Angels First Round Picks Since 2005, Where Are They Now?
2005- Trevor Bell RHP 37th Overall
After drafting the righty out of high school, Bell would climb through the minors to make his MLB debut with the Halos in 2009. In three years with the team, he struggled to be anything more than mediocre with a career record of 4-8. The Angels decided to release Bell after he posted an 8.27 ERA in 10 games with Triple-A Salt Lake in 2012. The former first rounder had stints with the Detroit Tigers, and Cincinnati Reds, before being released in 2014. Currently a free agent.
2006- Hank Conger, Catcher, 25th Overall
Conger was a top prospect out of high school when the Angels drafted him, and initially he proved his worth. Playing in the 2010 Futures All-Star Game, Conger homered and was given MVP honors. Pretty much this is where the highlights ended, after making his MLB debut with the Angels in September 2010, Conger struggled to hit over .200 and allowed 48 of 56 baserunners to steal off him. He was soon traded to the Houston Astros for Nick Tropeano and Carlos Perez.
2007- Jonathan Bachanov, RHP, 58th Overall
Not much to say here due to the irrelevance that this pick has become. Soon after the high school hurler signed with the Angels it was discovered he needed to get Tommy John Surgery. After posting decent numbers in Rookie Ball, Bachanov never regained that form and is currently in the Red Sox farm system.
2008- No first round pick
2009- Randal Grichuk, OF, 24th Overall
The former Little League World Series star grew into one of the best prospects in baseball. In 2009 the Angels selected him out of high school, where he was already committed to Univ. of Arizona, Grichuk decided to forgo college to sign with the Halos. A series of strange injuries slowed his career with the Angels, where they eventually traded the slugger to the St. Louis Cardinals for David Freese and Fernando Salas. Grichuk may be most famous for being selected one pick ahead of Mike Trout.
2009- Mike Trout, OF, 25th Overall
Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
You know the rest.
2009- Tyler Skaggs, LHP, 40th Overall
Continuing the trend of high school pitchers, the Angels grabbed the lefty hurler and soon sent him to the Arizona Diamondbacks. In 2010, he was traded along with Joe Saunders, Rafael Rodríguez and Patrick Corbin were traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks for Dan Haren. The lefty then went back to the Angels in 2013, in a three-team trade also involving the Chicago White Sox. The Angels received Hector Santiago along with Skaggs, while the White Sox received Adam Eaton and the Diamondbacks received Mark Trumbo and two players to be named later. Skaggs is currently rehabbing from Tommy John Surgery.
2009- Garrett Richards, RHP, 42nd Overall
Great pick.
2010- Kaleb Cowart, RHP, 18th Overall
After garnering Gatorade High School Player of The Year honors in 2010, Cowart entered the Angels farm system as a pitcher, and is currently a third basemen. Still considered a top prospect, but his ceiling is slowly falling.
2010- Cam Bedrosian, RHP, 29th Overall
Currently in the Angels bullpen.
2011- C.J. Cron, 1B, 17th Overall
The slugger out of Utah made his MLB debut May 3, 2014 for the Angels. He has shown some of his power potential but struggled a bit with consistency. This season has been horrid for him, batting .204 with 1HR 6RBI thus far.
2012- No first round picks
2013- No first round picks
2014- Sean Newcomb, LHP, 15th Overall
After posting insane numbers at the University of Hartford, the northeast product was selected by the Angels. Considered a top prospect in the minors, Newcomb has done nothing but impress in the short time of his professional career. He has dominant, strike out type stuff at the top of the rotation and will seemingly be a cornerstone for the Angels rotation in the near future.