Breaking down what LA Angels prospects you could see in Anaheim in 2019

With most everyone talking about what the LA Angels need to do this off-season to improve the team, let’s look at some internal option that could make a difference in 2019.

The LA Angels farm system that was ranked at the bottom in baseball only three years ago has seen a meteoric rise from 29th or 30th overall to 10th overall now.  The 2017 Amateur Draft really helped this rise as the first two picks Jo Adell and Griffin Canning have skyrocketed to Double and Triple-A in only one season.

The Angels have many needs for the 2019 season which general manager Billy Eppler is furiously trying to fill this off-season, but he may need to look no further than down on the farm as the Angels have multiple prospects that could be ready to make the jump to the majors this season with some even winning roster spots out of Soring Training.

Let’s take a look at the potential prospects that could be making their debut in Anaheim before this season is finished and if the Angels are hit by injuries (hopefully not) some of these prospect could get their chance to show what they can do even sooner than expected.

Griffin Canning – 

Starting pitcher Griffin Canning was drafted in the second round out of UCLA in 2017 and he came in highly regarded as he had great success in his college career. In three seasons with the Bruins Canning went 19-13 with a 2.99 ERA striking out 301batters in 291.1 innings of work and a 1.08 WHIP and a 9.28 strikeouts per 9 inning rate.

The Angels smartly allowed Canning to take the rest of the season off in 2017 after drafting him in order to rest his arm and not overwork him. In 2018 Canning started out in High Single-A for the Inland Empire 66’ers and was only there for two starts going 8.2 innings allowing no runs striking out 12 batters while only walking three batters.

From there Canning was whisked off to Double-A Mobile and his success continued there as well. Canning made 10 starts for the Mobile Bay Bears with a 1-0 record and a 1.97 ERA.  Canning struck out 49 batters in 45.2 innings and had a 1.01 WHIP. Canning was also a part of a combined no-hitter while in Mobile as well.

Then Canning continued his quick ascent as he was promoted to Triple-A Salt Lake City at mid-season and there he finally plateaued going 3-3 but posting a 5.49 ERA in 59 innings, but he still managed to strike out 64 batters. Canning will most likely start the 2019 season in Triple-A, but if he can show a mastery level in Salt Lake City he could be called up to Anaheim by June.

There is an outside chance that Canning could make the roster out of Spring Training but that is highly unlikely.

Jo Adell –

Jo Adell was the Angels first round pick in 2017 out of Ballard High School in Louisville, Kentucky.  Jo Adell is what is known as a five-tool player.  Adell like Canning has risen up quickly through the Angels minor league system. Adell started out in the Arizona League in Tempe, Arizona playing 31 games hitting .288 with four homers and 21 RBIs with five stolen bases and a .351 OBP in 2017.

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Adell then went to Rookie League in Orem and he played in 18 games hitting .376 with a homer and nine RBIs. That ended Adell’s first season with the Angels.

Last season Adell started in Low Single-A at Burlington and continued to tear it up hitting .326 in 25 games with six homers and 29 RBIs. Adell had a .398 OBP and also stole four bases before being promoted to High Single-A in Inland Empire in early May.

Adell started slowly hitting only .200 in his first 20 games for the 66’ers, but then he got hot over his next 37 games there hitting 12 home runs and driving in 42 runs.  Adell ended up hitting .290 for the 66’ers and also stole nine bases by the all-star break and Adell was whisked off to Double-A Mobile where he played the last 17 games with the Bay Bears hitting .238 with two homers and driving in six.

For the season Adell ended up hitting .290 with 20 homers and driving in 77 runs with 15 stolen bases with a .355 OBP. Adell will likely be invited to Spring Training in Arizona but will probably start the 2019 season in Triple-A Salt Lake.  If Adell does well you could definitely see him in Anaheim after the All-Star Break or at least he could be a September call-up.

Adell will almost assuredly be in the Angels outfield in 2020 as Kole Calhoun will most likely be a free agent after the 2019 season (there is a club option for 2020). Where Adell will play in the outfield though is not quite as clear, but the Angels will cross that bridge when they come to it.

Jose Suarez – 

Jose Suarez is a name that has been relative unknown to most Angel fans, but he is a name that you may get more familiar with this season. Suarez is a pitcher who like Canning has seen a meteoric rise over the past season and could also make the jump to the Angels as early as this season.

When the Angels signed Suarez as a free agent in July of 2014 season they were hoping he would possibly pan out as maybe someone they could use in the bullpen. However, the left-hander’s growth over the last two seasons.

In 2017 Suarez started in the Arizona League making three starts going 1-0 with a 1.93 ERA striking out 19 batters in 14 innings.  He then was promoted to Low Single-A Burlington and continued to pitch well going 5-1 with a 3.62 ERA striking out 71 batters in 54.2 innings to finish the year with a 6-1 record and a 3.28 ERA with 90 strikeouts in 68.2 innings of work.

Then in 2018 Suarez like Canning made two starts for the Inland Empire 66’ers striking out 18 batters in only nine innings and thus was whisked off to Double-A Mobile where he made seven more starts going 2-1 with a 3.03 ERA striking out 51 more batters 29.2 innings of work.

So Suarez was then promoted to Triple-A Salt Lake City where he leveled off some going 1-4 with a 4.48 ERA striking out 73 batters in 78.1 Innings.  Suarez ended the season 3-6 with a 3.92 ERA striking out 142 batters in 117 innings.  Although Suarez’s Triple-A numbers were less than spectacular he is still on the Angels radar as a pitcher who they might call upon if needed this season and at the very least will probably get a call-up in September.

If Suarez pitches really well in Spring Training he could earn a spot in the Angels bullpen to start the season.  He is ranked as the Angels fourth best prospect behind Adell, Canning, and also Jahmai Jones.  He is definitely a pitcher to keep your eye on over the next couple of seasons.

Matt Thaiss – 

Matt Thaiss was drafted out of Virginia in the first round of the 2016 Amateur Draft as a catcher, but he was converted immediately into a first baseman.  In 2016 Thaiss started strong playing 67 games between Orem and Burlington hitting six homers with 43 RBIs and a .292 batting average.

Thaiss continued in 2017 playing in both High Single-A Inland Empire and then onto Mobile in Double-A. Thaiss hit .274 with nine homers and drove in 73 runs and his glove became an asset as well for Thaiss.

Moving on to last season Thaiss split time between Mobile and Triple-A Salt Lake City and continued to play well.  Thaiss hit .280 for the season cracking 16 homers and driving in 76 runs with eight stolen bases.

Thaiss will assuredly get a Spring Training invite and has a good chance to make the opening day roster if he stands out in Spring Training.  Thaiss is at a position where the Angels could potentially have a need if Albert Pujols gets injured or Justin Bour, who was signed as a free agent earlier this month.

We will have to see what happens early in the season, but in any case Thaiss may be one of the first call-ups the Angels have a need arise.  He is almost assuredly going to get called up during the September call-up period unless he is already up in the major by then.

Luis Rengifo – 

Luis Rengifo was acquired in a trade with the Marlins. Rengifo is a middle infielder. With a huge upside Rengifo has quickly moved his way up in the Angels farm system impressing pretty much all the major scouts and front office people.

In 2017 in the Seattle Mariners system Renfigo hit 12 homers while driving in 52 runs with a .250 batting average stealing 34 bases.  Rengifo was then traded in the early part of th 2018 season from the Tampa Bay Rays system.

Once with the Angels, Rengifo started his ascent through the Angels minor league system. Rengifo started out hitting .323 with two homers and 16 RBIs and a .426 OBP. Rengifo also stole 22 bases for the 66’ers.  Then it was onto Double-A Mobile and Rengifo kept going hitting .305 with two homers and 21 RBIs and he stole 13 more bases.

Rengifo then was promoted to Triple-A Salt Lake City and although he did not over .300 he did bat .274 with three homers and drove in 27 runs.  In total during the 2018 season Rengifo hit .299 with seven homers and drove in 64 runs while stealing 41 bases to boot.

Rengifo’s meteoric rise in 2018 has put him in the mix for a utility infielder position. If Rengifo has a strong Spring in 2019 he will have a chance to make the Opening Day roster.  He also will be one of the first position players that will receive the call to the majors.

All in all with the quick ascent through the minors Rengifo will most likely be called up sometime during the 2019 season and if he continues to play well he could even earn a starting spot.

I hope you have enjoyed reading this and learning a little more about the Angels top prospects.  We will see if any of the aforementioned players will make it to the majors in 2019.