The Los Angeles Angels continue to have a lot of movement in their minor leagues especially because of continued injury issues in Anaheim. Here is a look at how their top prospects faired this week down on the farm.
A former Cy Young winner continued preparing for his return to the big leagues, the number two prospect in the system prepares for his season to start, and one under-the-radar outfielder was promoted. All prospect rankings are according to MLB Pipeline.
1. Taylor Ward, C, Class A Advanced Inland Empire
This week: .211/.250/.211
Season: .227/.286/.261
Ward went 1 for 4 four times and 0 for 3 with a walk on Friday against High Desert.
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 in Grand Junction on Friday.
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3. Nate Smith, LHP, Triple-A Salt Lake
This week: 1 start, ND, 5.1 IP, 12 H, 6 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, 6.75 ERA
Season: 3-2, 4.62 ERA
Smith took a no-decision on Thursday against Fresno, allowing six runs, four of them earned, on twelve hits in 5.1 innings.
4. Victor Alcantara, RHP, Double-A Arkansas
This week: 1 start, ND, 6 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 4.50 ERA
Season: 2-3, 4.03 ERA
Alcantara pitched well on Saturday against Northwest Arkansas, allowing three earned runs on five hits over six innings.
5. Kaleb Cowart, INF, Triple-A Salt Lake
This week: .240/.286/.480
Season: .294/.344/.447
Cowart had a double and a triple last Monday and homered last Tuesday against Reno.
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6. Joe Gatto, RHP, Class A Burlington
This week: 1 start, W, 5 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 7 K, 3.60 ERA
Season: 2-7, 7.05 ERA
Gatto had his best start in a while and his second-best start of the season on Wednesday against Peoria, allowing two runs in five innings while striking out seven and getting the win.
7. Kyle Kubitza, INF, Triple-A Salt Lake
This week: .273/.304/.500
Season: .253/.349/.366
Kubitza went hitless just once this week and had back-to-back multi-hit games against Reno and Fresno.
8. Jake Jewell, RHP, Class A Advanced Inland Empire
This week: 1 start, L, 5 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 3.60 ERA
Jewell took the loss on Thursday against High Desert but allowed just two earned runs on seven hits over five innings.
9. Chad Hinshaw, OF, Double-A Arkansas
This week: .000/.000/.000
Season: .191/.289/.304
Hinshaw went 0 for 4 on Tuesday and did not play the rest of the week. He was placed on the 7-day DL on Saturday, retroactive to June 8.
10. David Fletcher, INF, Class A Advanced Inland Empire
This week: .100/.100/.100
Season: .161/.218/.194
Fletcher was activated from the temporarily inactive list on Saturday and went 1 for 10 in two games.
Other notable names and performances:
Tim Lincecum, RHP, Triple-A Salt Lake
This week: 2 starts, 0-1, 12 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 14 K, 1.50 ERA
Lincecum appears to have found his big-league form. He took the loss in Reno on Tuesday but allowed just two runs in five innings while striking out six. He had a stellar game Sunday against Fresno, pitching seven innings of one-hit ball and striking out eight. You can read about that start here. Angels manager Mike Scioscia said Monday that Lincecum will “definitely” be added to the Halos’ rotation this weekend, according to MLB.com Angels beat writer Alden Gonzalez.
Cal Towey, OF, Triple-A Salt Lake
This week: .167/.348/.167
Season: .291/.398/.457
Towey went 1 for 11 this week, albeit with five walks, before being promoted to the Bees on Saturday. He made his Triple-A debut that day and went 2 for 4 and stole a base.
Grayson Long, RHP, Class A Burlington
Season: 3-3, 1.58 ERA
Long was placed on the 7-day DL on May 30 and did not pitch this week.
Tyler Carpenter, RHP, Double-A Arkansas
This week: 1 start, ND, 5 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, 3.60 ERA
Carpenter was activated from the DL on Thursday and had his best Double-A start that evening, allowing two runs over five innings while walking none and striking out four.
Andrelton Simmons, SS, Single-A Inland Empire & Triple-A Salt Lake City.
This week: 6 games (2 games IE, 4 games SLC)
6 for 18 .333 Average 0 HR 6 RBI’s 4 runs and 1 SB.
Simmons is on the mend from thumb surgery that repaired a UCL tear in his left thumb. He is hoping to rejoin the Angels sometime in the next week most likely next weekend in Oakland.