MLB draft 2017: Angels farm depth report - Outfielders - Jones, Marsh, and the rest

The MLB draft is about 2 weeks away, so we’ll be taking look at the Angels farm system. Where are they strong? Where are they weak? In this edition, let’s take a look at outfielders.

The Angels actually have a whole bunch of guys who will probably hit the major leagues some day but most of them profile as a 4th outfielder aside from Jones and Marsh. However, Kole Calhoun was never really a prospect and not expected to be an every day guy and look where he is (recent hitting struggles aside).

Having a slew of 4th outfield types on the team is not a bad thing as a few of them may make the push for an every day role alongside the likes of Jones and Marsh. The Angels are probably more deep in the outfield than any other position.

Best Tools (Minor League):

Hit: Jahmai Jones
Power: Dalton Blumenfeld
Run: Troy Montgomery
Arm: Jared Foster
Field: Jahmai Jones, Troy Montgomery

Big League Guys

Mike Trout, 25
B-T: R-R
Contract: Signed through 2020, 7 year $58 Million

Kole Calhoun,
B-T: L-R
Contract: Through 2019, 3 year $26 million

Cameron Maybin,
B-T: S-R
Contract: Through 2017, 2 year $3.75 million

Ben Revere,
B-T: S-R
Contract: Through 2017, 2 year $3.75 million

Major League Ready:

Ramon Flores, 25
Drafted: Signed as International free agent 2009 (NYY)
B-T: L-L
Current Level: AAA
MLB ETA: Been there done that
The Yankess gave him a big league shot in 2015. He was traded the Mariners with Jose Ramirez for Dustin Ackley mid 2015 and was traded to the Brewers a few months later for Luis Sardinas. He was picked up by the Angels as a free agent this past November. Flores has always profiled around a C or C+ grade with a ceiling of a 4th outfielder. He’s mostly a depth piece in the system at this point.

Shane Robinson, 32
Drafted: 5th Round, 2006 (STL)
B-T: R-R
Current Level: AAA
MLB ETA: Been there done that
Robinson is an eternal depth piece. The guys has moments here and there but at age 32, his shot at a regular big league roster job is pretty unlikely. Him jumping around from team to team as a depth piece / 4th outfielder is much more likely.

Eric Young Jr., 32
Drafted: 30th Round, 2003 (COL)
B-T: S-R
Current Level: AAA
MLB ETA: Been there done that
Like Robinson, Young has been around a while and got his first taste of the big leagues back in 2009 at age 24. Young has a .246 career big league average with 1,510 AB. He’s been on an absolute tear in Salt Lake and now finds himself on the big league squad (for now?). Young is a 4th outfielder and not much of an every day kind of guy though he did get 539 AB back in 2013 with the Rockies and Mets.

Near Future Major League Ready:

Bo Way, 25
Drafted: 7th Round, 2014
B-T: L-L
Current Level: AAA
MLB ETA: 2018
Way has a cool name which is worth some points right? He was called up to AAA at the end of April this year and is hitting .271 with the Bees. He has speed, defense, an arm, and makes good contact at the plate but doesn’t have much power. He profiles as a major league 4th outfielder with potential for an every day job.

Michael Hermosillo, 22
Drafted: 28th Round, 2013
B-T: R-R
Current Level: AA
MLB ETA: 2019
Hermosillo came in at #14 in the Halos Heaven top prospects list. Like Way, he should see the big leagues soon - perhaps in 2019 and probably as a 4th outfielder unless he wows with his improvement over the next few seasons. He’s a bit younger than Way so the Angels don’t need to rush him. Hermosillo did really well in High A but has struggled a bit at the plate in AA. In 107 AB for Mobile, Hermosillo is hitting .206/.307/.299. Hermosillo should spend the rest of 2017 in AA and will probably hit Salt Lake some time next year.

Probably Major League Some Day:

Caleb Adams, 24
Drafted: 10th Round, 2014
B-T: R-R
Current Level: AA
Adams is an athletic, speedy outfielder who actually has some power potential. He is expected to be a 4th outfielder at worst, and is probably destined for an every day role. He has, however, been struggling a bit with AA pitching since he moved up about half way though last season.

Forrestt Allday, 26
Drafted: 8th Round, 2013 (BOS)
B-T: L-L
Current Level: AA
A good athlete, with a cool name. What more could you want? Allday is more of a depth type player with a limited ceiling.

Zach Gibbons, 23
Drafted: 17th Round, 2016
B-T: R-R
Current Level: A+
Gibbons has been impressive in short time in the minors. He hit .351/.441/.513 in Orem last season. He started 2017 in high A but has already moved up to Mobile where he hitting .261 though 11 games. Gibbons has major league potential as a 4th outfielder or even a starter if he keeps doing well in his climb up the ladder.

Zach Welz, 25
Drafted: Undrafted free agent, 2015
B-T: R-R
Current Level: AA
Welz was overlooked in the 2015 draft and signed by the Angels after seeing him at a private workout. He’s most likely bound to be outfield depth or a 4th outfielder as a best case scenario.

Jared Foster, 24
Drafted: 5th Round, 2015
B-T: R-R
Current Level: A+
Foster was a quarterback that switched to baseball, so athleticism and a strong arm are definitely assets. In 797 minor league games he has racked up 19 homeruns so the power is there as well. Foster is already 24 but has been progressing well and should end up in AA before long. He an an under the radar player in the system that could surprise and compete for an outfield spot in the next few years.

Troy Montgomery, 22
Drafted: 8th Round, 2016
B-T: L-L
Current Level: A+
Montgomery is a strong fielder with speed and has future lead-off hitter potential if he can limit his Ks and his bat comes around enough. He’s a bit like a Kole Calhoun type but has more speed and draws more walks. He certainly has 4th outfielder potential and could land an every day starter job with an improved hit tool.

Brendon Sanger, 23
Drafted: 4th Round, 2015
B-T: L-R
Current Level: A+
Sanger was drafted as an infielder originally but has the tools to play outfield. He has been know to have a good bat and some power though he’s only hitting .222 for the 66ers this year and .230 in A ball in 2016. He has good plate discipline though and has a .356 OBP in his minor league career.

Kyle Survance Jr, 23
Drafted: 8th Round, 2015
B-T: L-R
Current Level: A+
His best tool is his speed and he has some rawness at the plate. Survance tore it up in Orem in 2015 but missed all of 2016. He now finds himself as a struggling 23-year-old hitter in high A ball. Given his speed and fielding ability, he probably has a floor of at least a 4th outfielder in his future.

Jahmai Jones,
Drafted: 2nd Round, 2015
B-T: R-R
Current Level: A
Halos Heaven has written about Jones on numerous occasions. Jones probably has more upside than any player currently in the system. Jones is incredibly athletic and fast with a great aptitude for the game. He doesn’t even turn 20 until August and has a bright future ahead of him. It’s a matter of when, not if Jones lands on the big league roster as a regular.

Too soon to know:

Brandon Marsh, 19
Drafted: 2nd Round, 2016
B-T: L-R
Current Level: Rookie
Marsh didn’t play last year due to injury but there has been a lot of good talk about him coming out of spring training. Marsh has plus speed, a strong arm, and some pop in his bat. He’s young, so time is on his side and it’s still too early to really now his ceiling but most believe he has the highest ceiling in the system.

Brennon Lund, 22
Drafted: 11th Round, 2016
B-T: L-R
Current Level: A
Lund has pretty average tools across the board not really lacking in any of them dramatically (except maybe power) and he has plus speed. Lund is probably destined as minor league depth of a 4th outfielder, but he could gain a higher ceiling if he keeps hitting the way he has as he moves up in the system.

Ryan Vega, 20
Drafted: 14th Round, 2015
B-T: R-R
Current Level: Rookie
Vegas is athletic with an above average arm and plus speed. He tore up rookie ball in Arizona last year but struggled after moving up to Orem. He needs more time to develop at the plate, but has the athletics skills to get in the majors some day.

Dalton Blumenfeld, 20
Drafted: 12th Round, 2015
B-T: R-R
Current Level: Rookie
Drafted as a catcher, Blumenfeld only played outfield in 2016 and also only appeared in 16 games. His biggest upside is his power.

Francisco Del Valle, 18
Drafted: 14th Round, 2016
B-T: L-L
Current Level: Rookie
Young, athletics, and toolsy with a strong arm and plus speed. It’s certainly too early to predict his future and he only had 32 AB in 2016.