Los Angeles Angels 2021 Top 50 Prospects

Graphic design by John Stewart, @jonance on Twitter

2020 was a tumultuous year for the Angels just like it was for the rest of the MLB. 2020 saw the graduation of Jo Adell from the prospects ranks, it saw the Angels GM Billy Eppler departure and the ushering in of the Perry Minasian era. Many of the Angels top prospects are no longer on this list, some due to being released, others moving to other organizations including Jose Soriano being selected 1st by the Pirates in the Rule 5 Draft.

Expect more changes in 2021. The organization will have a new process for the development of prospects and most definitely in the realm of amateur scouting. Do not be surprised with the movement of prospects based on what happened during the play at the Alternate Training Site and with the realignment of the minors. While the organization lost quite a bit in the way of prospects this year, I really like the group they have especially at the top.


Prospects1500 Tiers:
Tier 1: Players with high expectations of both making the majors and playing at an All-Star level for a number of years
Tier 2: Players with an above average expectation of making the majors and being a solid contributor
Tier 3: Players with an average expectation of making the majors and being a solid contributor
Tier 4: Players who have the potential of making the majors, or have high likelihood of making the majors but providing minimal impact (e.g. middle reliever, low-ceiling UT guys)
Tier 5: Players who are worth keeping an eye on, but likely to never make a team’s 40-man roster

Tier 1

None

Tier 2

1. Brandon Marsh, OF
Age: 23
Highest Level: AA
Marsh was the Angels #2 prospect last year and moved up on account of Adell’s graduation. He was one of the better hitters in all AA in the 2019 season and spent the whole of 2020 at the alternate training site. Despite his size, Marsh has been hit over power, although during the AFL reports indicate there has been improvement in the power department. In the field he’s a very good corner outfielder with a plus arm and plus speed. He’s got a high floor and an All-Star level ceiling, though that’s unlikely. Marsh is going to have a tough time cracking the Angels rosters without injuries as he’s likely behind Adell and maybe Taylor Ward in the outfield. Of note is that he started to learn first base for added flexibility though nothing is known of how he looks there. I still feel like his best chance for MLB playing time this year is through a trade. ETA: 2021

2. Reid Detmers, LHP
Age: 21
Highest Level: College
Angels 1st round pick in 2020. Demeters dominated in college, including 48 strikeouts over 4 games. Known as one of the safer picks in the draft, like Canning before him, he will move through the minors very quickly. Detmers throws a low 90s fastball with a beautiful curve and changeup. In Long Beach (alternate training site) Demeters was working on a knuckle slider that has shown promise but needs to be worked into real games. ETA: 2022

3. Jordyn Adams, OF
Age: 21
Highest Level: A+
Among many of the top prospects within the Angels system was invited to the alternate training site. Got rave reviews from both coaches and fellow players. His bat is showing great progress and has developed some more pop. He is an excellent fielder with blazing speed. His path to the majors will be determined by his bat, Adams’ name has come up in trades and like Marsh, that’s his best path to the majors. ETA: 2022

4. Kyren Paris, SS
Age: 19
Highest Level: Rooke (AZL)
Paris showed up to the alternate site looking built! He is still raw at the plate and we will need to see how he handles pro pitching, but he projects as a solid middle infielder. Paris worked on both sides on second base, he has the smooth movements and arm to stick at short though. His work ethic and focus has moved his time table up. ETA: 2022

5. Chris Rodriguez, RHP
Age: 22
Highest Level: A+
Health was the biggest question mark for Rodriguez coming into 2020 and that was answered in Long Beach. Angels scouting director stated that he made 10 starts there. Rodriguez has a mid to upper 90s fastball, which he pairs with a plus flashing slider, above average curve and a changeup. Angels are excited about his future, likely a middle of the rotation starter. Angels think he can be more than that. ETA: 2021

6. Jeremiah Jackson, SS
Age: 20
Highest Level: Rookie
Jackson was at the alternate training site, but not much was reported on how he did there. He has great bat speed to excel on the offensive side of the ball. Defensively he is most likely to move to 2nd or 3rd, and his offense profiles great at either position. Jackson is an average to above average runner, but doesn’t have exceptional instincts there. ETA: 2022

Tier 3

7. Jahmai Jones, 2B
Age: 23
Highest Level: MLB
The clock is running out for Jones. Once an exciting 2B prospect, constant changes in position and swing have given him trouble. He was able to make it to the majors last season but the Angels have a maxed out position roster so sticking there was and will be an issue. Jones is an average fielder with decent speed, but not much of a base stealer. The bat is solid and he has the ability to get on base. His power is more for hitting doubles with the occasional one going over a wall. Perhaps with a new regime there will be less change with him and he can simplify things. ETA: 2020

8. Alexander Ramirez, OF
Age: 18
Highest Level: Rookie (DSL)
Youngster Ramirez is only 18 and hopefully he will be making his stateside debut. Ramirez is known for his large power, in 2019 he had an average exit velocity of 95mph in the DSL which would have been tops in the majors that year. As normal from a young power hitter there is swing and miss. Ramirez has decent speed now but as he fills out will likely be a below average runner. His arm lacks consistency currently to be a weapon, but that will likely improve as he ages and gains experience. He’s one of my favorites in this system in terms of his potential. ETA: 2024

9. Arol Vera, SS
Age: 18
Highest Level: N/A
Vera was the Angels top signing for the 2019 international class. The 6’2” Venezuelan shortstop is a switch hitter and has a projectable frame. According to Baseball America’s Ben Badler, he controls the plate well from both sides. We should see him make his stateside debut this season. ETA: 2024

10. Jack Kochanowicz, RHP
Age: 20
Highest Level: High School
Koch had a low 90s fastball that improved as a professional and now sits in the mid 90s and touches 97. He has a great curve and is working on a changeup. He spent a few weeks at Long Beach in 2020 and results were positive. With a 3 pitch mix and the deception that his delivery has gives him a good shot at sticking as a starter. ETA: 2023

11. Trent Deveaux, OF
Age: 19
Highest Level: Rookie
I am gonna be the outlier and put Deveaux over Knowles. Deveaux has the chance to be the best defender in the farm system with an above average arm and his exceptional speed. His bat comes with a lot of swing and miss but it improved as the 2019 season went on he improved his bat enough to get more out of his swing. Still a ton of risk here but I like the potential. ETA: 2023

12. D’Shawn Knowles, OF
Age: 19
Highest Level: Rookie
Knowles is a great athlete who’s best suited as a corner outfielder. Despite the decrease in the numbers department in 2019 the work in the batter’s box improved. As a young switch hitter he has two swings to improve and has shown more power from the left side. He’s probably a fourth outfielder when all is said and done. ETA: 2023

13. Jose Alberto Rivera, RHP
Age: 23
Highest Level: A
Angels acquired Rivera in the 2020 Rule 5 Draft. He’s known for an incredible fastball that sits 93-97 and can touch 99. He uses a changeup and slider as well, but they are used more to keep the hitters honest rather than out pitches. He struggles with repeating his delivery which is why the Angels feel he is a better reliever rather than the starter he’s been in the minors. Rivera has the fast track for a bullpen spot if he can impress in Spring Training. ETA: 2021

14. Hector Yan, LHP
Age: 21
Highest Level: A
He had a low to mid 90s fastball that touches 96 in 2019, which goes with his above average curve and a changeup that is shaping up to be an average pitch. Reports from the Dominican Winter League suggest that the velocity has dipped which is concerning especially for a guy on the 40 man looking for a bullpen spot. Despite that, expect him to get back to what he was doing in 2019 by the time spring training rolls around, and compete for a wide open bullpen spot. ETA: 2021

15. David Calabrese, OF
Age: 18
Highest Level: High School
Angels 3rd round selection from the 2020 Draft. Calabrese is an athletic outfielder with near 80 grade speed and great fielding ability. His bat has gap to gap power and could add more if he fills out as a professional. Calabrese should easily stick in centerfield with that speed and an adequate arm. ETA: 2024

16. Packy Naughton, LHP
Age: 24
Highest Level: AA
Naughton came over from the Reds in the Brian Goodwin trade. He’s consistently around the strike zone and limits runs very well. He has a deceptive delivery that helps him succeed despite his stuff. Naughton comes armed with a low to mid 90s fastball, slider and changeup. Likely a back end starter.
ETA: 2021

Tier 4

17. Aaron Hernandez, RHP
Age: 24
Highest Level: A+
Reports early in the season had him in the low 90s even though he hit 98 at times in college. He pairs that with a plus flashing curve and an average slider and changeup. Most likely will be a bullpen arm but the three pitch mix gives him a shot to stick as a starter. ETA: 2022

18. Davis Daniel, RHP
Age: 23
Highest Level: College
Daniel had Tommy John surgery in 2019 and should be ready to make his professional debut in 2021. Armed with an upper 90s fastball, a solid breaking ball and good changeup. Struggled with command but stuff is enough to dream on. ETA: 2024

19. Livan Soto, SS
Age: 20
Highest Level: A
Soto is a glove first infielder who has a patient approach at the plate. Soto doesn’t have much pop at all which will keep him from being a regular. Likely will only be able to carve a role on the MLB level as a utility guy. ETA: 2022

20. Robinson Pina, RHP
Age: 22
Highest Level: A
Armed with a fastball that could hit triple digits by the time he hits the bigs. His secondary pitch is his curve that’s a plus, but he needs to work on its command. Pina’s been solid at avoiding contact for his pro career. Unfortunately his third pitch (changeup) is nowhere near as good as his other two. He lacks command which makes him more likely to wind up as a dynamic late reliever. ETA: 2022

21. Kyle Tyler, RHP
Age: 24
Highest Level: A+
He’s a control over stuff guy with a fastball that sits in the low 90s, an average changeup, and his best pitch is an above average slider. One of the safer prospects in the Angels farm system, he will likely reach the highest level of the minors in 2021. ETA: 2022

22. Stiward Aquino, RHP
Age: 20
Highest Level: Rookie
Aquino has an upper 90s fastball that he throws with an above average curve and an average changeup. 2021 will probably be the year for him to show improvement in the command or start transitioning to a bullpen roll. ETA: 2023

23. Oliver Ortega, RHP
Age: 23
Highest Level: AA
Ortega wows with a fastball that hits 99, and a curve that flashes plus. With that fastball and a plus curve he could be dynamic in the bullpen. ETA: 2021

24. William Holmes, OF/RHP
Age: 20
Highest Level: Rookie
One of the 2 two-way players in the Angels organization (formerly known as William English). On the mound Holmes has a fastball that’s low to mid 90s that hits 98 with a good changeup and curveball that’s still in development . At the plate his best tool is the above average power, but he also runs well which leads to an interesting power/speed combo. Holmes got rave reviews from his time in Long Beach about the improvements he made in his time away from the field. ETA: 2023

25. Adrian Placencia, SS
Age: 17
Highest Level: N/A
Placencia is a bat over glove player, expect him to move to second. Placencia is advanced at the plate for his age and can hit to all fields. His swing has natural loft to it so he may be able to develop into above average power. ETA: 2024

26. Jose Bonilla, OF
Age: 18
Highest Level: Rookie (DSL)
Signed in the 2019 international class, Bonilla made his professional debut in DSL that same season and hit the ground running. The bat profiles well especially for his age. He displayed some good gap to gap power and as he fills out those balls should go over the wall. He likely moves to 3rd as his body fills out and that’s where his arm profiles best. He’s an average to below average runner so do not expect much on the basepaths.
ETA: 2023

27. Kyle Keller, RHP
Age: 27
Highest Level: MLB
He’s equipped with a mid 90s fastball and a dynamic slider. His problem has been command. Will be looking to lock up one of the bullpen spots with the Angels.
ETA: 2020

28. Jake Lee, RHP
Age: 25
Highest Level: A+
Lee is a big righty that throws a mid 90s fastball with a good changeup that he can throw to both right and left handers and quality curveball, he has a slider as well but it’s a work in progress. ETA: 2021

29. Orlando Martinez, OF
Age: 22
Highest Level: A+
Martinez has average tools across the board, except for his arm which is above average. He can play all three outfield spots and has decent power. He projects to be solid 4th outfielder in the majors. ETA: 2021

30. Werner Blakely, SS
Age: 18
Highest Level: High School
Angels 4th round pick from the 2020 Draft. Blakely has a future to stay at shortstop with his athletic ability. Blakely needs to work on his timing to get more out of his bat, but there is some promising power there. He does have plus speed but we will have to wait to see if he has the instincts to transfer that over to stolen bases in pro ball.
ETA: 2025

31. Austin Warren, RHP
Age: 24
Highest Level: AA
Warren has a mid 90s fastball, a good slider and an effective changeup. Warren will compete for a bullpen spot this season. ETA: 2021

32. Andrew Wantz, RHP
Age: 25
Highest Level: AA
The Angels transitioned Wantz to a starting role in 2019 with mixed results. He generated a ton of swing and miss still but was hit too much. He has a mid to low 90s fastball along with a changeup and a nasty slider. ETA: 2021

33. Luis Alvarado, RHP
Age: 24
Highest Level: A
Alvarado is a 3-pitch pitcher with a low 90s fastball and an average slider and curve. Alvarado’s best path to the majors will likely be in the bullpen where the fastball can play up. ETA: 2022

34. Adam Seminaris, LHP
Age: 22
Highest Level: College
Angels final pick (5th round) in the 2020 Draft. Seminaris is more of a pitchability guy. He works with 4 pitches, a low 90s fastball, a good curve and slider, and excellent change up. Seminaris pump strikes and has a pretty good shot to be a back of the rotation starter when he reaches the majors.
ETA: 2023

35. Greg Veliz, RHP
Age: 23
Highest Level: A
Veliz is armed with a mid 90s fastball and an above average slider and has shown a split change. He has all the tools to be a good bullpen arm in the future. ETA: 2022

36. Chad Sykes, RHP
Age:24
Highest Level: A
Sykes pitches in the low 90s with his fastball, but his secondary pitches allow him to be successful. He has a good curve and change up that keeps hitters off balance. Expect him to move quickly through the minors. ETA: 2022

37. Zach Linginfelter, RHP
Age: 23
Highest Level: College
Linginfelter pumps a mid 90s fastball into the zone. He complements it with a slider that flashes between above average to plus and an average change up. Command is the biggest issue. ETA: 2023

38. Erik Rivera, OF/LHP
Age: 19
Highest Level: Rookie (AZL)
Known for his great swing, Rivera has good pop and a great arm for the outfield and should end up as a right fielder. On the mound Rivera has a mid 90s fastball and some scouts liked him there instead of the field. Angels will probably let Rivera decide which side is better as he develops. ETA: 2022

39. Connor Van Scoyoc, RHP
Age: 20
Highest Level: Rookie (AZL)
Van Scoyoc is a projectable righty. He has a fastball that sits in the low 90s and has 2 secondary pitches, a changeup that has good sink and a curveball that has promise.
ETA: 2023

Tier 5

40. Kevin Maitan, 3B
Age: 20
Highest Level: A
2021 will be a make it or break it year for Maitan. Maitan struggled in the box in 2019 both to make contact and to hit for power. Maitan definitely was more comfortable as a 3B though which is a good sign for development. If he does not show signs of improvement this will likely be his last year considered a prospect. ETA: 2022

41. Jerryell Rivera, LHP
Age:20
Highest Level: Rookie
Rivera’s fastball sits in the low 90s but he lacks command in throwing his breaking ball and changeup. ETA: 2023

42. Jack Kruger, C
Age: 25
Highest Level: AAA
Another player who will make it or break it in 2021. Kruger spent 2020 at the alternate training site. Not much is reported on how his time there went. The offense for Kruger needs to come back in 2021 for him to carve a backup role in the majors. His defense lags behind his bat which limits his ability to play as a backup.
ETA: 2021

43. Gareth Morgan, OF
Age: 24
Highest Level: AA
The ultimate boom or bust guy in the Angels system. Morgan is a power over everything guy, but that comes with an astronomically high strikeout rate. Those numbers did improve when he moved into the Angels organization but it was still close to 50%. ETA: 2022

44. Ryan Clark, RHP
Age:26
Highest Level: AAA
Clark has a mid 90s fastball and an above average slider. He could be competing for a bullpen spot as early as this season. ETA: 2021

45. Denny Brady, RHP
Age: 23
Highest Level: A+
Brady has a low 90s fastball, with a slider, slurve, and an okay change up. He’s done a good job at generating strikeouts with changing hitters high levels and challenging their timing. Brady is likely a back end starter if he makes it to the majors.
ETA: 2022

46. Brendon Davis, 3B/OF
Age:23
Highest Level: AA
Davis was selected in the AAA portion of the Rule 5 Draft. Davis has been young for every level that he’s been at, and has seen some success in the past despite the down year he had in 2019. The bat has shown some power, but to consistently get there he needs to fill out a bit. His best positions on the diamond are either the corner outfield or 3B which gives him added flexibility. ETA: 2022

47. Gustavo Campero, C
Age: 23
Highest Level: Rookie
Acquired in the AAA portion of the Rule 5 Draft. Campero has hit well on the state side. In 2019 he had an OPS of .788 with only 16 Ks over 131 PA. The issue with Campero is that he’s listed at 5’6”. Campero will have to make his way on the AAA roster so we will see if the height is a non-issue.
ETA:2022

48. Connor Higgins, LHP
Age: 24
Highest Level: A+
Higgins pitched well in 2019 with K/9 over 11. Higgins comes armed with a mid to upper 90s fastball and really good slider. I expect him to get to AAA this year and possibly crack the bullpen if injuries happen. ETA: 2022

49. Torii Hunter Jr., OF
Age: 25
Highest Level: A+
Still with the Angels despite being available in the Rule 5 Draft. One of the better base stealers in the organization. Hunter excels at getting on base but he needs to cut down on the strikeouts. Likely never going to hit for much power, Hunter’s best chance to make it to the majors is to be contact oriented hitter and be a stolen base threat.
ETA: 2022

50. Luis Nunez, RHP
Age: 19
Highest Level: Rookie (DSL)
Nunez had an interesting season in 2019 and will have a good look stateside. In 2019 he struck out 56 batters over 44 innings. From the videos the delivery looks and easily repeatable. Not much is known about him but those numbers do pop. ETA: 2024

Prospects1500 Angels correspondent. Angels fan since he was 6, Andrew has been engrossed with baseball and the minor leagues since 2011. Participates in several fantasy leagues. Enjoyer of ancient history, video games, and memes. Don’t ask him to watch a show, you’ll almost never get him to watch one, especially not during the baseball season. Software Tester for the Navy thru ISPA Technology. Lives in Panama City Beach, FL with his dog Max. Follow on Twitter at @A_Rhodes77.




3 Comments

  1. How in the world is Michael Stefanic not in the top 20, much less top 50 prospects within the organization. Career minors .315 hitter with 110:70 K:BB ratio and gold glove defense up the middle. And showing some pop at AAA this year while hitting .340+. Gareth Morgan? Are you kidding me?

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