Future Angels Top Ten Prospects

Stephen Smith's top 10:

1. Trevor Reckling LHP
2. Garrett Richards RHP
3. Will Smith LHP
4. Hank Conger C
5. Mike Trout OF
6. Jordan Walden RHP
7. Mark Trumbo 1B-OF
8. Peter Bourjos OF
9. Randal Grichuk OF
10. Alexi Amarista 2B

9 months ago rghan 9 comments 0 recs |

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Climbing to the top rung

In light of Steven’s comments about the unlikely prospect of making it all the way to the big leagues (hence, only a Top 10 listed), it is instructive to look at the list for 2005.

That is a tremendous complement to the Angels player development system.

"He's not a Rhodes Scholar to begin with''~Theo Epstein, talking about Papelbon

by George Kaplan on Nov 25, 2009 2:24 PM PST reply actions

Really don't think Trumbo is any kind of prospect

by mattwelch on Nov 25, 2009 2:26 PM PST reply actions

I'm not sure he'll ever make the Angels

But he’ll make a very nice trade chip. He did well at Arkansas in ’09, and it will be interesting to see how he handles AAA in ’10. If he keeps hitting bombs like he did in 2008 (32, mostly Cal League inflated before heading to Little Rock), I could see him filling a role similar to a Jonny Gomes at the big league level.

1 line siggy line because I was asked nicely. Go Angels! helpfindscottajob@gmail.com

by Slasher52 on Nov 25, 2009 2:53 PM PST up reply actions

He strikes me as relatively old, non-walky, and a brutal defender

by mattwelch on Nov 25, 2009 3:07 PM PST up reply actions

He might do ok as a corner outfielder

And he doesn’t strike out as much as others with similar projections. He was bound to take a step back statistically in ‘09 in the move from Rancho to Arkansas, but he recovered from a horrendous start to the season and put up decent numbers. He is obviously still a work in progress, but I think he’ll get to The Show, at the very least. If he thumps in AAA, and assuming he isn’t included in a trade, he could be a September callup or injury fill-in.

He reminds me of another OC ballplayer, Rob Deer, only with a better batting eye.

1 line siggy line because I was asked nicely. Go Angels! helpfindscottajob@gmail.com

by Slasher52 on Nov 25, 2009 3:25 PM PST up reply actions

Good list.

Really looking forward to seeing more of Reckling, Conger, and especially Trout. I know Trout is just six months or so out of high school, but is Rancho a possibility late in ’10?

1 line siggy line because I was asked nicely. Go Angels! helpfindscottajob@gmail.com

by Slasher52 on Nov 25, 2009 2:55 PM PST reply actions

And a shoutout to Stephen Smith

His diligence on this stuff is truly impressive, and adds a lot of value. The fact you can go back and look at the last nine years, for example, is great. Plus he’s got video for every player. In the mosaic of bottom-up analysis of the Angels, he provides a crucial service, and deserves a hi-five.

by mattwelch on Nov 26, 2009 1:04 PM PST reply actions 1 recs