Los Angeles Angels: Breaking Down the Top 5 Prospects in the Angels' Farm System

There are very few teams in baseball that boast a talent at the top of their farm system like Mike Trout, but the Los Angeles Angels lucked out when 24 other teams passed on him in the 2009 draft. 

The 20-year-old center fielder is by far the class of the organization. Unfortunately for them, there is no real depth behind Trout in the system. There are a few big-league contributors, but no impact players. 

That could be part of the reason why they decided to spend almost $320 million on Albert Pujols and C.J. Wilson this offseason. 

As we ponder the meaning of why the front office opted to spend so much money, we can also look at the top prospects who will soon find a home in Anaheim via Los Angeles. 

1. Mike Trout, 20, Outfield

Trout is the most complete prospect in all of baseball right now. His future is going to include many All-Star games, Gold Gloves and, possibly, MVP awards. He impressed the Angels so much that he was called up to the big league club in July at just 19 years old. 

Strengths: No position player in the minors can match Trout's all-around ability. He has an advanced hitting approach, works counts, takes walks and will hit for power. He has a great, simple swing that doesn't require a lot of extra movement or loading up to hit the ball out of the park. He is one of the fastest players in the minors, which he uses to track down balls in the outfield, steal bases and beat out infield hits. He gets great reads in center field and can fly to where he needs to be. He doesn't have the strongest arm, but makes up for it with accuracy. 

Weaknesses: While every player has some weakness that they need to work on, Trout really does excel in every area. One thing I didn't mention before that he also does well is run the bases. There are no significant flaws in his game that he has to fix. He did look overwhelmed at times in the big leagues, but he was just 19 and played sporadically. 

Report: No matter how they do it, the Angels need to put Trout in their starting lineup from day one this year. He is ready to contribute and would be a significant upgrade over Vernon Wells. He is a future No. 3 hitter and MVP candidate with plus-defense, hitting, speed and power in center field. 

ETA: 2012

2. Jean Segura, 21, Shortstop

There is a lot of projection left in Segura, and he has to prove that he can stay healthy for an entire season, but he could be another quality up-the-middle player in the big leagues for the Angels. There are questions about where his future position is—either shortstop, second base or third base. 

Strengths: Segura has a good throwing arm at shortstop. He doesn't have a lot of accuracy on his throws, but he can get it on you in a hurry. His bat has the potential to be plus, with great bat speed, a short swing to the ball and more power than he has shown so far. 

Weaknesses: He is still trying to get the hang of actually throwing the ball to first base. He also has problems catching it. The biggest detriment to his development thus far has been injuries—he has played in more than 55 games twice in two seasons. 

Report: He has work to do on defense, and could be moved to third base when all is said and done. He can succeed over there because he has good instincts and a strong arm. Offensively, he should hit for a high average and at least average power. His plate discipline needs work, and he has to learn to take a walk. 

ETA: 2014

3. Garrett Richards, 23, Right-Handed Pitcher

The Angels were aggressive with Richards last season, promoting him to the big leagues after 22 starts in Double-A. He struggled in seven appearances with the team, posting an ERA of 5.79 with nine strikeouts and seven walks in 14 innings. 

Strengths: Richards seems to be getting better the more he pitches, as evidenced by his domination of Double-A last year. He has a live arm with a mid-90s fastball and wipeout slider. Though his changeup is inconsistent, it does have good tailing action when he throws it for strikes. 

Weaknesses: He is still trying to figure out how to throw his offspeed pitches for strikes consistently. He does use some effort in his delivery and puts stress on his shoulder, bringing his arm across his body instead of getting on top of the ball. 

Report: The stuff looks like that of a No. 2, but he has to refine his mechanics and throw his offspeed pitchers for strikes more to live up to that ceiling. He could be a late-inning, high-leverage reliever if he can't cut it as a starter. 

ETA: 2012

4. Kaleb Cowart, 19, Third Base

Cowart was the Angels' first-round pick in 2010 and has not played above rookie league yet, but you can dream of him becoming a potential big-league regular with his flashy tools and future projection. He has a long way to go before getting there, but that's one of the great parts about being 19 years old in professional baseball. 

Strengths: Cowart, a switch-hitter, has a terrific right-handed swing. He has good bat speed and drives the ball to the outfield when he makes contact. His left-handed swing is not as advanced, though he is getting a better feel for it. He has a great throwing arm at the hot corner and has improved with the glove over the last year. 

Weaknesses: He is inconsistent with the bat, not making enough contact to show off his power swing. His throws from third base do not look pretty, leading to a lot of careless errors—he had 16 last season. 

Report: Though he is still refining his approach at the plate, Cowart has made good strides and could hit for a good average with above-average power. He has to slow himself down on defense in order to cut down the mistakes. He has the athleticism and feel for the position to at least be adequate. 

ETA: 2016

5. Johnny Hellweg, 23, Right-Handed Pitcher

The Angels did Hellweg a huge favor by moving him from the bullpen to a starting role. He has the dominant stuff required to start a game, and could pitch at the top of rotation someday. It would not be difficult to see him at the top of this list next year, if he has any prospect eligibility left. 

Strengths: Hellweg boasts a terrific fastball that sits in the high 90s and has good sinking action. He complements that pitch with a sharp, hard slider. His delivery is smooth and easy. At 6'9", Hellweg has no problems getting on top of the ball. He showed a better feel for those pitches in 2011, and should continue to refine his command with more experience in the rotation. 

Weaknesses: Command and control have never been strong assets for Hellweg. He is still trying to find a release point that will allow him to throw strikes consistently and, eventually, with quality. He doesn't really use a third pitch, which will make it hard for him to be a quality starter. 

Report: The fastball-slider combination gives Hellweg the potential to be a No. 2 starter in a good rotation. He has to find a third pitch and learn how to control all of them before he can come close to that ceiling. 

ETA: 2013

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