LA Angels Top 25 Prospects: #17 Michael Hermosillo

The LA Angels drafted outfielder Michael Hermosillo out of high school in 2013 deep in the 23rd round of that years Draft. Usually players drafted that deeply aren’t expected to command organizational importance, yet after Hermosillo’s 2016 MiLB season the Angels are looking highly at the young outfielder.

The now 23-year-old Michael Hermosillo had a slow start to his career with the LA Angels organization, his first three seasons being rather mundane affairs. Then 2016 came and Hermosillo elevated his tool set with an inspiring display of speed and advanced plate mechanics. He’s always displayed good on-base skills, in 2015 he had 51 walks to 59 K’s over 376 plate appearances, though his bat needed a lot of catching up to do (.263 SLG in 2015). Hermosillo is able to stay within himself and refrain from extending his zone at the plate, this ability noted by his K/BB ratio.

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Despite his solid plate approach he struggled more than his fair share with producing offensively throughout his MiLB career. Finally, in 2016, Hermosillo had a true breakout season in which he slashed .317/.402/.467 with 26 extra base-hits (6 being HR’s) across 334 plate appearances.

Michael Hermosillo (OF’er)

Drafted 2013 – 28th Round (#847)

Bats/Throws: R/R

It’s not a surprise seeing his hitting ability catch up to his plate mechanics, and though his walks fell off a bit (34 walks in 2016) he didn’t strike out any moreso than the year before (52 K’s). While speed was always a big part of his tool set, with 24 Stolen Bases in 2015 and 10 in 2016, Hermosillo busted out once again in 2017 with a huge elevation in his speed game. Throughout the 2017 season Hermosillo stole 35 bases while being caught 13 times, an organizational leading Stolen Base clip. However, one of his biggest struggles has been maintaining what makes him so good throughout the higher levels of the game, and that’s something that will need fixing given his 2018 MLB arrival.

It’s not that he can’t, only that it’s been shown he needs a little time to properly adjust to his new surroundings. In 2017, when he blew up his Stolen Base numbers, he also blew up his strikeout rates (56 BB/116 K’s). A big plus is his newly ever developing power stroke, which has evolved cleanly into a very real ability to produce extra base-hits (37 in 2017). In fact he’s been nurturing some power in the last couple of years with 9 HR’s in 2017 and 12 in his 2018 MiLB AB’s.

Hermosillo spent some time with the big league club in 2018 (62 AB’s) and didn’t show off his skill set too much throughout his big league time, though that’s to be expected given his newly minted MLB status and personal adjustment period. What needs to translate in order for Hermosillo to find serious success would be his elite base stealing ability, speed in the outfield, and ability to take pitches and maximize his at-bat efficiencies every time he goes up to the plate.

Hermosillo looks to develop into a very solid 4th outfielder who can play himself into a lineup almost every day. Hermosillo can fit in very well at the top of an order with his ability to produce the extra base-hit, especially given his tendency to stretch out his base hits with this top-level speed. He knows how to make a pitcher work when he’s at the plate and that’s something the Angels would value very heavily at the big league level. There’s a lot to be excited about with Hermosillo, and though he does seem to need extra time to adjust we’ve already seen a little patience can go a long way with Hermosillo. His value is that of a top-level 4th outfielder, though an expansion of his on base ability and strikeout reduction could very well settle him as a big league regular.

Developmental Needs: Strikeout Reduction, Stolen Base Efficiency

Best Tools: Speed, Fielding Versatility, On-Base Skills, Plate Approach

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