Angels: Five prospects to watch on 60-man player pool

60-man player pool top prospects – Jo Adell, Outfielder

There are few prospects in baseball that are entering the 2020 season with as much hype as Angels outfielder Jo Adell. Currently ranked as the third overall prospect in the game (according to MLB.com), Adell is on the cusp of being ready to join the major league club and the anticipation is that he could be called upon during the 2020 season.

So what is all the hype about?

Drafted with the 10th overall pick in 2017, Adell has more than rewarded the Angels’ faith in his potential by hitting at every stop. That includes stints at every level of the minors in 2019, where he hit a combined .289/.359/.475 with 10 home runs and 36 RBI, despite being delayed due to injuries in Spring Training. He followed that up by going .273/.351/.444 with eight doubles, three home runs, and nine RBI in the Arizona Fall League.

From a defensive perspective, Adell is likely slated for a corner outfield role, especially with Mike Trout firmly cemented in center field for the next 11 seasons. That shouldn’t be a tall task, as Adell grades out as a 60-grade fielder with a 60-grade arm. If he can tap into his power potential in the coming years, he’ll be a prototypical corner outfielder.

Of course, the Angels don’t have to rush Jo Adell either, and by keeping him off the active roster for the first seven days of the 2020 season, they can retain an extra season of contractual control over him. Given their full outfield, there shouldn’t be an immediate need. However, if injuries arise, Adell could well get his first shot.

60-man player pool top prospects – Brandon Marsh, Outfielder

With Jo Adell in the system, one would already be excited for the future of the Angels outfield prospects. However, that says absolutely nothing about the other great outfielders in the Angels system, starting with Brandon Marsh.

Marsh has flown under the radar since being drafted in the second round of the 2016 MLB Draft (60th overall). While he wasn’t initially expected to sign, the Angels convinced him by giving him the full slot bonus of $1,073,300.

That proved to be a fruitful decision. After a delay to the start of his minor league career, Marsh hit the ground running when he finally made his debut in 2017. Since then he has made short work of the team’s minor league levels. In 267 games and 1061 at-bats, he owns a .287/.368/.431 slash line with 21 home runs and 159 RBI. Like Adell, he also showed well in Mesa during the AFL, hitting .328/.387/.522 with a pair of home runs and 11 RBI.

Marsh is characterized by his overall toolset, where he grades out with plus run (60), field (60), and arm (60) grades, while also holding his own with a 55-grade hit tool and a 50-power tool. He’d ideally be a center fielder for the Angels, but also like Adell, will likely slide into a corner slot to accommodate Mike Trout.

Regardless of where Marsh plays in the outfield grass, Angels fans are nonetheless excited about the possibility of a Marsh, Trout, Adell outfield in the coming years.

60-man player pool top prospects – Jordyn Adams, Outfielder

Alright, I swear that we don’t have an affinity toward outfielders. Rather, the Angels have made a habit of selecting high potential high school outfielders in the draft over the last several seasons.

Unlike Jo Adell and Brandon Marsh, Jordyn Adams is still considered a long way away from being a viable option in the Angels outfield. Drafted with the 17th overall pick in 2018, Adams has only advanced to High-A Inland Empire. However, he’s done enough in those two seasons to justify an invite to summer camp so the big league club can get their first look at him.

What tantalizes the Angels about Adams is his plus-plus-speed. And yes, there was a second “plus” in that statement, as scouts grade him out at the max 80-grade speed. His other tools still have a ways to go to catch up, with his hit (50), field (55), power (50), and arm (45) all showing room for improvement.

That isn’t to say that Adams hasn’t shown anything with the bat. In the low minors, he’s produced at a clip of .259/.353/.371 with eight home runs and 49 RBI over 525 career at-bats. He’s also added 21 stolen bases in 30 attempts.

While he won’t be seeing time with the Angels in 2020, the team felt it prudent to not totally stunt his growth. Adding him to the 60-man player pool is all about development time and keeping Jordyn Adams on his path to the big leagues.

60-man player pool top prospects – Reid Detmers, Left-Handed Pitcher

After a string of outfielders sparking the conversation, it feels good to know that the Angels have also made strides in developing pitching over the last few years. While Reid Detmers has only just signed with the team after being drafted with the 10th overall pick, there is already excitement building for the lefty.

A product out of Louisville, Detmers put up eye-popping strikeout numbers during his three seasons in the ACC. Over 192 college innings, Detmers fanned hitters at a clip of 13.4 K/9, including mowing down 48 hitters in just 22 innings before the shutdown in 2020. What makes Detmers’ numbers more impressive is the fact that he does so without plus velocity, but rather with exceptional control of three pitches and the ability to change speeds anywhere in the count.

It is this advanced approach that gives pundits the impression that Detmers will be a quick mover through the Angels system and was likely the most advanced pitcher in the 2020 MLB Draft. That was a big reason why the Angels selected him with their pick, opting to go with someone who could fill an immediate need over some of the more toolsy projects.

As the Angels know, there is no harm in having extra pitching available, as the team has known way too many injuries with its pitching staff over the last several seasons. Having Detmers available and ready to go could be a boon to the team, if for no other reason than as an insurance policy for 2020 and development for 2021.

60-man player pool top prospects – Chris Rodriguez, Right-Handed Pitcher

The final prospect on our list is one that some Angels fans may have forgotten about, but on they should nonetheless get reacquainted with; right-hander Chris Rodriguez.

A high school pitcher selected in the fourth round during the 2016 MLB Draft, Rodriguez brought with him a heater that grades at 60 and tops out in the upper-90s. He compliments that with a plus two-seamer, and a change-up and slider that both could develop into plus offerings.

So if Rodriguez had this much potential and was drafted our seasons ago, why hasn’t he made more noise on the prospect radar? Well, that all falls on health. He’s missed almost all of the last two seasons due to a stress fracture in his back that ultimately required surgery in 2019. Now, as he is said to be back to full health, the Angels are hoping that Rodriguez can rediscover his potential as the team’s number-seven ranked prospect.

Joe Maddon: Angels expecting healthy pitching staff to begin season

By adding him to the 60-man player pool, the team is trying to make up for some lost time, and not allow the right-hander to fall victim to a third season away from the bump. The Angels are undoubtedly intending to use his time to see where he is from a health standpoint while also working with their minor league coordinators to formulate the best path toward moving Rodriguez back on the right track. Any game action, even in simulated situations or versus intrasquad opponents will be a plus after he threw just 9.1 innings over the last two seasons.