Which Other LA Angels Prospects Could Be in Anaheim Soon?
With the LA Angels top pitching prospect Griffin Canning debuting last night and Luis Rengifo being called up last week, the youth movement has officially begun in Anaheim.
That being said, what other prospects could debut for the LA Angels in the months to come? Obviously Griffin Canning is one of the best for the Halos, but more help could be on the way very, very soon.
Before we get into that, Griffin Canning was absolutely electric in his debut. Just looking at his stat line doesn’t give Canning due credit, as one of the runs he allowed was after he exited the game.
On top of that, he was unable to work later into the game due to workload. The Angels have been very careful with Canning so far this season, and rightfully so. With such a long history of injuries to their rotation, the Halos are protecting their crown jewel.
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Along with Canning, infielder Luis Rengifo has seen his first stint in the MLB over the past week. Filling in for the injured Zack Cozart, Rengifo has shown the ability to play solid defense while also flashing at the plate.
Before we get into players who can help out in Anaheim soon, we should first bring up top prospect Jo Adell. Unfortunately, his debut is unlikely to be anytime soon. He suffered two pretty significant injuries during Spring Training, and has yet to return to action. When he does, it will be with the Double-A Mobile Baybears. While some were hoping for a debut sometime in 2019, 2020 seems much more realistic now.
Of the players who could see Anaheim for the first time soon, Matt Thaiss is the first player that comes to mind. The first baseman (who has been seeing time at third) started the season very poorly after a breakout Spring Training.
However, he is slashing .433/.550/.700 over the past eight games and has gone deep twice. One of the most impressive parts of this streak are his nine walks, as he is showing maturity beyond his years at the plate.
With Justin Bour struggling at the plate and Shohei Ohtani coming back soon, the Angels are going to need to make a decision at some point regarding first base. Thaiss and Bour, both left-handed, are still restricted to only playing there despite Thaiss’ recent work at third base. It will boil down to which player the Halos would rather have. If Bour’s struggles continue, Thaiss will become the obvious option.
Another player to watch is fan favorite Jose Rojas. Rojas is following up a strong Spring Training with a hot start to the season in Salt Lake. He quickly became a player who fans want in Anaheim, and some even questioned Rengifo being called up before the team gave Rojas a shot.
Capable of playing multiple infield positions, Rojas’ versatility gives him an advantage in terms of being added to the big league roster. However, he is not currently on the 40-man roster. This is what kept him in Salt Lake and gave Rengifo his first taste of the MLB. Rengifo is on the 40-man, so the Angels could call him up without designating a player for assignment, like they would be required to do if they had added Rojas.
Even with that disadvantage of not being rostered, Rojas’ talents will force the Angels’ hands eventually. If another injury hits this team, especially in the infield, Rojas could very well be making a trip to Anaheim.
In terms of pitchers that could make their first appearance at The Big A soon, the first to mention is Jared Walsh.
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Walsh has been an electric and newsworthy prospect not just for the Angels, but for the entire MLB. He is redefining the “utility player”, as he is pursuing a two-way career as a corner outfielder/first baseman while also working as a relief pitcher.
So far this season, Walsh has had his ups-and-downs with Triple-A Salt Lake. His batting average is sitting at .250, but he has shown solid slugging potential. His ERA sits at 3.00, which is very impressive given how often pitchers struggle in the Pacific Coast League.
While Walsh has been a developmental project thus far, there’s no doubting his versatility. The one thing holding him back right now is the current logjam the Halos have at first base.
With Albert Pujols and Justin Bour there, and David Fletcher as the fourth outfielder, there isn’t a huge need for Walsh’s services just yet. On top of that, the Angels’ bullpen has also been very impressive, further reducing the need for Walsh.
One other name to watch is Luis Madero. After a 2018 season where he struggled in Double-A, Madero began the 2019 season in Single-A.
He made four appearances (three starts), and posted an immaculate 1.13 ERA while striking out 12.9 batters per nine innings. That earned him a call up back to Double-A, where he’ll look to improve upon the 11.25 ERA he posted at that level last season.
While Madero may seem far away from reaching the big leagues, Billy Eppler has shown time and time again that he will not hold prospects back from moving up throughout the farm system. Look no further than Canning, who pitched his way through every level of the minor league system in 2018.
Madero is still just 22 years old, so there isn’t necessarily a need to rush him. However, if the injuries to the Angels’ rotation don’t improve throughout the season, Madero is definitely a name to keep an eye on.