Angels Prospects Roundup: April 11-17

Welcome to week two of our prospect roundup. Many of the Angels prospects that are ranked highly struggled this week, but there were a few bright spots. All prospect rankings are according to MLB Pipeline.

1. Taylor Ward, C, Class A Advanced Inland Empire

This week: .174/.240/.174

Season: .216/.326/.216

Ward has cooled off after his hot start to the season, and still doesn’t have an extra base hit. Ward is a great defender, but the Angels hope his bat can catch up so that he can become more than a backup at the big league level.

2. Jahmai Jones, OF

Jones, 18, is in extended spring training and is expected to begin the season with the Rookie level Orem Owlz, who begin play June 17.

3. Nate Smith, LHP, Triple-A Salt Lake

This week: 2 starts, 0-0, 12 IP, 13 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 15 K, 2.25 ERA

Season: 1-0, 2.04 ERA

The crafty lefthander pitched well in his two starts this week. On Tuesday against Fresno, he pitched 5 innings, allowing one unearned run on six hits while walking two and striking out nine. He followed it up on Sunday against Sacramento by allowing three earned runs on seven hits over seven innings. He struck out six batters and didn’t walk any.

4. Victor Alcantara, RHP, Double-A Arkansas

This week: 1 start, 0-1, 3.1 IP, 4 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 6 BB, 0 K, 4.82 ERA

Season: 1-1, 4.82 ERA

Alcantara struggled in his one start this week on Thursday against Midland. He allowed only four hits over 3.1 innings, but he walked six batters and allowed six runs, five of them earned. He threw 82 pitches, only 41 of them for strikes.

5. Kaleb Cowart, INF, Triple-A Salt Lake

This week: .250/.280/.333

Season: .289/.341/.342

On Tuesday against Fresno, Cowart went 3 for 4 with a double and hit another double on Saturday against Sacramento.

6. Joe Gatto, RHP, Class A Burlington

This week: 1 start, 0-1, 9 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 4.50 ERA

Season: 0-1, 4.50 ERA

Gatto took the loss in his one start this week, on Wednesday against Wisconsin. He gave up four earned runs on nine hits in five innings. He struck out five and walked one, and threw 53 strikes in 84 pitches.

7. Kyle Kubitza, INF, Triple-A Salt Lake

This week: .188/.278/.313

Season: .238/.333/.333

Kubitza’s highlight this week came on Thursday against Fresno, as he went 2 for 3 with a triple, 3 RBIs, and 2 runs scored.

8. Jake Jewell, RHP, Class A Advanced Inland Empire

This week: 2 starts, 0-1, 5.2 IP, 17 H, 10 R, 9 ER, 3 BB, 3 K, 15.19 ERA

Season: 0-2, 10.97 ERA

Jewell continued his struggles this week. He made two starts, exiting before the fourth inning in both of them. He allowed four earned runs on eight hits in three innings on Tuesday against Rancho Cucamonga and five earned runs on nine hits in 2.2 innings on Sunday against San Jose.

9. Chad Hinshaw, OF, Double-A Arkansas

This week: .222/.363/.222

Season: .206/.317/.206

Hinshaw, like Ward, has yet to get an extra base hit this season. He had his best game of the year on Thursday against Midland, as he went 2 for 4 with 2 RBI and a walk.

10. David Fletcher, INF, Class A Advanced Inland Empire

This week: .200/.222/.240

Season: .146/.217/.195

Fletcher is another one of the Angels Prospects who has yet to find his stride at the plate, although he showed signs of life this week. He stole two bases against Rancho Cucamonga last Monday, and had two multi-hit games, Wednesday against Rancho Cucamonga and Saturday against San Jose.

Other Notable Names and Performances of Angels Prospects:

Roberto Baldoquin, INF, Class A Advanced Inland Empire

This week: .500/.500/1.000

The $8 million Cuban signee and no. 11 prospect did not play on Monday and went 1 for 2 with a double on Tuesday before being placed on the 7-day disabled list on Wednesday with a hamstring injury.

Nick Buss, OF, Triple-A Salt Lake

This week: .384/.407/.808

Season: .293/.310/.585

Buss is riding a six-game hitting streak, including four straight multi-hit games from Wednesday through Saturday. He hit two home runs Friday at Sacramento and followed it up Saturday with a double and a triple.

Sherman Johnson, INF, Double-A Arkansas

This week: .375/.565/.500

Season: .296/.486/.444

Johnson went 2 for 3 with a triple on Tuesday and followed it up by going 3 for 3 with two walks on Thursday. He walked three more times and singled on Saturday, moving his on-base percentage to an impressive .486.

Caleb Adams, OF, Class A Advanced Inland Empire

This week: .320/.393/.560

Season: .368/.455/.579

Adams, the Angels’ no. 21 prospect, is one of the few Angel minor leaguers who has hit well so far this season. His week was highlighted by a great game Sunday against San Jose, as he went 3 for 5 and was a home run shy of the cycle.

Tyler Carpenter, RHP, Class A Advanced Inland Empire

This week: 2 starts, 1-0, 11 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 10 K, 0.00 ERA

Season: 2 starts, 1-0, 11 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 10 K, 0.00 ERA

Carpenter made his first two starts of the season this week, and still has yet to give up a run. Last Monday against Rancho Cucamonga he went five innings, allowing four hits and walking two while striking out five. On Saturday against San Jose, he went six innings and allowed only one hit and one walk while again striking out five.

Some notable names not on the list due to recent call-ups to the Majors include Greg Mahle, and Rafael Ortega who have taken their talents to the Major Leagues.