Five LA Angels Prospects that could make Opening Day Roster

CHICAGO, IL - SEPTEMBER 07: Ty Buttrey #31 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim pitches against the Chicago White Sox during the ninth inning at Guaranteed Rate Field on September 7, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim won 5-2. (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - SEPTEMBER 07: Ty Buttrey #31 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim pitches against the Chicago White Sox during the ninth inning at Guaranteed Rate Field on September 7, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim won 5-2. (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images)
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The LA Angels and their rejuvenated farm system have the team trending in the right direction.  There are at least 10 prospects that could see their first major league action this season.

Going further with this they are five to seven prospects that you could see on the LA Angels Opening Day roster when they break camp in the last week of March.  Some would not be a big surprise, however there are others that no one is expecting to make the team out of Spring Training that could make the club.

In the next couple of years you will see a lot of these prospects showing up in the Angels line-up. The Angels are hoping many of their top prospects will be ready to contribute sooner rather than later.  Some of these prospects will have a very good chance to make the roster and play a key role for the Angels this season.

So here is a list at some names you may see on the Opening Day Roster.

CHICAGO, IL – SEPTEMBER 07: Ty Buttrey #31 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim pitches against the Chicago White Sox during the ninth inning at Guaranteed Rate Field on September 7, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim won 5-2. (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL – SEPTEMBER 07: Ty Buttrey #31 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim pitches against the Chicago White Sox during the ninth inning at Guaranteed Rate Field on September 7, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim won 5-2. (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images) /

Ty Buttrey – Right-Handed Reliever – 

This may seem like a no-brainer since Buttrey pitched all of September with the Angels and was the closer most of the month converting four saves in six opportunities.  Buttrey is 6’6 and 240 pounds and is a guy I wouldn’t want to get mad. However, he is actually a good guy and was very generous with his time when I interviewed him last September.

What is even better is his lightning bolt that is disguised as his right arm.  Buttrey can bring it in the mid-to-high 90’s and shows a lot of poise on the mound. He will be a part of what could potentially be a very strong bullpen with Cody Allen as the closer and Justin Anderson and eventually Keynan Middleton in the set-up roles.

The bullpen may end up being too full for Buttery to make the club out of Spring Training, but if he does not make the Angels roster from the get go he will almost assuredly be called up very early in the season if anyone gets injured or starts to falter.

WASHINGTON, DC – JULY 17: Hats and gloves during the 89th MLB All-Star Game, presented by Mastercard at Nationals Park on July 17, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – JULY 17: Hats and gloves during the 89th MLB All-Star Game, presented by Mastercard at Nationals Park on July 17, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

Luis Rengifo – Second Baseman

Luis Rengifo burst onto the scene last season making a meteoric rise through the Angels farm system. Rengifo was acquried as a player to be named later in the deal with the Tampa Rays that sent C.J. Cron to Tampa in February.

Rengifo tore up the Angels minor league system jumping from Single-A Inland Empire to Triple-A Salt Lake City in 2018.  Rengifo hit .299 with seven homers and drove in 64 runs last season.  He also stole 41 bases and had a .399 OBP.  At second base he played 42 games and made only made one error with a .994 fielding percentage at second base.  At shortstop Rengifo didn’t fare quite as well as making 15 errors in 78 games with a .949 fielding percentage.

However for the Angels the spot the Angels need someone is at second base.  David Fletcher is the incumbent, but Tommy La Stella and Zack Cozart are also in the mix depending on if Cozart ends up playing third or not. However, with the versatility that Rengifo offers he should be one of the first call-ups if he doesn’t make the team out of Spring Training.  One thing is for sure if Rengifo continues to hit you will see him Anaheim before too long.

ANAHEIM, CA – JUNE 18: Jaime Barria #51 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim pitches during a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Angel Stadium on June 18, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images.
ANAHEIM, CA – JUNE 18: Jaime Barria #51 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim pitches during a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Angel Stadium on June 18, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images. /

Jose Suarez – Left-Handed Pitcher

Jose Suarez is another player who made a meteoric rise through the Angels farm system in 2018 going from Single-A Inland Empire to Triple-A Salt Lake City in just one season.  Suarez started 26 games at the three minor league levels going 3-6 with a 3.92 ERA striking out 142 batters in 117 innings of work and a 1.41 WHIP.

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Suarez had a great strikeout to walk ratio of more than 3 to 1 (142 K’s/44 BB’s). His only issue was that he game up 121 hits in 117 innings of work.  With the Angels in dire need of a lefty-specialist Suarez could fill that role nicely if he can prove to be able to get lefties out at a high clip.

Suarez however has very little relief experience only pitching eight games out of the bullpen in three seasons in the minors.  The Angels have always like to to use starters as relievers especially early in their careers if they are deemed ready for major league action, so Suarez might be able to do so if needed.

Suarez could also have an outside shot at being the fifth starter in the rotation although he would have to jump both Jaime Barria and Felix Pena to do so, both of whom pitched very well today in their first action of the Spring.

At some point this season you should expect to see Suarez in the majors, but again it might be sooner rather than later.

ANAHEIM, CA – JUNE 06: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim pitches during the first inning of a game against the Kansas City Royals at Angel Stadium on June 6, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA – JUNE 06: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim pitches during the first inning of a game against the Kansas City Royals at Angel Stadium on June 6, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

Jared Walsh – 1B and Left-handed Reliever

Everyone on baseball pretty much knows about the Angels two-way phenom Shohei Ohtani and the success he had in 2018 both at the plate and on the mound.  However, almost no one has probably heard of Jared Walsh.  Walsh was drafted as a first baseman by the Angels out of the University of Georgia in the 39th round of the 2015 Amateur Draft.

Walsh languished around for the most part in his first two minor league seasons never making it higher than Double-A and floundering when he got to Mobile hitting only .232 in 20 games.  Than last year a reevaluation happened as Walsh started to figure things out at the plate after starting the season at Single-A.

Walsh ended up hitting 29 homers and driving in 99 runs with a .277 batting average. Unfortunately the Angels have plenty of depth at the first base spot so Walsh would probably not see the majors this season as a first baseman.  However, Walsh has a unique talent: He can pitch! Walsh was used as a left-handed reliever last season pitching 5.2 innings giving up only one run with seven strikeouts posting a 1.59 ERA in eight appearances.

Walsh also played 104 innings in the outfield, so now this makes him suddenly Mr. Versatility that no one on the Angels team can really match, except maybe newly re-acquired Kaleb Cowart.  With Angels searching for an option as a lefty specialist and also needing another left-handed power bat, Walsh no could be really valuable.

We will have to see how he performs this Spring, but with his budding two-way ability, Walsh might be the surprise person that makes the Opening Day Roster. Again if Walsh doesn’t make the roster out of Spring Training he could be an early season call-up.  Let’s see how it goes.

TEMPE, ARIZONA – FEBRUARY 19: Jo Adell #59 poses for a portrait during Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim photo day on February 19, 2019 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
TEMPE, ARIZONA – FEBRUARY 19: Jo Adell #59 poses for a portrait during Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim photo day on February 19, 2019 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

Jo Adell – outfielder

Everyone is so anxious to see Jo Adell in the majors, but it probably will not happen right away to start the season as the Angels have three capable outfielders in Mike Trout, Justin Upton, and Kole Calhoun.  They also have Peter Bourjos or Michael Hermosillo in the fourth outfield spot so Adell’s path seems to be blocked at the moment.

However, if Calhoun goes into a long slump or there is an injury to one or two of the Angel outfielders, Adell could be called up to the majors. More than likely though we may see Adell called up if the Angels decide to trade Kole Calhoun sometime during the season.

Adell is a bonafide five-tool player with a tremendous upside and has already been compared to Mike Trout which is probably not fair to him, but we will have to see. At any rate Adell is definitely knocking at the door after rising all the way to Double-A last season.

Adell hit .290 between Low-Single-A , High Single-A, and Double-A last season.  He swatted 20 homers and drove in 77 runs with 15 stolen bases and a .355 OBP.  So far this Spring Adell has yet to collect his first hit, but that is just growing pains.

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Adell could turn it around this Spring and post solid numbers only further accelerating his path to the majors.  My guess is at the very least you will see him in Anaheim by August if not sooner.  We will see what happens.

This is just five of the Angels prospects that have a good shot to reach the majors in 2019. Let us know what you think and if there is someone else you might add to this list.

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