Let’s Go Prospecting: Those Other Guys

With Mike Trout‘s recent graduation to the big leagues, most of the excitement left the Angels farm system. I’m just as guilty of underplaying the rest of the Halos’ youngsters because of how brightly Trout shines. But I’m a big prospect nerd at heart and will try to correct the error of my ways. On to the “other guys.”

Kaleb Cowart LoA Cedar Rapids
Cowart is playing his first year of full season ball in Cedar Rapids. He’s just 19-years-old (which IS young unlessyou’re Bryce Harper or Trout) and raw. While the potential third baseman of the future is years away, he is already displaying some much needed power from the hot corner. Cowart went 2-3 Monday night with his fifth home run of the season. The 4BB/22K is kinda gross and the .263/.300/.456 isn’t great good but it does put Pujols’ slash line to shame. Too soon? Let’s move on.

Cowart was the sixth best prospect in the Angels system according to Baseball America before the season (and before last season).

Taylor Lindsey HiA Inland Empire
Lindsey was the Angels sandwich round pick in 2010 and the second baseman has hit ever since. The hit tool is impressive but there isn’t much pop to go along with it. He went 1-4 Monday night and has a .306/.361/.444 line with two home runs and five doubles on the season. Again, his 7BB/19K is nothing to write home about but these are young kids.

Lindsey was BA’s seventh best Angels prospect before the season.

C.J. Cron HiA Inland Empire
Cron shouldn’t take much seasoning in the minors considering he only does one thing. Hit. And hit for power. Cron went 2-4 Monday with his fifth double of the season but his SLG is down to start the year. A trend throughout the Angels system apparently. Cron does have four homers to go with his .248/.306/.398 line but the times should get better for him quickly. He is playing some 1B in the minors but, let’s face it, has DH written all over him.

Son of former major leaguer, Chris Cron, C.J. has the pedigree and ability to be a professional hitter. Cron was the 17th pick overall in 2011 out of the University of Utah. Already 22-years-old, he should move up fast only to find his positions blocked by Pujols, Kendrys Morales and Mark Trumbo. Good times. Of course, Morales is a free agent after this year.

Cron was ranked the Angels fifth best prospect after the 2011 season by BA.

Jean Segura AA Arkansas
Segura went 1-5 Monday with a caught stealing. He’s only hitting .265/.320/.376 this season with two home runs, three doubles and two triples. Segura, a solid second baseman, has turned out to be a capable short stop as well. Unfortunately, that means nothing considering the Angels just locked up Howie Kendrick and Erick Aybar to four year extensions.

Baseball America ranked Segura as the Angels second best prospect after the 2011 season and 55 in their top 100. Segura is an intriguing prospect in the Angels system now. Is he a trade chip? He’s their best non-pitching prospect so it will be interesting to see how Jerry Dipoto handles Segura’s future with the club.

Tyler Skaggs AA Mobile
Oh, right. Okay so maybe Skaggs isn’t in the Angels organization anymore but he was in action Monday with another ho-hum seven innings of five hit, one walk, seven strikeout ball. Luckily, I’m one of the biggest Dan Haren fans around so I’m not one to look back on dealing Skaggs for him in an unfavorable light. But Skaggs has looked exception since entering the Diamondbacks system and is living up to his 13th best overall prospect ranking by BA.

Austin Wood LoA Cedar Rapids
Wood gave up two earned on seven hits and three walks over five innings Monday. He did strike out six, though, and now has 38 Ks in 32 innings for the season.

Dylan Bundy LoA Delmarva
I don’t really care that Bundy has absolutely nothing to do with the Angels. He is ridiculous and you should know who he is. The fourth overall pick by the Orioles in 2011 has allowed an earned run in 20 innings this season while striking out 33 and walking TWO. Bundy pitched three innings on Monday and gave up one hit and one unearned run. He also failed to strikeout ONE of the nine outs he recorded. And that does, indeed, qualify as a poor outing for him. Welcome to next year’s number one prospect.