MLB draft 2018: Angels farm depth report - Outfielders

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.

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.

(age is age at season end)

Big League Guys

Mike Trout, 27
B-T: R-R
Contract: Signed through 2020, 6 year $144.5 Million
27 years old in August? Who said he could age??

Kole Calhoun, 30
B-T: L-R
Contract: Through 2019, 3 year $26 million

Justin Upton, 31
B-T: S-R
Contract: Through 2022, 5 year $106 million

Chris Young
B-T: R-R
Contract: 1 year $2 million

Major League Ready:

Michael Hermosillo, 23
Drafted: 28th Round, 2013
B-T: R-R
MLB ETA: Been there done that (a little)
Hermosillo has made a name for himself considering he was a late round pick. He has a good shot at least being a 4th outfielder on the Angels at some point but they still see him as a potential starter so want to make sure he’s getting regular at bats.

Jabari Blash, 29
Drafted: 8th round, 2010 (SEA)
B-T: R-R
Current Level: AAA
MLB ETA: Been there done that
Blash hit .201/.322 for the Padres in 244 big league games. He’s been tearing up AAA this season with 15 home runs and is a depth piece for the big league team but probably not much else.

Sherman Johnson, 28
Drafted: 14th round, 2012
B-T: L-R
Current Level: AAA
MLB ETA: 2018/2019
Johnson has been moved to the outfield this season but he’s really played a bit of everything. He’s still a potential good bench piece for the Angels but probably won’t be a regular starter.

Eric Young Jr., 33
Drafted: 30th Round, 2003 (COL)
B-T: S-R
Current Level: AAA
MLB ETA: Been there done that
EYJ is still around but struggling a bit in AAA this year. Another good guy to have in the system as a depth piece but that’s about his ceiling - especially at his age.

Ben Revere, 30
Drafted: 1st round, 2007 (MIN)
B-T: L-R
Current Level: AAA
MLB ETA: Been there done that
Revere hasn’t played since April 16th when he landed on the DL. Like EYJ, he’s a depth piece and that’s about his ceiling these days.

Rymer Liriano, 27
Drafted: International free agent, 2009 (SD)
B-T: L-R
Current Level: AAA
MLB ETA: Been there done that
Liriano was signed as a depth piece and not much else. He’s younger than the other AAA guys so has that going for him. He has some power and has hit 11 homers so far this year in 33 games.

Maybe Major League Some Day:

Bo Way, 26
Drafted: 7th Round, 2014
B-T: L-L
Current Level: AA
MLB ETA: 2019
Way played 42 games for AAA last year but it’s a bit crowded in their outfield this year. He’s hitting .301 with a .408 OBP and about as many walks as strikeouts. Hard to say at this point that he has to stuff to be a regular big league starter and some of the more newly drafted guys may be passing him up soon.

Zach Gibbons, 24
Drafted: 17th Round, 2016
B-T: R-R
Current Level: AA
Gibbons was an org all star back in 2016 but hasn’t impressed too much since. He’s been okay but his ceiling looks to be more like a depth piece.

Too soon to know:

Brendon Sanger, 24
Drafted: 4th Round, 2015
B-T: L-R
Current Level: AA
Sanger is certainly losing his luster like many of the guys on this list with the new crop of talent that is rising. He’s a career .249 minor league hitting with 19 home runs and stolen bases over nearly 300 games so there is not much that stands out there.

Kyle Survance Jr, 24
Drafted: 8th Round, 2015
B-T: L-R
Current Level: A+
Hasn’t played this year and struggling mightily in 2017. The once bright future prospect has a star that is fading.

Brennon Lund, 23
Drafted: 11th Round, 2016
B-T: L-R
Current Level: AA
Lund’s tear through the system has slowed a bit in 2018 and he’s only hitting .245. He does have a .356 OBP and 9 stolen bases but will have to hit better at the AA level if he hopes to keep moving up the ladder.

Brandon Sandoval, 23
Drafted: 27th Round, 2017
B-T: R-R
Current Level: AA
Sandoval blew up IE with a .352 AVG and .403 OBP so was recently moved up to Mobile. He’s just 2 for 11 there so far. It’s too soon to know where this guy is gonna end up.

Torii Hunter, 23
Drafted: 23rd Round, 2016
B-T: R-R
Current Level: A
We didn’t get Vlad Jr, and instead ended up with Torri Jr. Hunter had a huge year in 2017 and the speedy outfielder is off to a .363 OBP start with 12 stolen bases in 2018. He also has a home run and 4 triples. Hard to argue with a good pedigree but he needs some more time to season before we can see where he will end up.

Jonah Todd, 23
Drafted: 6th Round, 2017
B-T: L-L
Current Level: A+
Todd is working on his first full pro season and so far is struggling with a .176 AVG. Fielding skills are perhaps his best asset. His most likely ceiling is as a 4th outfielder in the majors.

Ryan Vega, 22
Drafted: International free agent, 2015
B-T: R-R
Current Level: A+
Vega had himself a year in 2017 at Orem but has only played 1 game so far this season. He’s a corner outfielder type and could be a good lead off hitter. Much yet to be seen since at his current age of 21, he’s just beginning his first “full” pro season.

Brandon Marsh, 20
Drafted: 2nd Round, 2016
B-T: L-R
Current Level: A+
Monster Marsh hasn’t done much yet in his 37 high A at bats, but he should have a good year there. We’ll see how he does in his first full season and how he adjust to the rising talent level coming from his opposing pitchers.

Jo Adell, 19
Drafted: 1st Round, 2017
B-T: L-R
Current Level: A+
He’s young with plenty of time to develop and still has a high ceiling. He moved up to IE recently but hasn’t hit too well there yet so is still adjusting. In his 25 A ball games this year he had 6 home runs and a .398 OBP. He has 5 hits so far in IE and among them are 2 doubles and 2 homers.