Cow Tipping: 1st Angels Minor League Report of 2018 - New Roles

Affiliate Teams (from AAA to Rookie):

Note: I won't be showing the "duds" for the rookie leagues unless they are top prospects or top draft picks. A lot of the guys in the rookie leagues are young and adjusting to pro ball. Many of them never make it past rookie ball, and even the truly gifted ones can have bad weeks, months, etc.

* Player is in the top 20 on the Halos Heaven top prospects list

AZL Angels
(season starts in June)
Tempe, AZ
Level = Rookie, Arizona League

DSL Angels
(season starts in June)
Dominican Republic
Level = Rookie, Dominican Summer League

Orem Owlz
(season starts in June)
Orem, Utah
Level = Rookie, Pioneer League

Burlington Bees (15-23 second half)
(finished 31-38 in first half)
Burlington, Iowa
Level = A, Midwest League

Studs:

David MacKinnon (1B, 23), while is average is only .278 to start the season, he has a .458 OBP and 2 doubles. Solid start after 7 games.

Isaac Mattson (RHP, 22), Mattson only made 1 start but it was a great one. He allowed only 1 hit and a walk over 5 innings with 4 Ks.

Others:

Brandon Marsh (OF, 20), Marsh is hitting .261 with a .393 OBP. He also has a triple and 2 doubles but he’s struck out 8 times in 23 ABs.

Jo Adell (OF, 19), In 23 ABs, Adell is hitting .174 with 11 Ks. He also has a triple and a stolen base along with a .333 OBP.

Inland Empire 66ers (4-4, 6th place)
San Bernardino, CA
Level = A+, California League

Studs:

Roberto Baldoquin (SS, 23), Baldoquin was on FIRE this month until he landed on the DL on April 11th. In 18 ABs he had 9 hits including 3 triples and a double. He boasted a .526 OBP and a stolen base.

Brandon Sandoval (OF, 22), He has tore it up through his first 5 games. In 21 ABs. he’s hitting .381 with a .417 OBP. He also has 3 stolen bases in 3 attempts.

Jared Walsh (1B, 24), Walsh already has 5 home runs, 3 doubles, and a triple through 13 games. He’s slugging .714 with a 1.083 OPS.

Brandon Sandoval (OF, 22), He has tore it up through his first 5 games. In 21 ABs. he’s hitting .381 with a .417 OBP. He also has 3 stolen bases in 3 attempts.

Others:

Jahmai Jones* (2B, 20), Jones is 8 games into his first pro season in the infield. There will be some adjustments. At the plate he’s only hitting .167 but with a .324 OBP.

Mobile BayBears (6-6 2nd place)
Mobile, Alabama
Level = AA, Southern League

Studs:

[Moving up - April 17] Griffin Canning (RHP, 21), Canning had a pair of stellar starts in High A so they moved him up to Mobile. In that start he gave up 3 runs in 3.2 innings.

Taylor Ward* (3B, 24), Now a third baseman, Ward has been on a tear hitting .329 with a .500 OBP through 12 games. He also has a home run and 3 doubles along with 2 stolen bases. He’s made 4 errors in 21 chances at his new position.

Brennon Lund (OF, 23), As in the past, Lund has showed he keeps hitting as he moves up. He has a .343 AVG over his last 10 games and a .469 OBP this season with 4 stolen bases.

Greg Mahle (LHP, 25), Getting a bit old for a AA player, Mahle has thrown 5.1 scoreless innings this year with only 3 hits allowed.

Others:

Matt Thaiss* (1B, 22), is hitting .265 with a .288 OBP in 12 games. He also has 2 home runs and 11 Ks.

Connor Justus (SS, 23), hitting has always been his tool that needs the most word. So far Justus is hitting .243 with a .349 OBP so that’s pretty good for him.

Jose Rodriguez (RHP, 22), Has made two start and allowed just 2 runs in 9.2 innings. He’s also struck out 6.

Jesus Castillo (RHP, 22), His first start was solid with 1 run over 5 innings but he got knocked around for 7 runs in just 3 innings his last time out.

Salt Lake Bees (8-6 / 2nd place)
Salt Lake City, Utah
Level = AAA, Pacific Coast League

Studs:

Juan Graterol (RHP, 23), Best hitter on the team? Well, he’s tied with Zach Houchins with a .417 AVG. Graterol also has 2 doubles and only 4 Ks in 24 ABs.

Zach Houchins (3B, 25), Houchins is blocked at the big league level but that isn’t stopping him from tearing it up in AAA. He has a .462 OBP and 2 home runs in 10 games.

Sherman Johnson (2B, 27), He’s only had 10 ABs but has 4 hits and those include 2 doubles, a triple, and a home run.

Jabrai Blash (OF, 28), Blash is doing as well would be expected in AAA. He has 4 home runs and a .442 OBP through 11 games.

Rymer Liriano (OF, 26), Has 2 home runs and a .400 OBP with 23 ABs.

David Fletcher (SS, 23), Just a youngster still at 23, Fletcher has a .367 OBP, 2 triples, and a home run. He also has 2 stolen bases.

Eric Young Jr. (OF, 32), EYJ has struck out 10 times in 12 games which isn’t great, but he has a .396 OBP with a pair of triples.

Jaime Barria (RHP, 21), has allowed only 3 runs over 11.2 innings across 2 minor league and 1 major league appearances.

Eduardo Paredes (RHP, 23), hasn’t allowed a run in 7.1 innings (2.1 of those in the majors). He’s given up just 2 total hits, only 1 walk, and has struck out 7.

[Moving up - April 14] Justin Anderson (RHP, 25), He’s tossed 7.2 total innings over 5 games and has yet to allow a run. He’s only given up 2 hits and 2 walks while striking out 13.

Ian Krol (LHP, 26), hasn’t given up a run in 6 appearances. That’s 6.2 scoreless innings with 8 Ks and 6 hits allowed.

Others:

Michael Hermosillo (OF, 23), Has a .368 OBP but is only hitting .250 with 14 Ks in 13 games. He also has 2 home runs and 2 triples.

Ryan Schimpf (OF, 30), has a whopping .100 AVG and .182 OBP in 7 games.

John Lamb (LHP, 27), Has allowed 4 runs in 10.2 innings with 12Ks and 2 walks.

Parker Bridwell (RHP, 26), He’s been a batting practice machine with 25 hits allowed in 11.1 innings across the minors and his solo major league start. He’s also allowed 16 earned runs and 5 homers.