LA Angels top prospects: Hot or not week six

For the LA Angels May begins its last lap before they head into June, which means the majority of their minor league teams are more than a month into their season.

As we take our weekly look at how the hottest and coldest of the LA Angels top prospects are doing, the season is emerging. Slow starts are more likely to give way to a down season. Likewise, hot starts and resurgences are more likely to be a sign that the player is establishing themselves.

For week number six, we will do as we have before: you get two hot prospects, two not, one non-prospect minor leaguer who is making a case for more notice, and a check-in on any of the LA Angels prospects who are currently up with the big club.

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Hot: Matt Thaiss – High A (Inland Empire). Thaiss, the LA Angels number two prospect in 2017 has started to heat up, going 13 for his last 38. Going along with his . 342 AVG in that ten game span. He has added 1 HR and 7 RBI to go along with a much better 5 BB to 6 K.

Not: Jake Jewell – Double A (Mobile). The 2017 season has been a real mixed bag for starting pitcher Jewell. While he has had strong starts that should show better than his two wins, his losses have too often been blowouts. His last start he surrendered 6 ER, though it was in 6.2 IP and Jewel didn’t issue a walk.

Hot: Jahmai Jones – Low A (Burlington). Jones has struggled mightily in 2017. While showing some early pop, the 19 year old was hitting below the Medoza line for most of the season. However, four multi-hit games in his last ten (inc. two 3-5 games) has seen his AVG rise nearly 30 points in that time. He is still striking out too much, but he will also just be 20 years old in August.

Not: Michael Hermosillo– Double A (Mobile). After getting off to a hot start at High A Inland Empire, Hermosillo has struggled with Double A Mobile. While he has raised his average twenty points in the last ten games, he has still only hit .212 over those ten games. Hermosillo currently sits at a .177 AVG, with 24 K in 96 AB at Mobile. While still just 22 years old, he will need to hit better this season if he is to remain a major league hopeful. Even in the LA Angels injury riddle and prospect thin world.

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Next we look at a minor leaguer not considered a prospect, but who is making a strong case for attention from the big club. In addition, we check-in on any prospects currently playing in the major leagues with the Angels.

Worth Watching: Bo Way – Triple A (Salt Lake). Way was mentioned in this section earlier in the season as a minor leaguer worth watching. While he leveled off some, he has maintained a consistent contributor so far. The last ten games though, he has started to warm up again, inching his AVG back up near .300. While he does not walk a lot or have pop, he does have some speed and does not strike out a ton. He is just blocked by Mike Trout in CF. It’s also worth noting that fellow non-prospect Bee, Nolan Fontana was called-up to the Angels this week after performing well in Salt Lake.

Next: New Angel is pitching prospect

Prospects in the show: Brooks Pounders, Keynan Middleton, and Alex Meyer are currently with the big club. The Angels recalled Pounders this week from Triple A. He had mixed results in with the Angels earlier in the season. At Salt Lake he has provided a much more even hand in relief (and even a spot start in early April.) He will look to do the same in this current trip to Anaheim. Meyer headed to the DL with back issues this week. Meyer has begun to show improvement, even putting together two positive starts in a row earlier in May. However, overall, 2017 has remained one of ups and downs for the starting pitcher. Middleton has shown signs of settling into a spot in the bullpen. In his last four appearances he has gone 3.2 IP with 6 K and 1 BB, while only surrendering 1 ER.

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