The Los Angeles Angels farm system has improved greatly in past five years. In large part to successful draft selections, trade acquisitions, and strategic international signings. Recent top prospects Jo Adell, Patrick Sandoval, and Jose Suarez have graduated from prospects status. Still, the Angels farm has several high-upside players just reaching majors and in development.
The organization is clearly focused on pitching talent as they used all 20 draft picks on pitchers in this year’s draft. The team is deepest in middle infield and outfielders and needs improvement at corner infield and catcher positions. Pitching has improved dramatically in the past two years with several arms recently arriving or nearing MLB.
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Reid Detmers – Left-Handed Pitcher
Fastball: 55
Curveball: 70
Slider: 60
Changeup: 55
Control: 65
Detmers was the club’s first-round selection, 10th overall, in last year’s MLB draft. The Louisville product was signed immediately and spent last season at an alternative player site. This experience proved valuable as he went into his professional debut in 2021 having faced MLB veterans last summer.
After appearing in a handful of games with the Angels in spring training, Detmers began the season at Double-A. The southpaw would strike out 97 and walk 18 across 54 innings for the Rocket City Trash Pandas before seeing a mid-July promotion to AAA. Detmers would strike out nine in six innings in his Triple-A debut at Salt Lake before getting his first promotion to the Angels. He’s struggled in his first two MLB starts but his stuff is ready to make an impact soon.
ETA: 2021
Brandon Marsh – Outfielder
Hit: 60
Power: 55
Run: 65
Arm: 60
Field: 70
Marsh has risen the ranks and played second fiddle to roommate Adell throughout his rise through the system. Marsh watched Adell’s 2020 rookie campaign from the alternate site last summer. This year it was Marsh that was first to get the call to the Angels in mid-July. He answered with solid play in center field but after a strong 7-29 start at the plate has cooled off.
He has displayed strong gap power in his minor league career and some scouts compare his swing to Bryce Harper, Paul O’Neil, or Garret Anderson. Like Anderson, expect Marsh to hone his craft as a contract hitter at the major league level before power develops. The left-handed hitter has a career .288/.371/.440 minor league slash in 295 minor league contests.
ETA: 2021
Jordyn Adams – Outfielder
Hit: 55
Power: 70
Run: 65
Arm: 55
Field: 65
Probably the best all-around athlete to come through their system since Mike Trout. The UNC Tarheel football recruit was the 17th overall selection by the Angels in the 2018 draft. The hardest-hitting prospect in their system has yet to produce the home runs in his first 138 games as a pro. The 21-year-old center fielder is hitting .207/.278/.341 with 12 extra-base hits in 179 at-bats as High-A this year.
The depth at outfield creates some obvious issues for prospects at these positions with Trout under contract through the decade. Adell and Marsh will be established in Anaheim prior to Adams’ arrival. One of these outfielders is likely to make an attractive trade chip for the Angels in the near future.
ETA: 2023
Jeremiah Jackson – Shortstop
Hit: 55
Power: 65
Run: 60
Arm: 55
Field: 60
Jackson followed Adams in the 2018 draft as the Halos second-round pick after Adams. Jackson’s power was on display in his first full professional season at rookie-level Orem in 2019. Hitting a Pioneer League record 23 home runs in 256 at-bats while playing solid defense at the shortstop position. The Alabama product has battled injury in 2021. Still, he’s managed to slug 8 home runs in 149 Low-A at-bats this season. The 21-year-old has nobody in his way currently at his position which could benefit when he gets healthy and hot.
ETA: 2023
Chris Rodriguez – Right-Handed Pitcher
Fastball: 70
Curveball: 55
Slider: 60
Changeup: 55
Control: 50
The 23-year-old Floridian was the Angels’ round selection in the 2016 MLB Draft. Limited to only three games the past three seasons due to injury, Rodriguez impressed Joe Maddon in spring training. So much so, he cracked the Angels opening day roster in April. After a month pitching out of the Angels bullpen, they demoted him to Double-A to stretch him out as a starter. He’s expected to be a part of the Angels’ future rotation in September and beyond. Don’t be surprised if he finds a long-term home in late relief with his electric fastball.
ETA: 2021
What Does the Future Hold?
Several middle infielders just outside the top five include Kyren Paris, Arol Vera, and Adrian Placencia. The ninth overall selection in this year’s draft, Sam Bachman, a right-handed college pitcher just made his pro debut Sunday. He’s expected to be on the fast-track to Anaheim helping in the bullpen as soon as 2022. Hector Yan, Jack Kochanowicz, Davis Daniel, and Packy Naughton provide additional advanced arms close to contributing.
Still, have doubts the Angels are committed to building up their farm system? The club traded pending free agents Andrew Heaney and Tony Watson at the deadline for four pitching prospects. Jose Marte, acquired from the San Francisco Giants, possesses a 100-mph fastball out of the bullpen. An area the parent club needs immediate assistance.
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