Advanced Rookie Ball, Orem Owlz

Jean Segura - .440/.462/.720 with 2 HR and 1 Dbl

The 20-year old Segura shared the keystone with Alexi Amarista in the DSL back in 2007, then followed that up with a tepid ASL showing last summer.  The Halos obviously think very highly of him, as they sent him to the PCL briefly before the Pioneer League began.  His combined 2009 stat line from AAA and rookie ball? An eye-popping .432/.444/.636 over 44 AB's.

Michael Wing - .333/.469/.542 with 1 HR, 2 Dbls and 6 BB's

Wing is a local kid, having graduated from Upland High School before the Halos drafted him in the 26^th round in 2008.  He's a converted shortstop, so he should have the defensive skills to make a solid third baseman.  He's got a good eye and some pop at the plate, but will have to limit the K's this year if he's going to remain one of the Owz' big boppers.

Dillon Baird - .313/.500/.438 with 1 triple

Baird led the PAC 10 in hitting this year before the Halos drafted him in the 11^th round.  I think the only reasons why such a talented hitter could fall that far are (1) scouts don't believe his average power in college (8 homeruns this season) is going to carry over to wooden bats, and (2) scouts don't think he has the defensive chops to stick at third. Those points may or may not be true, but his bat and keen eye are going to carry him to the upper minors at least, and possibly further. I really like him.

Buddy Boshers - 5 IP, 3 hits, 2 ER, 3 K/2 BB

In terms of ERA, groundball ratio, and batting average against, the 6'3" Boshers out-pitched more widely known rotation mate Will Smith last year.  But here he is, returning to Orem for an encore.  I imagine he'll be the first promoted when the Halos send Ryan Chaffee to the Quakes.

Tyler Kehrer - 7.1 IP, 9 hits, 2 ER, 9 K/0 BB

Kehrer, the Halos' third supplementary round pick and top-drafted pitcher to sign so far, had a great debut, but then gave up a lot of hits in his second outing.  The scouting report on him lists a solid fastball and a decent slider, while his other pitches are works in progress.

Orangel Arenas - 4 IP, 2 hits, 1 ER, 3 K/0 BB

Arenas was the ace of the 2008 DSL Angels' staff of aces.  I haven't yet found a scouting report on him, but futureangels.com has a video clip from extended spring training. Arenas locates his fastball low in the zone and on the corners.  Interestingly, three of four balls hit into play in the video came off of his breaking pitch, which appeared to be a slider with good horizontal movement. It didn't miss any bats, however: one was roped into center for a hit, the next popped up to left, and the last grounded to the left side, so Arenas is still looking for an out pitch.  That matches Arenas' stat profile from last year: he throws strikes and avoids hard contact but will never lead a league in K's.

I'm traveling for the next couple of weeks, so normal coverage won't resume until the second week of July.