- Thread starter
- #1
Draft Report Cards: Los Angeles Angels
By John Manuel
October 22, 2010
E-mail Print
QUICK TAKE
The Angels had three first-round picks and spent them all on Georgia high school products. Los Angeles fired scouting director Eddie Bane's in September, reportedly because of tension between him and GM Tony Reagins.
Bonus Spending: $8.1 million
POSITION PLAYERS
BEST PURE HITTER: Most clubs didn't rate 2B Taylor Lindsey (1s) as a sandwich pick, but the Angels believed in his bat. He hit .592 and .557 in his last two high school seasons, then .284/.325/.407 in his pro debut in the Rookie-level Arizona League. » BEST POWER HITTER: 3B/RHP Kaleb Cowart (1) and OF Ryan Bolden (1s) have above-average raw power. Several teams liked Cowart better as a pitcher, but he and the Angels prefer that he plays every day. » FASTEST RUNNER: Bolden has 70 speed on the 20-80 scouting scale, with OF Chevez Clarke (1) a step behind him. » BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER: SS Wendell Soto (3) is a quality defender who needs to add strength to hold his own at the plate. Cowart and Clarke had two of the strongest arms among position players in the entire draft.
PITCHERS
BEST FASTBALL: RHP Daniel Tillman (2) pitched at 93-96 mph in his pro debut. RHPs Cam Bedrosian (1), Donn Roach (3s) and Justin LaTempa (12) top out at 95. » BEST SECONDARY PITCH: Bedrosian's hammer curveball is his best pitch. Tillman's slider give him a second weapon for late-inning relief.
ODDS AND ENDS
BEST PRO DEBUT: Tillman, OF Drew Heid (9) and OF Brandon Decker (27) all stood out at Rookie-level Orem. Tillman had a 1.95 ERA, 10 saves and 50 strikeouts in 32 innings, while Heid batted .362/.435/.505 and led the Pioneer League with 104 hits and Decker batted .341/.429/.653 with 13 home runs. » BEST ATHLETE: Bolden offers power and speed in a center-field package, and his only substandard tool is his fringy arm. Clarke has average or better tools across the board. » MOST INTRIGUING BACKGROUND: In part because he spent four years in the military, RHP Chance Mistric (42) was one of the oldest draftees ever at age 26. Mistric, who won the championship game of the Division II Junior College World Series for Louisiana State-Eunice, throws a heavy sinker in the low 90s. Bedrosian's father Steve won the National League Cy Young Award in 1987. RHP A.J. Schugel (25), who showed a 92-93 mph fastball after converting from third base, is the son of Angels big league scout Jeff. Clarke is related to the Hairston clan, which has produced five big leaguers. 2B Mike Sodders' (31) father Mike was the 11th overall pick in the June 1981 draft. » CLOSEST TO THE MAJORS: As a reliever with two plus pitches, Tillman could shoot through the minors. » BEST LATE-ROUND PICK: Decker. » THE ONE WHO GOT AWAY: LHP Josh Osich (7) peaked at 99 mph and had a sharp curveball before blowing out his elbow and missing the 2009 season following Tommy John surgery. The Angels made a run at him, but he returned to Oregon State. They also failed to sign projectable RHP Jesus Valdez (5), who's attending Arizona.
By John Manuel
October 22, 2010
E-mail Print
QUICK TAKE
The Angels had three first-round picks and spent them all on Georgia high school products. Los Angeles fired scouting director Eddie Bane's in September, reportedly because of tension between him and GM Tony Reagins.
Bonus Spending: $8.1 million
POSITION PLAYERS
BEST PURE HITTER: Most clubs didn't rate 2B Taylor Lindsey (1s) as a sandwich pick, but the Angels believed in his bat. He hit .592 and .557 in his last two high school seasons, then .284/.325/.407 in his pro debut in the Rookie-level Arizona League. » BEST POWER HITTER: 3B/RHP Kaleb Cowart (1) and OF Ryan Bolden (1s) have above-average raw power. Several teams liked Cowart better as a pitcher, but he and the Angels prefer that he plays every day. » FASTEST RUNNER: Bolden has 70 speed on the 20-80 scouting scale, with OF Chevez Clarke (1) a step behind him. » BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER: SS Wendell Soto (3) is a quality defender who needs to add strength to hold his own at the plate. Cowart and Clarke had two of the strongest arms among position players in the entire draft.
PITCHERS
BEST FASTBALL: RHP Daniel Tillman (2) pitched at 93-96 mph in his pro debut. RHPs Cam Bedrosian (1), Donn Roach (3s) and Justin LaTempa (12) top out at 95. » BEST SECONDARY PITCH: Bedrosian's hammer curveball is his best pitch. Tillman's slider give him a second weapon for late-inning relief.
ODDS AND ENDS
BEST PRO DEBUT: Tillman, OF Drew Heid (9) and OF Brandon Decker (27) all stood out at Rookie-level Orem. Tillman had a 1.95 ERA, 10 saves and 50 strikeouts in 32 innings, while Heid batted .362/.435/.505 and led the Pioneer League with 104 hits and Decker batted .341/.429/.653 with 13 home runs. » BEST ATHLETE: Bolden offers power and speed in a center-field package, and his only substandard tool is his fringy arm. Clarke has average or better tools across the board. » MOST INTRIGUING BACKGROUND: In part because he spent four years in the military, RHP Chance Mistric (42) was one of the oldest draftees ever at age 26. Mistric, who won the championship game of the Division II Junior College World Series for Louisiana State-Eunice, throws a heavy sinker in the low 90s. Bedrosian's father Steve won the National League Cy Young Award in 1987. RHP A.J. Schugel (25), who showed a 92-93 mph fastball after converting from third base, is the son of Angels big league scout Jeff. Clarke is related to the Hairston clan, which has produced five big leaguers. 2B Mike Sodders' (31) father Mike was the 11th overall pick in the June 1981 draft. » CLOSEST TO THE MAJORS: As a reliever with two plus pitches, Tillman could shoot through the minors. » BEST LATE-ROUND PICK: Decker. » THE ONE WHO GOT AWAY: LHP Josh Osich (7) peaked at 99 mph and had a sharp curveball before blowing out his elbow and missing the 2009 season following Tommy John surgery. The Angels made a run at him, but he returned to Oregon State. They also failed to sign projectable RHP Jesus Valdez (5), who's attending Arizona.
