MLB draft 2019: Angels farm depth report - Outfielders

The MLB draft is less than 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 maybe Jo Adell and Brandon 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.

(age is age at 2019 season end)

Big League Guys

Mike Trout, 28
B-T: R-R
Contract: Signed through forever, $Gazillion Million
28 years old in August? Who said he could age??

Kole Calhoun, 31
B-T: L-R
Contract: Through 2019, 3 year $26 million

Justin Upton, 32
B-T: R-R
Contract: Through 2022, 5 year $106 million

Brian Goodwin, 28
B-T: L-R
Contract: 1 year $585K

Michael Hermosillo, 23
Drafted: 28th Round, 2013
B-T: R-R
Hermosillo has made a name for himself considering he was a late round pick. He’s already seem some big league time but that was derailed this year with an early injury. He should be back soon but will fight for playing time not that Goodwin is around and Fletcher is playing some outfield.

Major League Ready:

Jharrett Parker, 30
Drafted: 2nd Round, 2010 (Giants)
B-T: L-L
Current Level: AAA

Parker is one of those guys that’s around for major league outfield depth. He did a pretty solid job in spring training - at least offensively. He spent some time on the IL to start the year but has been KILLING it in SLC with a .310/.452/.580 slash with 6 homers in 100 ABs.

Cesar Puello, 28
Drafted: International free agent, 2007
B-T: R-R
Current Level: AAA

Another depth piece with a bit of MLB service time, Puello is also having a great season for SLC. He has a nearly identical slashline to Parker a .313/.450/.531 with 7 homers in 128 ABs.

Major league depth gone from last year:
Jabari Blash
Sherman Johnson
Eric Young Jr.
Ben Revere
Rymer Liriano

Major League Some Day:

Brennon Lund, 24
Drafted: 11th Round, 2016
B-T: L-R
Current Level: AAA
Lund has a career .350 OBP across 320 minor league games. There is a bit much swing and miss in his game for someone who doesn’t have a huge amount of power. Pushing him up to AAA this year means he’s on the verge of the majors, but he’s struggled with a .187 AVG and .267 OBP so far. He still profiles as a 4th outfielder type. At #27 on the prospect list, he’ll likely drop off after the upcoming dradt.

Brandon Marsh, 21
Drafted: 2nd Round, 2016
B-T: L-R
Current Level: AA
MLB ETA: 2021
You can read my interview with Brandon Marsh here. Marsh had a bit of a rough start to 2019 but has definitely found his groove. Like many prospects, the Angels moved him up fast after playing only 93 games at the High A level. Marsh is an excellent on base guy without a lot of power, but he can run - and seems to be doing more stealing as he moves up the ladder

Jo Adell, 20
Drafted: 1st Round, 2017
B-T: L-R
Current Level: AA
MLB ETA: 2020
Adell saw some good playing time in Spring Training but an injury has prevented him from playing so far in 2019. He is, however on the verge of returning any day now. The Angels will be careful with him, but we could see him in AAA before the year is over.

Maybe Major League Some Day:

Bo Way, 27
Drafted: 7th Round, 2014
B-T: L-L
Current Level: AA
Way has been floating around the system since 2014 and he’s getting older (he’s currently 3.2 years older than the average AA player). His stock as certainly dropped and he may end up more of a major league depth piece that spends a lot of time in AAA.

Brendon Sanger, 25
Drafted: 4th Round, 2015
B-T: L-R
Current Level: AA
Sanger has certainly lost some luster over and is hitting .218 with a .304 OBP in Mobile. He hasn’t really been standing out and with the current crop of outfield talent is trailing behind most of them. He may find himself in the same shoes as Bo Way - being a AAA depth piece but it doesn’t help that he’s not known for great defense either.

Brandon Sandoval, 23
Drafted: 27th Round, 2017
B-T: R-R
Current Level: AA
Sandoval is a great on base guy with a career .364 OBP in the minors. He’s down a bit his year at .328 but is hitting .289. He still has some upside but also suffers from the outfield talent overflow currently in the Angels system.

Future Uncertain:

Kyle Survance Jr, 25
Drafted: 8th Round, 2015
B-T: L-R
Current Level: A+
Didn’t play in 2016 due to TJ surgery. Also sat out 2018. He’s only hitting .160 this year and perhaps injuries have derailed his one promising career (he hit .363 in rookie ball).

Torii Hunter Jr., 24
Drafted: 23rd Round, 2016
B-T: R-R
Current Level: A+
Hunter Jr. is aging at the High A level where he’s hitting .236 this year. He has never been that highly touted of a prospect but he certainly has the pedigree. Despite his low average he’s still a great on base guy that walks a lot and can swipe some bases. He’ll need to move up to AA soon if he wants to keep progressing since he turns 24 in a few weeks. Speed is his best asset and could help keep him around a while.

Ryan Vega, 22
Drafted: 14th Round, 2015
B-T: R-R
Current Level: A+
Vega has been slow to move through the system, spending 2015-2017 in rookie ball, sitting out almost all of 2018, and landing in High A this year. He’s still young enough though but on the cusp and his .179 to start the year isn’t helping his case much. That low average may improve though as he is know to have a pretty good hit tool.

Other Notables:

Jordyn Adams, 19
Drafted: 1st Round, 2018
B-T: R-R
Current Level: A
Adams is starting his first full season of baseball and the Angels have high hopes for him after nabbing him in the 1st round of last year’s draft. He’s the #6 prospect for the Angels on MLB.com and has a run tool at the top of the charts (literally - an 80). While none of his other tools are standouts, they are all above average with a chance to develop into more. Adams is the next outfield prospect name to watch after Adell and Marsh.

D’Shawn Knowles, 18
Drafted: International free agent, 2018
B-T: R-R
Current Level: Rookie
Another top 10 prospect, the Angels signed him out of the Bahamas last year and he didn’t disappoint with his combination of speed, on base skills, and above average arm. He could develop some power at the plate as well and hit 5 home runs in 58 games last season.

Trent Deveaux, 19
Drafted: International free agent, 2018
B-T: R-R
Current Level: Rookie
Deveaux’s debut year was a bit of a bummer, but this signee out of the Bahama is loaded with talent and blazing fast speed (a trend for Billy Eppler). At least report, the youngster was only 160 pounds so should develop some more strength and power as he matures.

William English, 18
Drafted: 5th Round, 2018
B-T: R-R
Current Level: Rookie
English hasn’t played yet for the Angels but he’s an intriguing prospect they plan to develop as a two-way player. He’s said to have a 60 grade fastball and some great fielding skills. He may be a better pitcher than hitter but time will tell and he has plenty of time to develop.

Nonie Williams, 21
Drafted: 3rd Round, 2016
B-T: R-R
Current Level: A
No longer a top prospect, Williams has struggled offensively. The Angels have moved him to outfield as was expected but his hit tool is lagging. Williams is in his 4th year in the org and has yet to be much of a standout, but he is still only 21 years old.