LA Angels prospects showing their stuff in Arizona Fall League

April 3, 2016; Anaheim, CA, USA; Los Angeles Angels catcher Taylor Ward (99) and pitcher Javy Guerra celebrate the 6-4 victory against Chicago Cubs at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
April 3, 2016; Anaheim, CA, USA; Los Angeles Angels catcher Taylor Ward (99) and pitcher Javy Guerra celebrate the 6-4 victory against Chicago Cubs at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

With the LA Angels 2016 season over they turn their focus to top prospects who will compete in the Arizona Fall League.  The league combines top prospects from every MLB team and make six teams that compete for a title.

The LA Angels prospects are on the Scottsdale Scorpions which has prospects the Angels, Mets, Phillies, Yankees, and Giants. The Angels prospects on the team are the following players: Pitcher Victor Alcantara who pitched in Double-A Arkansas Travellers, Pitcher Adam Hofacket split time with Inland Empire and Burlington in Single-A, Pitcher Grayson Long who also split time with Angels Single-A affiliates Inland Empire and Burlington, and Pitcher Eduardo Paredes who pitched in both Single-A Inland Empire and Double-A Arkansas.

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The LA Angels hitters on the Scottsdale squad are Catcher Taylor Ward who spent the whole season in Single-A Inland Empire and was the Angels #1 pick in 2015. Shortstop David Fletcher who played for both Inland Empire and Arkansas this season. Finally outfielder Michael Hermosillo who spent the year in Burlington and Inland Empire in Single-A is also on the roster that includes Mets prospect and former NFL player Tim Tebow, former UCLA star pitcher James Kaprielian, a Yankees prospect, and Phillies pitching Brandon Leibrandt, the son of former major leaguer Charlie Leibrandt.

So far the Scorpions have played two games in the Fall League so far and have a 1-1 record defeating the Glendale Desert Dogs Tuesday 9-6 and then losing Wednesday to the Salt River Rafters 6-4. In Tuesday’s game Taylor Ward went 2 for 2 with two doubles and three RBI’s and is overall 2 for 4 in two games for the Scorpions. Michael Hermosillo went two for three with two walks, a double, and two RBI’s.

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In the second game Taylor Ward was the only position player to play on Wednesday afternoon going o for two in relief of strating catcher Aramis Garcia. However two Angels pitching prospects pitched on Wednesday. Victor Alcantara pitched 1.1 innings giving up two runs (one earned) on two hits and three walks with two strikeouts while taking the loss. Eduardo Paredes also pitched 1.2 innings giving up one run on one hit with two walks and three strikeouts. Tebow is 0 for 6 so far in case you were interested.

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The Arizona Fall League season runs from October 11th through November 17th with the championship game being played at 1 p.m. on Saturday, November 19th. There is also a Fall Stars game the AFL’s version of an All-Star game on Saturday, November 5th.

Hopefully the Angels prospects will continue to perform well and improve the impression of the LA Angels farm system. In related news Angels #1 draft pick in 2016 Matt Thaiss from the University of Virginia earned the award for the Angels Top Prospect from MLBPipeline.com hitting .292 in 67 games with the Rookie League Orem Owlz and Single-A Burlington Bees. Thaiss smacked six homers and drove in 43 runs with 19 doubles and four triples.

On the pitching side Jaime Barria won the Angels pitching prospect of the year award going 8-6 with the Single-A Burlington Bees.  Barria worked 117 innings with a 3.85 ERA with 78 strikeouts and only 21 walks.  Barria has a low 90’s fastball as well as a change-up and curve ball.

Next: Is Cam the man for Angels closer spot in 2017?

We will give you bi-weekly updates on the progress of the Angels prospects in the AFL here at Halo Hangout as well as any pertinent news regarding any Angels prospects so please stay tuned each week.

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