Being that today is Groundhog Day, it seemed fitting to preview the Angels starting rotation going into Spring Training. Injuries have riddled the Angels rotation the past four seasons like no other period in franchise history leading many to wonder if 2020 will be another day in Punxsutawney for Halo fans.
Billy Eppler and co. have added two pitchers who have delivered on the promise of eating innings in recent years in the persons of Julio Teheran and Dylan Bundy. Both are joining an Angels rotation that Los Angeles hopes to include healthy Andrew Heaney, Griffin Canning, and Shohei Ohtani when the Angels reach mid-summer.
Here’s what we can expect:
Andrew Heaney – Returned from injury-plagued seasons in July and was assumed the role as team ace in the final months of 2019. Heaney has always displayed the potential to be ace of the staff and the Angels will be counting on that performance in 2020. Heaney’s fastball velocity was the highest it has ever been in 2019 and this is a good sign for the Angels staff. Obviously, we want to avoid the Groundhog Day scenario with injuries with Heaney.
Julio Teheran – An innings eater having pitched more than 174 innings each of the past seven MLB seasons. The Angels will be counting on Teheran’s health, consistent performance and career 3.67 ERA in the middle of the Halos 2020 rotation. The key for the 29-year old’s future will depend on how successful he can learn to be on his slider and change-up to get more outs as his velocity has dropped year to year.
Dylan Bundy – The Angels acquired Bundy from the Orioles in December and he gives him a controllable arm for the next two years that has managed to give his club good innings in recent years. Bundy has always shown tremendous upside and the pairing of him and new pitching coach Mickey Callaway will hopefully lead to breakout 2020 season.
Griffin Canning – We only saw a slight glimpse of Canning’s potential in his 17 starts with the Angels during his rookie season. Canning could be the Angels ace-in-waiting and they will be careful with his workload as he experienced arm soreness that shortened his rookie campaign. If healthy, Canning will be a formidable force at the top of the Halos’ rotation.
Shohei Ohtani – The 2018 Rookie of the Year was arguably one of the 10 best pitchers in baseball when he was pitching for the Angels. After spending the past season and a half exclusively as the Angels designated hitter, Ohtani will likely be eased back into the Angels rotation. The new “Ohtani rule” will allow the Angels to keep Shohei in their line-up while he can pitch rehab games in Inland Empire and Arizona. The hope is that when Ohtani is in the rotation it will be the Ohtani we saw in 2018. An ace pitcher.
Matt Andriese – The Angels acquired Andriese from the Diamondbacks this month after he spent the entire 2019 season pitching from Arizona’s bullpen. Although probably best suited for the bullpen, Billy Eppler stated he would enter camp as a starting pitcher. Andriese entered the majors as a starter with Tampa Bay and the Angels will stretch him out in Arizona and see how he could fit into the rotation Opening Day.
Patrick Sandoval – The Mission Viejo product pitched well during his first few months in the Angels rotation and showed he can contribute in the future. Sandoval could probably benefit from some additional time in the minor leagues but could force himself into the rotation mix with another strong Cactus League performance.
Jaime Barria – The Angels revelation rookie of the 2018 rotation took a step backward last season and ended up spending time in the bullpen as a result. Barria is still only 23 years old and he could still find his way back into the rotation with a little help from Mickey Callaway. The Angels would love to see him return to the 2018 form that led him to a 10-9 record and 3.41 ERA across 26 starts.
Dillon Peters – After being acquired from Miami in November 2018, not many expected Dillon Peters to make an impact on the 2019 Angels staff. Peters stepped up to make 12 starts for the Angels during a very difficult season for their rotation. Peters may also factor into the bullpen mix as a crafty left-handed pitcher that can make emergency starts. It would be foolish to think Peters may not factor into the 2020 Angels staff in some capacity.
Jose Suarez – Suarez just turned 21 years old so it was laughable to hear some fans writing the talented prospect off after being rushed to the Angels rotation in 2020. The acquisitions of Bundy, Teheran, and Andriese and the emergence of Peters last season will allow the Angels to give Suarez another full season in the minors to develop his craft.
While the Angels top pitching prospects outside of Suarez, Canning, and Sandoval are mostly at the A-level or below they do have a few starters that could rise quickly. Aaron Hernandez pitched well as Advanced A-level Inland Empire in his first professional season and would likely be slated to begin the season at Double-A Rocket City. Like Canning two years ago, Hernandez has the potential to advance quickly if he continues to have success at Double-A early this season. Oliver Ortega pitched well at Inland Empire before struggling through his first five Double-A starts last season. Ortega should be joining Hernandez in Rocket City rotation will a shot to turn some heads in 2020. Luiz Gohara was a highly-touted Atlanta Braves prospect before an injury sidelined him last season. He was designated for assignment by Atlanta and claimed by the Angels last summer. He will likely start the season still in rehabilitation but will be an intriguing pitcher to monitor as he begins to see action in 2020.
Angels This Week
The Angels officially announced their non-roster invitations to their spring training major league camp. Pitchers will include Matt Ball, Jacob Barnes, Adrian De Horta, Luiz Gohara, Hoby Milner, Neil Ramirez, Jose Rodriguez, and Jake Thompson. As always, the club will send an abundance of catchers to camp with Jose Briceno, Jack Kruger, Keinner Pena, Franklin Torres, and Harrison Wenson handling the pitchers. Arismendy Alcantara, Jose Rojas, and Elliot Soto will be three extra infielders trying to earn their way onto the 40-man roster. Eventual starting right fielder Jo Adel will be joined by Brandon Marsh and Brennon Lund as the non-roster outfielder invites.
Former Angels outfielder Peter Bourjos has reportedly accepted a scouting position in the Colorado Rockies organization. Bourjos, 32, was drafted and developed by the Angels and returned to the club last season as an extra outfielder on the 2019 Opening Day roster. This will presumably mark the end of Bourjos playing days and we wish him the best.
An old familiar face will be reporting to Tempe in the minor league camp this Spring. Michael Kohn, who debuted with the Angels in 2010, has signed a minor league contract in hopes of making a major league comeback with the Angels. Kohn appeared in 126 games for the Angels between 2010 and 2014 with 3.68 ERA before electing free agency after being optioned in 2014. He would only appear in six more games for Atlanta in 2015 and has been working to get back from a series of season-ending injuries. The 33-year old will provide the Angels a potential comeback story if he can find his way into the 2020 Angels bullpen.
Angels Down on the Farm Report
11 Angels Pitching Prospects to Watch in 2020
Stiward Aquino
Alejandro Duran
Aaron Hernandez
William Holmes
Cristopher Molina
Oliver Ortega
Robinson Pina
Chris Rodriguez
Jose Soriano
Jose Suarez
Hector Yan
