Who are the Top 10 Prospects in the Anaheim Angels farm system?
I get asked that question all the time. Why not? Plenty of baseball publications and Web sites post Top 10 lists. Some know what they're talking about more than others. A "Top 10" list is really no more than someone's opinion. And the opinion that makes that list can change from day to day.
I've always been a bit leery to post a FutureAngels.com Top 10 list. "How come (insert your favorite ballplayer here) isn't on the list?" loved ones will ask. "How come I'm not on the list?" the other 190 ballplayers will ask.
So don't take this personally. It's just my opinion. I love you all. A ballplayer may have been on my list yesterday. He may be on the list tomorrow. This is just a snapshot of my opinion today.
First off, we need to define "Top 10". The Top 10 talent? The first ten to make it to the big leagues? The ten players the Angels care about the most?
For me, it's a combination of all those factors. For example, Bart Miadich makes the list for a combination of factors. The first is ability — Bart did a great job closing for the Triple-A Salt Lake Stingers in a high-altitude ballpark. He got a late-season callup with the Angels. And if Troy Percival's demand for a trade comes true, Bart will most likely get an audition for the Angels' closer role next March in spring training.
Certain players aren't eligible. Baseball America's Top 10 list excludes players who wouldn't be eligible for the Rookie of the Year award — more than 130 major league at-bats or 50 innings pitched. That means guys like Matt Wise and Brian Cooper won't be on the list even though they're prime candidates for the Angels' starting rotation in 2002.
So with all those qualifiers, let's tick off 190 ballplayers and their families . . .
10. Alfredo Amezaga 2B-SS (Bats: Both Throws: Right)
Amezaga spent all of 2000 at 2B for the Angels' High-A affiliate, with Brian Specht his SS
partner most of the year. In 2001, the Angels had Amezaga play SS full-time,
believing he may need to be rushed after Gary DiSarcina went down again. The
emergence of David Eckstein takes away some of the urgency. Unlike Specht, Amezaga
is not a natural switch-hitter, swinging from the left side only the last two seasons;
interestingly, though, he hit better from the left side (.306) than the right side (.230)
this year. Amezaga is pretty much a singles hitter; his game will be similar to
Eckstein's, to get on base any way he can and steal a base. Amezaga struggled a bit
stealing bases against more experienced pitchers; at High-A in 2000 he stole 73 bases,
many of them off inexperienced pitchers and catchers. He's equally comfortable at 2B
or SS, having played both positions full-time as an amateur. He has a bit stronger
arm than Eckstein but at 5'10" 165 lbs. isn't much bigger. Specht is nearly
three years younger, is already bigger physically and has the stronger arm. I
project Amezaga as a utility player, especially once Specht is ready for prime-time.
9. Joe Torres LHP
The Angels' #1 pick in the 2000 draft and Baseball America's #1 ranking in the
2001 Top 10 Prospects list, Torres was set back when he came out of spring training with
shoulder weakness. This was due to his not preparing properly over the off-season
for a full year's worth of duty. He stayed behind in extended spring training,
reported to Low-A Cedar Rapids in May, and struggled. Torres returned to extended
and stayed there until Rookie-A Provo began play. Although he struggled early, in
his last four starts he had a 2.29 ERA in 19.2 IP with a .216 OBA and a 25:10 K/BB ratio
(going 11 IP with 0 BB at one stretch). I tend to write off this year as an
aberration for an 18-year old just starting to learn his profession. If he trains
properly this winter, he should be fine next year.
8. Jeff Mathis C (Bats: Right Throws: Right)
Some questioned the Angels drafting Mathis as a sandwich #1, but so far he seems worth it.
At age 18 he was already considered one of the best catchers in the Pioneer League.
His agility behind the plate, soft hands, and maturity in calling the game were all
"plus" qualities. Mathis didn't show much power (0 HR) but still his
.299/.387/.455 were promising for his age and level. Mathis was shut down after his
left hand was broken when it was hit by a pitch. Some believe that at 6'0" 180
lbs. he might wind up being moved to another position, like Craig Biggio. He's also
compared to Jason Kendall. Right now he has to be considered advanced defensively
past Jared Abruzzo, the other prime catching prospect in the system, although Abruzzo
projects as a switch-hitting power bat. It should be an interesting competition
between the two over the next few years.
7. Bobby Jenks RHP
"Nuke LaLoosh" found himself in mid-2001, even though he didn't have a
"Crash" Davis to guide him. After spending the last half of 2000 in
Rookie-A Butte, Jenks struggled early in Low-A Cedar Rapids and briefly shut down in May
due to shoulder soreness caused by his workout regimen. He posted some horrid
numbers early but started showing some consistency by mid-year. Jenks posted a 3.64
ERA in June-July with an OBA of .192; in 42.0 IP he had 46 K and 30 BB. He was
promoted to Double-A Arkansas for the playoffs where he saw limited action, very wild at
times but managed to keep himself in the game. Jenks' fastball touched 99 MPH in
the playoffs. He's generally compared to Roger Clemens, but needs much more work,
including an effective off-speed pitch, and must demonstrate consistency which will only
come from experience. His presence in Double-A at age 20 is a good sign.
6. Bart Miadich RHP
Miadich was salvaged in 2000 from the discard pile by Don Wakamatsu who, at the time, was
the manager at Double-A Erie. "Wak" turned him into a reliever and this
year he closed for Triple-A Salt Lake, earning the Angels' minor league pitcher of the
year award. In 55 appearances (59.0 IP), Miadich was 4-4 with a 2.44 ERA, 27 saves,
a .190 OBA, and a K/BB ratio of 73:29 (2.5:1). Miadich got a late-season tryout in
Anaheim, where he had a 4.50 ERA in 10 IP with a .182 OBA and 11/8 K/BB ratio. With
Troy Percival demanding a trade, Miadich might be the top internal candidate for the
Anaheim closer role in 2002. From what little I saw of him in Anaheim, he may need
more confidence and command in his off-speed stuff.
5. Nathan Haynes CF (Bats: Left Throws: Left)
Haynes has suffered one injury after another the past few years. Nathan had a hernia
when he was with the Oakland A's in 1999. He began 2000 with a right-wrist
injury, busted up his shoulder and knee running into walls later in the year, and
generally posted mediocre numbers. This year, he had his other knee scoped in late
April; when he returned for the second half, he hit .324 with 25 SB in 60 games. At
age 22, Haynes could be poised for a big-league tryout in the spring but would probably be
better off playing a full season healthy at Triple-A. He has the arm and range to
play a major league CF. He could be the next Juan Pierre, although he's also
compared to Kenny Lofton. He needs to work a bit more on plate patience, drawing
more walks.
4. Casey Kotchman 1B (Bats: Left Throws: Left)
Generally considered to be the nation's top high school position prospect in the 2001
draft, Kotchman is considered extremely advanced for his age, not just because of his
physical skills but also because he spent 11 summers with his father Tom who was managing
the Angels' Short-A team in Boise. He only played in 11 games this year — four at
Rookie-A Mesa, seven at Rookie-A Provo — before suffering a hyperextended right forearm
on a backswing that resisted healing. We'll have to see if he can put the injury bug
behind him; a healthy Kotchman could see Double-A by the end of 2002. The Angels may
be tempted to accelerate his progress with the uncertain situation at first base in
Anaheim; Mo Vaughn seems to be preparing for a new career in sumo wrestling, and Darin
Erstad had a late-season audition at 1B but may be traded if he refuses to negotiate a
contract extension. Given his limited AB's this year, Casey probably should start
2002 at Low-A Cedar Rapids so the Angels can get a better measurement of his health and
ability before placing him on the fast track.
3. Brian Specht SS (Bats: Both Throws: Right)
Specht is by far the most pure shortstop prospect in the system. He reached Double-A
this year at age 20. His throwing arm is "plus-plus"; he can throw a
bullet from short-left to first base. He's absolutely fearless defensively, willing
to attempt plays mere mortals wouldn't. That's where many of his errors come from,
along with a tendency to rush things now and then. Specht has quick acceleration
which not only helps with baserunning but also his defensive range. A natural
switch-hitter, he still struggles against left-handers (.274 vs. RHP, .181 vs. LHP).
Although not as fast as Amezaga, Specht will still steal about 30 bases/year in the
big leagues. His average and power should improve with physical maturity and
experience. Specht could see Anaheim by 2003 but, with Eckstein and Amezaga ahead of
him, the Angels can afford to be patient.
2. John Lackey RHP
Lackey dominated at Double-A (9-7, 3.46 in 127.1 IP) but struggled after his Triple-A
promotion (3-4, 6.71 ERA in 57.2 IP). The latter was probably due to the high
altitude taking the bite off his 12-to-6 curve, along with a relative lack of experience.
That curve in normal environs is a plus-pitch and a nice compliment to a fastball
that's in the low to mid-90s. He's still working on his changeup and adding a cut
fastball to his repertoire. Because he's so talented, there's a tendency to forget
that Lackey has been pitching professionally for only two years, and as an amateur only
one year before that. He needs innings. Although Lackey is usually projected
as a starter due to his workhorse physique, his intimidating pitching style might qualify
him as a future closer role candidate if Troy Percival leaves.
1. Chris Bootcheck RHP
Although he started early with shoulder weakness problems, by July Bootcheck was showing
the stuff that made him one of the Angels' two 2000 first-round picks. His 1.63 ERA
in July — incredibly, that month he averaged facing only 3.8 batters an inning! — earned
him a promotion to Double-A, where he struggled early but in the playoffs threw seven
innings of shutout ball in his only start. His fastball range has been reported
anywhere from high-80s to mid-90s; whatever his velocity might be, more important is
location and movement, which is his game. Chris's best pitch is probably a cut
fastball that moves like a slider. Like many pitchers in the system, Bootcheck is
working on resurrecting a changeup he didn't use in college because of aluminum bats.
Extremely disciplined about his physical conditioning, the shoulder problem was
probably just an anomaly due to inexperience with how to prepare himself for a full
professional season, and now he knows what he has to do. He's more likely to start 2002 at
Triple-A although a setback in spring training might see him back in Double-A; the
combination of his talent, poise and professionalism make Bootcheck a definite candidate
for the big leagues by the end of 2002.