LA Angels Top Prospect Countdown: #17 Eduardo Paredes

The LA Angels have one of the worst farm systems in baseball. However, they have a good mix of prospects who will help soon and some with star potential down the road. In this series, we will evaluate each of the Angels Top 30 prospects. Today, it’s pitcher Eduardo Paredes.

The LA Angels signed right-handed relief pitcher Eduardo Paredes in 2012. He has been in the organization ever since, and has been outstanding. The international free-agent signing has found success at every level he has played at so far.

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Paredes was signed when he was 17, and has used a killer one-two punch to exceed expectations so far in his career. He uses a fastball and slider combination very effectively. His fastball ranges in the low-to-mid-90’s, but has great action on it to make hitters miss. His slider also has great movement. He has great control of both pitches, being able to pound the strike zone and also work the borders of it.

One of the most helpful parts of Paredes’ game is his delivery. He is not a sidearm or submarine pitcher, but his arm comes at a lower angle than most pitchers. It is a quick delivery as well. This does not allow a good read for batters, so they struggle to pick up on the ball right away. And with a strong fastball and deceptive slider, that millisecond of confusion gives Paredes just a little more of an edge over batters.

Paredes has found success at every level. He started this season for the Double-A Mobile Baybears. It was a brief stay, as he earned a promotion after only nine outings. In these nine appearances, Paredes threw 12.2 innings, allowing only two runs for a 1.42 ERA. He struck out 17 batters to four walks, and allowed no long balls. 

In Triple-A Salt Lake, Paredes has been even better. In his first four games (eight innings), he has allowed only one run. Paredes’ strikeout-to-walk ratio is not as impressive though. He has seven strikeouts to three walks and five hits. Despite this, he could receive a phone call from Anaheim any day now.

Paredes has been a dominant relief pitcher in his minor league career. It is almost a surefire guarantee he plays for the Halos by season’s end. Hopefully he will be able to find the success in The Show that he has at every other level so far in his career.