This week on the farm: two Los Angeles Angels prospects in Triple-A were named to All-Star rosters, another prospect has been on a tear since returning from the temporarily inactive list, and a 2016 draftee is on fire in Rookie ball. All prospect rankings are according to MLB Pipeline.
1. Taylor Ward, C, Class A Advanced Inland Empire
This week: .321/.367/.464
Season: .240/.299/.284
Ward had one of his best weeks of the season. He went 3 for 5 on Wednesday against Lake Elsinore, and got his seventh and eighth extra base hits of the season with a double on Sunday against High Desert and a home run on Monday against Rancho Cucamonga.
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2. Jahmai Jones, OF, Rookie level Orem
This week: .423/.516/.577
Season: .308/.392/.446
Jones found his stride offensively last week after scuffling a little to begin the season. He had four multi-hit games and hit four doubles.
3. Nate Smith, LHP, Triple-A Salt Lake
This week: 1 start, L, 7 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 8 K, 2.57 ERA
Season: 5-3, 3.81 ERA
Smith pitched well but took the loss against Fresno on Friday. He allowed two earned runs on five hits in seven innings of work and struck out eight. Smith was selected to pitch in the All-Star Futures Game, which highlights the best prospects in the minor leagues. The game will take place Sunday, July 10 at Petco Park in San Diego to kick off MLB All-Star festivities.
4. Victor Alcantara, RHP, Double-A Arkansas
This week: 1 start, L, 5.1 IP, 9 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
Season: 2-6, 4.57 ERA
Alcantara took the loss Friday against Frisco, allowing three runs on nine hits in 5.1 innings of work while striking out four.
5. Kaleb Cowart, INF, Triple-A Salt Lake
This week: .091/.231/.091
Season: .281/.339/.420
Cowart had a really rough week, managing just two singles in 22 at-bats, although he did walk four times. On Thursday, he was named to the Pacific Coast League roster for the Triple-A All-Star Game.
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6. Joe Gatto, RHP, Class A Burlington
Season: 3-8, 7.03 ERA
Gatto was placed on the disabled list on June 25 and did not pitch this week.
7. Jake Jewell, RHP, Class A Advanced Inland Empire
This week: 2 starts, 0-0, 11.2 IP, 12 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 6 BB, 6 K, 1.54 ERA
Season: 1-7, 5.77 ERA
Jewell had two great starts this week. Last Tuesday he allowed just two runs on six hits in 5.2 innings against Lake Elsinore, then followed it up on Sunday by shutting out High Desert for six innings.
8. Chad Hinshaw, OF, Double-A Arkansas
Season: .191/.289/.304
Hinshaw is on the disabled list and did not play this week.
9. David Fletcher, INF, Class A Advanced Inland Empire
This week: .313/.371/.344
Season: .232/.298/.268
Fletcher posted five two-hit games this week and has been playing much better since his return from the temporarily inactive list on June 11, batting .296/.367/.333 compared to .169/.231/.205 before.
10. Roberto Baldoquin, INF, Class A Advanced Inland Empire
This week: .154/.154/.231
Season: .172/.209/.218
Baldoquin managed just four hits this week and has been injured or playing badly all season long. Angel fans have to start to wonder if he will ever live up to the promise of his $8 million contract.
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Other notable names and performances:
Troy Scribner, RHP, Double-A Arkansas
This week: 1 start, W, 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 9 K, 0.00 ERA
Season: 6-3, 4.05 ERA
Scribner was named Texas League Pitcher of the Week after shutting out Frisco for six innings on Thursday.
Matt Thaiss, INF, Rookie level Orem
This week: .310/.333/.483
Season: .313/.377/.583
Thaiss doubled and tripled on Friday against Ogden and had three multi-hit games last week.
Jordan Zimmerman, INF, Rookie level Orem
This week: .481/.548/.741
Season: .452/.507/.694
Zimmerman, a seventh-round pick this year from Michigan State, has torn up Pioneer League pitching. He went 5 for 5 on Monday and has a hit in all 14 of his games this season.
Tyler Carpenter, RHP, Double-A Arkansas
This week: 1 start, L, 0.2 IP, 3 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 67.51 ERA
Season: 6-4, 2.85 ERA
Carpenter has been one of the system’s best pitchers this year, but he produced an absolute dud on Monday. He lasted just two thirds of an inning and allowed five runs on three hits and two walks.
Hutton Moyer, INF, Class A Advanced Inland Empire
This week: .313/.343/.563
Season: .281/.341/.467
Moyer has at least one hit in 10 of his last 11 games and homered Wednesday against Lake Elsinore and Monday against Rancho Cucamonga.