Los Angeles Angels: Top Prospects (30-26)

Scott AllenNov 5, 2011

Just about every site on the internet produces a Top Prospect list.

So many are produced that fans can never be sure who is right and who is wrong when it comes to evaluating players. Baseball America may say something completely different than Baseball Prospectus, which is in contrast to John Sickels who agrees with Jonathan Mayo who disagrees with FanGraphs but agrees with ESPN.

Relying on large sites to get accurate information on Angels prospects often can be a confusing experience.

They use knowledgeable scouts who may see a player once, but are forced to give a report on them for the sake of time because they need to fly across the country to see another player in five hours. They don't have the time or the resources to focus on players the way team-specific sites do.

It's sort of like going to a gas station to buy a bottle of wine; they might have one there, but the quality won't be as nice as one you could get from a winery in Napa Valley.

It is for this reason that Bleacher Report has teamed up with LA Angels Insider and Garrett Wilson, editor at Monkeywithahalo.com, to provide you the fan with the most in-depth prospect report on the planet.

According to the agreement, podcasts can be found at laangelsinider.com; reports including video will be made available first at monkeywithahalo.com. Suffice it to say, if you don't find it on this report, you won't find it anywhere else.

Such detail comes at a price though, there's no way any fan could digest so much information at once, so Bleacher Report will divide the Top 30 Prospect Report into a six-part series. This is part one of the six-part series.

Top Prospect No. 30, High Upside Flame Thrower Austin Wood

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Austin Wood
Position: Starting Pitcher Level: Rookie
Bats: Right Throws: Right Height: 6'4" Weight: 225 lbs.
Age: 21 Born: July 11, 1990

2011 Season Stats (at USC): 5-7, 77.0 IP, 5.61 ERA, 90 H, 34 BB, 50 K

2011 Season Stats (Rookie): 0-0, 1.1 IP, 20.25 ERA, 90 H, 0 BB, 1 K

Fastball—A. Not much movement, but according to scouting reports it sits at 97+.

Breaking Ball—C. Slurve type curve, nothing to write home about yet.

Change up—B-. He has it, and uses it. Nothing in the way of commanding it, but it’s good.

Performance–N/A, just 1.1 innings of minor league play.

Projection—A. Cape Cod manager said he was capable of going top five or 10 in draft.

Comp—Floor: Erratic reliever that never lives up to promise. Ceiling: Josh Beckett.

Video—Wood pitching for USC

Estimated MLB Arrival Date: 2015.

Season Summary: Wood is a very interesting case. He is leaving college after his junior season at USC after spending his sophomore season in junior college and freshman year at Florida State. At none of those stops did Wood ever post numbers worth noticing.

What he does have though is a high 90s fastball and two potentially plus off-speed pitches to complement it, meaning his upside is completely based on projection. As odd as it sounds, a big reason to hope for big things from Wood is that he dominated in the Cape Cod League in 2010.

That Cape Cod performance may be just a few good weeks compared to seasons of mediocrity, but he was virtually unhittable at Cape Cod, which demonstrates just how good he can be when he has things going right. The task now for the Angels' player development staff is getting him right and keeping him there.

Now, that might seem risky, but Garrett Richards came out of college with a very similar profile and he has gotten the coaching he needed and is now a top pitching prospect, which is obviously the hope here with Wood.

However, since Wood didn't sign until the last minute, we will have to wait until next season to get a first-hand look at what he is capable of. Technically, we did see Wood make two short relief appearances in Orem this year, but there is no real analysis that can be drawn from such a small sample.

Finally, give the Angel front office some credit for getting Wood signed. He was a signability gamble in the sixth round, but they got it done and were thus able to land a guy who could very well have gone in the first round next year.

What to Expect in 2012: Wood needs some coddling, so it is a good bet that he will return to Orem next season so that he can work on everything that the Angels coaching staff has been teaching him in a low-pressure environment. However, there is a chance that he could start at Low-A Cedar Rapids instead if Wood can quickly implement everything he is going to be taught in instructional league.

The Angels know that his stuff is good, so they will want him to focus on improving his command and mastering the mental side of pitching rather than just being a guy who throws really, really hard. If he can adapt as quickly as Richards did, Wood has the talent to rocket up through that Angels system and in prospect rankings everywhere.

Top Prospect No. 29 RHP Michael Clevinger

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Michael Clevinger
Position: Relief Pitcher Level: Rookie (2011 fourh-round draft choice)
Bats: Right Throws: Right Height: 6'4" Weight: 202 lbs.
Age: 20 Born: December 21, 1990

2011 Season Stats: 0-0, 4.0 IP, 2.25 ERA, 3 H, 0 HR, 2 BB, 5 K, 2.20 FIP, .300 BABIP, 0.40 GO/AO

Fastball—A-. Sits at 95 mph with a deceptive three-quarter delivery that could be effective against RHB.

Breaking Ball—B. Has the necessary slider to put hitters away.

Change up—Not applicable. He doesn’t use it as a RP, but should he ever start, he has one.

Performance—B+. Best K/9 ratio in competitive Florida JUCO scene. Solid in Orem.

Projection—B. Has the stuff to be closer/decent No. 3 SP, reports indicate he’ll remain in pen.

Comp—Floor: Ben Weber. Ceiling: Octavio Dotel.

Estimated MLB Arrival Date: 2014

Season Summary: Michael Clevinger was set to play his 2011 college season at the Citadel, but instead made a late decision to transfer to Seminole State Community College, one of the more competitive JUCOs out there. The decision was clearly aimed at prepping himself to be drafted this year, a decision that worked out pretty well for the fourth-rounder.

At Seminole, Clevinger showed the potential to be a hard-throwing dominant reliever, fanning 52 batters in 31.2 innings of work while walking 11. That's a pretty good set of peripherals to build on for a 20-year old.

Like Austin Wood before him, Clevinger signed relatively late, so he only got in a little bit of work with the Orem Owlz, making just three appearances. However, in that short time, Clevinger performed right about as expected.

What to Expect in 2012: Clevinger still needs some polish, but as a college relief arm, his path to the majors could be a pretty short one. As his college numbers indicate, control isn't a big problem for him, which it can be for many hard-throwing relief prospects.

What he does need to prove though is that he can be more than just a kid with a big heater and a deceptive delivery. Clevinger has the makings of a good slider, but it isn't refined yet. He'll eventually have to develop that into a real out-pitch since he can't count on just blowing batters away as he climbs the minor league ladder.

After that, Clevinger's ultimate upside will depend on whether or not he can get lefties out in addition to righties. His three-quarter arm slot can make life hard on right-handed batters, but it can have the opposite effect on left-handed batters. Seeing how he primarily lives off his fastball and seldom uses his change up, he will need to figure out how to neutralize left-handed batters if he hopes to develop into a legit closer.

There is one last little wrinkle there are some rumblings that Clevinger could be looked at as a starter first. I think that is probably unlikely, but I guess I get the notion to see if he can hack it in the rotation since they are relatively sure he can always have a future in relief.

The problem is that converting him into a starter could slow his development curve considerably. That question aside, it will be interesting to see where Clevinger starts next season. It isn't out of the question that he could return to Orem, but since he is a college arm, it seems more likely that he'll start in Low-A or High-A.

Hard thrower, could be ready fast, some rumbles he could become a starter, but that is doubtful. Better off sticking at reliever if they want him promoted fast. Prove he can get lefties out.

Top Prospect No. 28 C Abel Baker

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Despite what the unceremonious divestment of Mike Napoli might suggest, the Angels seem to be going out of their way to stockpile slugging catchers in their farm system. After a nice debut in Orem, it is safe to say that Abel Baker has the potential to some day get a chance to be bring his big bat to Anaheim only to have to spend his entire existence proving to Manager Mike Scioscia that he can field the position. In other words, you've got company, Hank Conger!

Abel Baker
Position: Catcher  Level: Rookie (2011 seventh round draft pick)
Bats: Left Throws: Right  Height: 6'1" Weight: 195 lbs.
Age: 21  Born: October 26, 1990

2011 Season Stats: 157 AB, .306 AVG, .406 OBP, .471 SLG, 10 2B, 2 3B, 4 HR, 33 RBI, 43 SO, 1 SB, 1 CS, .393 BABIP

Bat—B+. Decent hitter for average and has good pop for a catcher. Advanced approach.

Speed—C. It’s decent for a catcher, but it will never be a strong suit.

Arm— A. Baker has an absolute cannon, already looks like one of the best in the system.

Performance—B. Baker was one of the better hitters for Orem and a solid defensive catcher.

Projection—An offensive-minded everyday catcher.

Com—Floor: Bobby Wilson. Ceiling: Ramon Hernandez.

Estimated MLB Arrival Date: 2015-2016

Season Summary: Baker was taken in the seventh round with the 225th overall pick in this year's draft out of Grayson County Community College, the same school that produced John Lackey, so try not to hold that against him. The book on Baker was that he was a catcher with a big power bat and a big arm behind the plate.

Baker dominated during the JUCO season, hitting .359 with seven homers and 14 doubles in 170 at-bats. He kept that on going at that pace after he got drafted and made the jump to the Pioneer League.

Baker hit for average, drew plenty of walks in Orem and had his power hold up as well. With a .166 ISO, he wasn't exactly crushing the ball, but given the small sample size and the switch from aluminum bat to wood bat for Baker, it was more than sufficient.

If there is a concern for Baker after his rookie season it was his caught stealing rate.

For a guy who supposedly has a cannon for an arm, he got run on a bit, allowing 54 of 72 base stealers beat him. That isn't a terrible percentage considering that so many pitchers at that level have a hard time controlling the running game, but it is low enough to be worth keeping an eye on. After all, this is a catcher in the Angel organization and if he can't defend the position, Scioscia won't let him have much of a future.

What to Expect in 2012: Given Baker's success at Orem, it seems pretty likely that the he'll get the promotion to Low-A ball with the Cedar Rapids Kernels. Getting a full season out of Baker definitely will go a long way towards assessing what his real potential is. In particular, I would be curious to see how Abel's platoon splits turn out over the course of a full season.

Baker is a left-handed batter, but he was a switch-hitter in high school before he finally scrapped it. Being a left-hand hitting catcher is actually a huge boost to his potential, and if it turns out that he can hold his own against southpaw pitchers, then that will be a huge bonus.

Expect to see even more power from Baker too. He only turned 21 last month and has a frame that could add more muscle.

Not to hammer the point home too hard, but while his bat is what fans will watch, to the Angel organization, the year will be all about defense for Baker. Baker will have to prove that he has more to his defensive repertoire than a rocket arm. His pitch blocking, handling pitchers and framing all will be scrutinized.

This is the team's first real chance to get their hands on Baker and work extensively with him to make the necessary adjustments. If he can make the necessary changes and please the great and mighty Sosh, his bat should carry him through the system pretty quickly.

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Top Prospect No. 27 1B/3B Casey Haerther

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Casey Haerther
Position: 1B/3B  Level: High-A
Bats: Right Throws: Right  Height: 6'2" Weight: 210 lbs.
Age: 24  Born: October 5, 1987

2011 Season Stats: 437 AB, .293 AVG, .330 OBP, .426 SLG, 34 2B, 0 3B, 8 HR, 68 RBI, 73 SO, 1 SB, 2 CS, .334 BABIP

Bat—B. Good average with gap power, but HR power still hasn’t emerged yet.

Speed—C. He moves well for a corner IF, even if his stolen base totals don’t indicate it.

Arm—B. It’s good enough to remain at the hot corner, but 1B is more than likely his future.

Performance—B. Haerther is a consistent middle-of-the-order bat.

Projection—His bat will take him as far as he will go. A good 1B/3B utility player/PH.

Comp—Floor: Rob Quinlan. Ceiling: Jorge Cantu.

Estimated MLB Arrival Date: 2014

Video—Haerther shows off his sweet swing at UCLA

Season Summary: It is hard to complain about Haerther's season because he really didn't do anything poorly. However, he also didn't do anything particularly well. Each year, Haerther hits .300 or close to it and provides a solid and consistent offensive presence for his team.

What he doesn't do though is take walks or hit for power. With just 24 walks and eight home runs, Haerther has all the makings of a classic empty batting average guy. That isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it does limit his upside considerably.

It isn't as if Haerther is a slap-hitter, but a .133 ISO just isn't going to strike fear into the heart of even Single-A pitchers. And walking in just over five percent of his plate appearances gives him very little margin for error when it comes to hitting for average. While he has hovered near .300 in his three-year career, if he sees his average decline as he continues to climb the ladder, say down to .270, he suddenly looks less like a non-contact hitter and more of an out machine.

Make no mistake though, Haerther can make contact. He struck out just 73 times this season, so at least he isn't giving away at-bats. If he can keep that up, his consistent contact skills can allow him to cover up for his lack of power and give him a shot at a career as a bench player.

What to Expect in 2012: What complicates matters for Casey isn't just his lack of home run power, but rather his uncertain position on the field combined with his lack of power. As a third baseman, Haerther's ceiling as a gap power guy is far more tolerable than it would be if he ends up being more of a full-time first baseman. Unfortunately, it seems like his future at the hot corner is cooling off since he just isn't a defensive asset there.

The good news is that not all hope is yet lost for his power stroke, though he is running out of time. Haerther is destined to make the big leap to Double-A in 2012 where the opposing pitchers are much more talented and the Texas League ballparks are far less forgiving.

He is simply going to have to find a way to start getting some loft on balls and driving them out of the park if he wants to survive in Double-A. He is a well-built kid with decent athleticism, so if he continues to build his strength, he could find that missing power, though he'll never be a big-time power threat.

Top Prospect No. 26 RHP Loek Van Mil

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Acquired at the end of 2010 in exchange for Brian Fuentes, the Netherlands-born Van Mil was acquired knowing that he was a major project, but after a strong close to his 2011 campaign, the project looks like it might finally be nearing completion.

Loek Van Mil
Position: Relief Pitcher  Level: AA
Bats: Right  Throws: Right  Height: 7'1"  Weight: 220 lbs.
Age: 27  Born: September 15, 1984

2011 Season Stats: 3-5, 66.1 IP, 2.04 ERA, 53 H, 4 HR, 23 BB, 46 K, 3.95 FIP, .248 BABIP, 1.26 GO/AO

Fastball—A. Extreme downward angle/close release make his 93mph FB hard to square up.

Breaking Ball—B. Slider lacks bite to be a swing & miss pitch, but effective nonetheless.

Change up—C. He rarely uses it, but it’s there and was useful for his spot starts.

Performance—A. Numbers were terrific, he seems to have “figured it out.” Great in playoffs.

Projection—A good middle-to-late inning reliever or swing starter.

Comp—Floor: Jon Rauch. Ceiling: Tyler Clippard.

Video—Van Mil pitching in the Twins organization

Estimated MLB Arrival Date: Mid-2012

Season Summary: Van Mil was acquired via trade in 2010, but it was so late in the season that he only threw one inning in the Angel farm system, and 2011 was the first real chance we've gotten to see Van Mil. The book on him before the season was that he was an obviously very tall guy who threw hard, but didn't exactly know how to pitch.

That may have been the case to start the season, but it sure didn't look like it by the end.

Van Mil struggled with consistency the first two months of the season, allowing five earned runs each in May and June, but after that, everything just seemed to click as he only allowed five more earned runs the rest of the entire season, including an August when he didn't allow a single earned run.

That stretch was so good, in fact, that many Angel fans, myself included, called for him to be promoted to the majors. In retrospect, that was probably more out of the sad state of the big league bullpen than Van Mil's readiness. While he is 27 years old, he is still a raw prospect who may have been damaged by skipping a level of the minors.

One reason a big league promotion might've been premature is that Loek and his shiny 2.04 ERA look to have been the recipient of some good luck and good environment. As you can see in the stat line above, his FIP is 3.95, which is miles above his 2.04 ERA. This is no surprise since his .248 BABIP also appears to be quite low for him. His home park in Arkansas was likely a contributor to that since his ERA at home this season was a tiny 1.06, but on the road it was a full two runs higher at 3.06.

What to Expect in 2012: The potential is there with Van Mil, but the results aren't quite good enough. His K/9 of 6.24 last season is reasonable, but it is hardly inspiring enough to convince anyone beyond a reasonable doubt that he can miss bats consistently in the majors.

Where he could make a case for a successful big league career is by inducing lots and lots of grounders with his obvious physical advantage when it comes to generating a downward plane on his pitches. His 1.26 GO/AO rate last season shows promise, but it still isn't good enough, especially since such ground-ball rates typically get worse as a pitcher moves up in levels.

That is why 2012 will be a huge season for Van Mil, who should begin the year in the thin air of Triple-A Salt Lake. If he can prove to Angel management that he can keep the ball down in Salt Lake, then it should be what he needs to earn himself a major league audition for one of the last spots in the Angel bullpen.

Given that he is already on the 40-man roster, the Angels should give him a call-up at some point, even if they wait until September to do it, unless he turns out to be a total train wreck in Triple-A.