielding have improved, but scouts still worry about complex swing being exposed at higher levels. I'm putting him ahead of Cron because he has a better balance of skills and is younger.

4) C.J. Cron, 1B, Grade B-: Very impressive power production with 27 homers, although his impatient approach hampers his OBP and his overall numbers (.293/.327/.516), like Grichuk's, were not exceptional by Cal League standards. Limited with the glove, so he has to hit. Will his batting average hold up against better pitching?

5) Taylor Lindsey, 2B, Grade B-: Solid line drive hitter with gap power hit .289/.328/.408 in the Cal League at age 20, with improving defense. Possible Adam Kennedy type player.

6) R.J. Alvarez, RHP, Grade C+: Third round pick from Florida Atlantic was top player in 2012 draft class for Angels, since they lacked first and second round choices. Can hit 100 MPH in relief and has a good slider, but command needs work. Closer potential.

7) Kole Calhoun, OF, Grade C+: Former Arizona State star lacks big tools but has good instincts and polish, hit .298/.369/.507 in Triple-A. Decent on-base skills with occasional pop and underrated glovework, would be an ideal fourth outfielder.

8) Alex Yarbrough, 2B, Grade C+: Former University of Mississippi star lacks big tools but has good instincts and polish, hit .287/.320/.410 in pro debut in Low-A but can improve on that. Decent on-base skills with occasional pop and underrated glovework, could slot in the middle infield someday.

9) Luis Jimenez, 3B, Grade C+: Scouts aren't wild about him but he keeps putting up decent numbers, including .309/.334/.495 in Triple-A. Very nice swing, makes contact, slightly above average power, outperforms his scouting reports defensively. At age 25 his upside is limited, but he can be a good role player.

10) A.J. Schugel, RHP, Grade C+: Strike-thrower with slightly above average stuff, posted 2.89 ERA with 109/55 K/BB in 140 innings in Double-A at age 23. Classic fifth starter or long relief profile. 

11) Eswarlin Jimenez, LHP, Grade C+: Under-the-radar lefty but interesting, stats don't stand out (3.38 ERA, 73/20 K/BB in 117 innings, 136 hits in A-ball) but he's young (pitched at age 20 this year), has a clean delivery that he repeats well, gets into the low-90s, throws strikes, and has a good breaking ball. Candidate for improvement.

12) Austin Wood, RHP, Grade C: Stuff is excellent but the results aren't due to poor command, 4.30 ERA with 109/72 K/BB in 128 innings, 125 hits in Low-A. He hasn't been consistently effective since high school, struggling for three different college programs. 

13) Mark Sappington, RHP, Grade C: High ceiling arm drafted out of Rockhurst University in the fifth round this year, can hit mid-90s but very raw with awkward mechanics and secondary pitches, posted 5.15 ERA with command troubles in rookie ball. 

14) Mike Clevinger, RHP, Grade C: Would rank higher but will miss 2013 season with Tommy John surgery, would be somewhere in the B- range if healthy. Four-pitch arsenal projects as number three or four starter. 

15) Travis Witherspoon, OF, Grade C: Super-toolsy outfielder with speed, strong defense, flashes of power had problems adapting to Double-A, where he hit .202/.286/.351 in 54 games. Turns 24 in April, projects best as a reserve outfielder.

16) Dan Tillman, RHP, Grade C: Horrible in Double-A due to command failure (12.10 ERA with 21/19 K/BB in 19 innings), got sent back down to High-A and recovered (1.88 ERA, 32/14 K/BB in 24 innings). Has plenty of stuff but will his command be sharp enough? Closer prospect if it is.

17) Eric Stamets, SS, Grade C: University of Evansville prospect drafted in sixth round this year is athletic, fast, good fielder, line drive hitter. Hit .274/.323/.347 in Low-A, lack of power may relegate him to utility role.

18) Jonathan Walsh, OF, Grade C: 11th round pick from the University of Texas last year, hit .300/.411/.522 in the Pioneer League. Switch-hitter with power and good plate discipline, but rough defense. We need to see him outside the Pioneer League but he has potential. 

19) Sherman Johnson, 2B, Grade C: 14th round pick from Florida State, college fans are familiar with him. Excellent strike zone judgment and solid defense at second base, though his tools are limited. Posted .427 OBP in Pioneer League.

20) Wade Hinkle, 1B, Grade C: 27th round pick out of Kansas State, hit .338/.443/.586 in Pioneer League. Having seen him in college, I think the power is real, but his defense is awful and it remains to be seen if that kind of batting average/OBP will hold up against better pitching. The college guys in the Pioneer League all have to prove themselves at higher levels but could advance quickly in a thin system if they do.

OTHERS: Yency Almonte, RHP; Cam Bedrosian, RHP; Ryan Brasier, RHP; Ryan Chaffee, RHP; Chevez Clarke, OF; Steve Geltz, RHP; Ty Kelley, RHP; Matt Long, 2B-OF; Carlos Ramirez, C; Andrew Romine, SS; Jose Rondon, SS; Michael Roth, LHP; Reid Scoggins, RHP; Brandon Sisk, LHP; Michael Snyder, 1B; Wendell Soto, SS; Andrew Taylor, LHP; Zach Wright, C.