As I’ve stated before in the Angels Prospect Spotlight series, the Angels have more relief prospects than Santa has elves. Jerry Dipoto, being a former reliever himself, definitely seems to have an affinity for them, and not in the way you’d think. If I asked you to picture a typical major league relief pitcher in your mind, what type of pitcher would come to mind? Undoubtedly, someone pitching out of the stretch, not particularly clean shaven or even good looking, horrifying mechanics to go along with a mid-90’s fastball and killer slider, neither of which he throws for strikes consistently. That describes ever bullpen other than the Angels bullpen, which is filled with clean shaven guys that throw strikes but rely more on deception, movement and intelligence to maker their mere 90 MPH fastballs play up.
But luckily for the Angels, there are relievers of every type, shape and size in their minor league system, one of the few bright spots. Let’s start in AAA.
AAA Salt Lake Bees
RHP Jeremy McBryde – After a stellar beginning to his career with the Padres and A’s, McBryde now finds himself on the Angels 40-man roster and on the brink of living out his dream of pitching in the big leagues. While he wasn’t able to crack the bullpen out of Spring Training, he’s only an injury away from a promotion right now, at least until Cory Rasmus and Mike Morin return. On the season, 22 IP with 24 K’s and a 3.63 ERA which, in the PCL, is nothing to be ashamed of.
RHP Trevor Gott – Acquired as a bit of a throw-in from the Padres in the Huston Street deal, Gott came with little fanfare, but impressed those who took a closer look. Not only was he an elite closer in college, he’d shut down games at every stop in his short but highly successful minor league career. Reports had him sitting 92-94 with good off-speed pitches and command problems. He arrived in AA last year touching 98 on the radar gun and hitting 95-96 with regularity. He showed excellent poise and improved command. After opening the year in AA, Gott has since been promoted to AAA with more of the same so far. 2.2 IP, 3 Ks, no runs.
AA Arkansas
RHP Austin Adams – A former MWAH Top 30 prospect, Adams has refined his command and returned with a vengeance to prospect lists. Armed with a 92-94 MPH fastball and likely the best slider in the Angels system. In 19 innings, Adams has struck out 29 batters, walked 12 and compiled a 2.75 ERA . With another successful season Adams could find himself on the short list of relievers ready for promotion next year.
RHP Kurt Spomer – While Spomer won’t blow you away with his stuff, he’s shown enough to record outs at every level in the minors. So far in AA, he’s been as advertised. 16 IP, 12 K, 5 BB and a 2.81 ERA.
RHP Danny Reynolds – What Reynolds lacks in size, he makes up for in stuff. A former troubled starting pitcher, once Reynolds switched to relief, he found his niche. Routinely dialing it up to and over 95 MPH, Reynolds is just a small adjustment or further refinement away from gracing the Angels bullpen. The organization thought so highly of him, they added him to the 40-man roster so as to not risk losing him in the Rule 5 draft last year. Good thing too, he might be really good someday. So far, 16 IP, 20 K, 12 BB and a 3.38 ERA.
LHP Chris O’Grady – A big lefty that typically hits 89-90 on the radar gun, O’Grady has quietly put himself into a position to help the Angels possibly this season. Effective lefty relievers are in short supply, and with O’Grady’s command, he could make a big difference. So far in AA, 17 IP, 17 K, 55 BB and a 1.53 ERA.
RHP Eduard Santos – After a disastrous year in the Cal League last year, Santos has brought his swing and miss stuff to AA and has actually flourished so far. 15 IP, 23 Ks, 9 BB and a 2.87 ERA. Attacking hitters with a low to mid-90s fastball and the ability to hide the ball well, if Santos continues posting big strikeout numbers, he could be a potential bullpen piece in a couple years.
RHP Nate Hyatt – A throw-in for the Kubitza trade in the offseason, Hyatt has had a very good start to his minor league career, and while the performance has been inconsistent so far in AA, with further refinement, there’s little doubt Hyatt could emerge as a Fernando Salas type of reliever in the majors, which is worth millions. A low to mid-90’s fastball and good assortment of off-speed pitches including a changeup can do wonders.
RHP Austin Wood – Wood is both starting and pitching in long relief in AA right now, but he certainly has the upside to consider. Blessed with a fastball that routinely sits 95-99, Wood also uses his large frame and strong arm to spin off a plus breaking ball and changeup.
Advanced-A Inland Empire 66ers
LHP Greg Mahle – The absolutely dominant start to Mahle’s career has carried over to his second year in professional baseball. Drafted out of the 15th round from UC Santa Barbara, Mahle laid waste to the Pioneer and Midwest League in the months following the draft. The Angels gave him a very long look in Spring Training, even throwing around the idea of promoting him straight out of A Ball to start the season. They instead chose to play it conservatively and slot Mahle in the Cal League, where he’s pitched 18 innings, fanning 26 batters with only 3 walks and a 2.89 ERA. Mahle combined excellent command with a 92-93 MPH fastball and good breaking ball should make him a fast riser. We could see him in the Angels bullpen as early as this September. He can either be a dominant lefty specialist or pitch in a setup or closing role for the Angels.
RHP Geoff Broussard – In truth, I don’t know much about Broussard, but I know that 27 Ks in 17 innings and an ERA under three are all very good things.
LHP Cole Swanson – Those SoCal prospects man, they just get the job done in the minors in a way others can’t. Swanson has tossed 14 innings with 17 K, 7 BB and a 3.21 ERA so far. Blessed with size and velocity with movement, Swanson could make the jump up to AA in short order.
RHP Victor Alcantara – Alcantara is working out as a starter still and seeing decent results, but who are we kidding? That guys is a reliever, through and through. He pitches exclusively from the stretch, sits 95-101, has a killer slider and doesn’t often throw more than 5 innings at a time.
Class-A Burlington Bees
RHP Jake Jewell – A MWAH Top 30 prospect, Jewell has pumped it up into the mid-90’s with a good slider and an aggressive demeanor on the mound. 32 innings, 39 K and a 2.78 ERA so far this year. There are whispers about a potential move to the rotation in the future, but I wouldn’t give those much thought, this kid is spectacular in the late innings.
RHP Ronnie Muck – Much like Jon Snow, “I know nothing” about Ronald Muck other than to say his numbers look spectacular and he’s young. That’s a good enough combination to climb the minor league ladder. An ERA under one and more than 9 Ks per nine innings is impressive.
RHP Jordan Piche – I also know little about Piche other than to say that I’ve been told the organization is really high on both him and Kipper in A Ball. An ERA under one in the Pioneer League was impressive last year. This year’ s 2.89 ERA and 21 Ks in 18 innings with only 2 walks makes me think he may not be long for A Ball.
LHP Jonah Wesely – A former MWAH Top 30 prospect, Wesely appears to be making a run at the Top 30 again this year. Only 20 years old from NorCal, the former UCLA commit has come into his own this season in A Ball, with 24 strikeouts in 18 innings and 8 walks with a 3.38 ERA. I was a little disjointed to hear he wouldn’t be starting in the minors, but after seeing him pitch it’s easy to see why. A fiery competitor, Wesely has attacked hitters with a 92-93 MPH fastball, changeup and curve that have raised eyebrows for a couple years. Much like Greg Mahle, Wesely should be a very good lefty reliever in the big leagues someday.
RHP Eduardo Paredes – He may be 20 years old but this Venezuelan could pass for 40. But his arm, my goodness his arm. Paredes has dialed it up to AAA digits this year, striking out 27 batters in 18 innings and only walking three. This kid has been dominant since the day the Angels signed him at age 17, and is the “real deal”. He needs to be aggressively promoted immediately. A great comparison for Paredes is for Angels reliever Jairo Diaz who is currently in AAA for the Rockies after the Angels stupidly traded him away. Regardless, this kid has future closer written all over him.
It isn’t normal to have 4+ relievers with this kind of success at every level, it isn’t even normal to have three. The Angels have an embarrassment of riches that should give the organization some young, inexpensive talent for years to come It may be a decade before the Angels sign another RP in free agency.
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