Checking out the Angels' new Top 30 Prospects list
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ANAHEIM -- The Angels’ Top 30 prospects list looks much different than it did at the start of the season, as they’ve been aggressive promoting their top prospects to the Majors and also traded away several of their Minor Leaguers at the Deadline.
The Angels also had the No. 11 overall selection in the Draft and selected first baseman Nolan Schanuel from Florida Atlantic University. He already slides in as the club’s No. 2 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, behind catcher Logan O’Hoppe, who would’ve already graduated from prospect status had he not sustained a torn labrum in his left shoulder in April. But O’Hoppe started a rehab assignment with Single-A Inland Empire on Tuesday and is expected to return to the Angels in late August.
But the Angels also traded away several players who ranked among their Top 30 prospects, including catcher Edgar Quero, infielder/outfielder Jeremiah Jackson and pitchers Ky Bush, Jake Madden, Mason Albright, Landon Marceaux and Coleman Crow.
Right-hander Caden Dana and outfielder Nelson Rada are among their prized prospects who didn’t get moved at the Trade Deadline. Dana, 19, has posted a 3.56 ERA with 89 strikeouts over 68 1/3 innings across Single-A Inland Empire and High-A Tri-City, while Rada, 17, is hitting .264/.395/.326 with two homers, 11 doubles, 46 stolen bases and 39 RBIs in 89 games with Single-A Inland Empire.
Here's how the midseason prospect rankings look for the Angels:
Here’s a look at the Angels’ top prospects:
1. O’Hoppe, C
2. Schanuel, 1B
3. Dana, RHP
4. Rada, OF
Biggest jump/fall
Here are the players whose ranks changed the most from the preseason list:
Jump: Jack Kochanowicz, RHP (Preseason: NR | Midseason: 10) -- Kochanowicz has had a solid season between High-A Tri-City and Double-A Rocket City, posting a 4.95 ERA with 65 strikeouts in 87 1/3 innings. A third-round pick in the 2019 Draft, the 6-foot-7 right-hander has worked to lower his arm slot.
Fall: Mason Erla, RHP (Preseason: 18 | Midseason: NR) -- Erla has struggled betwen Double-A Rocket City and Triple-A Salt Lake with an 8.94 ERA in 49 1/3 innings. He’s had trouble with his control, walking 30 hitters.
New to the list
Here are the players added to the Top 30 from outside the organization:
2. Schanuel, 1B (Draft)
5. Rios, C (Draft)
9. Barrett Kent, RHP (Draft)
19. Camden Minacci, RHP (Draft)
29. John Wimmer, SS (Draft)
Impact callup: Trey Cabbage, 1B/OF (No. 27)
While Cabbage didn’t provide that much production during his dozen games in the big leagues this year, other than his first Major League home run, he’s been extremely productive in Triple-A, with a 20-20 season. He just got sent back down to Salt Lake, and the acquisitions of C.J. Cron and Randal Grichuk makes it a little crowded in the big leagues, but the left-handed pop is legit.
Best tools
Players are graded on a traditional 20-80 scouting scale for future tools -- 20-30 is well below average, 40 is below average, 50 is average, 60 is above average and 70-80 is well above average. Players in parentheses have the same grade.
Hit: 60 -- Schanuel
Power: 55 -- O’Hoppe
Run: 80 -- Jordyn Adams
Arm: 60 -- Juan Flores
Defense: 60 -- Adams (Livan Soto)
Fastball: 80 -- Ben Joyce
Curveball: 55 -- Dana
Slider: 60 -- Kochanowicz (Camden Minacci)
Changeup: 55 -- Kelvin Caceres
Control: 55 -- Jorge Marcheco