Angels Top Prospects Roundup: May 9-15

This week, one Angels top prospect who had pitched poorly this season turned things around, one of the system’s hottest hitters cooled off, and another who has already seen big-league action had one of his best weeks of the season. All prospect rankings are according to MLB Pipeline.

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

This week: .208/.240/.208

Season: .242/.307/.273

Ward continued to struggle with the bat this season. The highlight of his week came on Monday against Bakersfield, as he went 2 for 5. He has only two extra-base hits this season.

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: 1 start, ND, 5 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, 1.80 ERA

Season: 2-1, 3.54 ERA

Smith pitched well in his one start this week, last Monday against Reno. He went five innings and allowed just one run on four hits while walking none and striking out four.

4. Victor Alcantara, RHP, Double-A Arkansas

This week: 2 starts, 0-0, 10 IP, 11 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 7 K, 3.60 ERA

Season: 1-2, 4.50 ERA

Alcantara had two starts this week. Last Monday against Northwest Arkansas he allowed four earned runs on seven hits over five innings, although he did strike out seven. He followed it up on Saturday by shutting out Tulsa for five innings, allowing just four hits.

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

This week: .370/.393/.630

Season: .292/.350/.431

Cowart had a great week, with three multi-hit games. He homered on Wednesday against Albuquerque and followed it up on Thursday by going 4 for 4 with two doubles.

6. Joe Gatto, RHP, Class A Burlington

This week: 1 start, L, 3.1 IP, 8 H, 8 R, 7 ER, 3 BB, 2 K, 18.90 ERA

Season: 0-4, 6.40 ERA

Gatto struggled in his one start this week against Kane County. He allowed seven earned runs on eight hits and three walks in just 3.1 innings.

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

This week: .190/.370/.333

Season: .265/.372/.412

Kubitza struggled with the bat this week, but six walks helped keep his on-base percentage up.

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

This week: 2 starts, 0-0, 12 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 16 K, 0.75 ERA

Season: 0-4, 7.24 ERA

The previously struggling Jewell turned in his two best starts of the season by far this week. Last Monday against Bakersfield he allowed just two hits and no runs over six innings while striking out seven, and Saturday against Rancho Cucamonga he allowed three runs, just one of them earned, on six hits over six innings while striking out nine. His stellar week lowered his ERA nearly four runs.

9. Chad Hinshaw, OF, Double-A Arkansas

This week: .238/.238/.286

Season: .210/.286/.319

Hinshaw continued to struggle at the plate. The highlight of his week came last Monday against Northwest Arkansas, as he went 2 for 5 with a double.

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

Fletcher is on the temporarily inactive list and did not play this week.

Other notable names and performances:

Caleb Adams, OF, Class A Advanced Inland Empire

This week: .174/.240/.174

Season: .314/.379/.460

Previously one of the Angels system’s hottest hitters, Adams cooled off significantly. He had just four hits this week, dropping his batting average from .360 to .314.

Tyler Carpenter, RHP, Double-A Arkansas

This week: 1 start, L, 5.2 IP, 10 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, 4.76 ERA

Season: 2-2, 1.83 ERA

Carpenter, the Angels’ best minor league pitcher this season, has taken a few lumps after being promoted to the Travelers on May 5. On Thursday against Tulsa he allowed three earned runs on ten hits over 5.2 innings.

Hutton Moyer, INF, Class A Advanced Inland Empire

This week: .285/.348/.571

Season: .308/.368/.505

Moyer was promoted to the 66ers on Saturday and hit a triple in his debut.

Sherman Johnson, INF, Triple-A Salt Lake

This week: .240/.296/.360

Season: .282/.378/.518

Johnson has started to find his way in Triple-A after tearing up the Texas League earlier this season. He tripled against Albuquerque on Thursday and doubled against Colorado Springs on Friday.

The Angels top prospects will hopefully continue to improve as the season goes on.

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