Let me just preface this by saying, I hate comparisons. They’re never fair, nor are they entirely accurate. That’s why I hesitate to put them in any of the prospect reports during the offseason. Having said that, the Angels fans who actually read these are somewhat shortchanged because we don’t offer the comp service the way other sites may. So instead of shortchanging our beloved readers, I’ve decided to offer comparisons for each of our Top Prospects from last year.
*DISCLAIMER*: These comps are subjective in nature and do not fully describe any prospect. These are for entertainment purposes only and should not be used in any serious conversation without considerable evidence.
30) 2B/3B Andrew Daniel – Gordon Beckham
Daniel is a little on the bigger side for a second baseman, and what he lacks in plate discipline he makes up for with decent pop, contact ability and the off-chance he’ll steal the occasional base. He doesn’t project to be a major league regular, but if he makes it to big leagues, he should be able to carve out a role similar to Beckham, were he to play for a contender. Which is to say he’d be a backup with moderate upside.
29) OF Miguel Hermosillo – Shane Victorino
As a prospect, Hermosillo’s calling card is his speed, ability reach base and moderate pop. If he makes it to the majors, he’d project very similar to Victorino, a player who does enough to remain in the lineup.
28) RHP Daniel Hurtado – Pass
I’m not even going to try, mostly because he doesn’t play for the Angels anymore.
27) RHP Drew Rucinski – Tyler Chatwood
They both have a pretty similar delivery, arsenal and body type.
26) 3B/OF Cal Towey – Kelly Johnson
Johnson used to be really good, and if Cal Towey makes it to the majors, he’ll be similar to what Johnson is now, which is a player known predominantly for his work ethic and refinement and less for his game-changing ability.
25) C Jett Bandy – A.J. Ellis
Bandy is going to be an athletic, defensive-minded catcher that isn’t afraid to take a walk and has enough pop in his bat to keep OF’s honest. That’s quite similar to what A.J. Ellis has become known for. If we ignore the batting average, it’s quite easy to like these players. He should make a solid platoon partner for Carlos Perez.
24) IF Zach Houchins – Chris Johnson
If Houchins progresses far enough, he should have a career arc similar to Johnson. Johnson possesses neither the ability to hit for high average, reach base at an impressive clip, or even hit for much power. But he plays solid defense and does just enough of all of the above to keep himself in contention for a starting spot.
23) C Carlos Perez – Carlos Perez
Now that he’s a major leaguer, we don’t have to force comparisons upon him anymore. He’s a very good defensive backup catcher with the ability to make consistent contact and not much else.
22) RHP Jeremy Rhoades – Colby Lewis
The fastball is mostly average, will sometimes crawl up to be an above average pitch, but it’s what these pitchers do with their offspeed pitches that will make them successful. Like Lewis, Rhoades is big bodied, can snap off a very good slider and drop in the occasional changeup.
21) RHP Austin Wood – Brandon Maurer
This is the big bodied pitcher with impressive fastball, good curve and a good changeup, but for some reason just can’t get anybody out. Austin Wood confuses me, and I’m hoping it’s only a temporary thing because of his rust from missing two years.
20) SS Eric Stamets – Andrew Romine
Stamets is a defensive wizard with a cannon for an arm and rocket strapped to him, giving him the ability to absolutely fly. At the plate, he makes contact but lack discipline or pop and on the bases he just doesn’t steal very much. That’s good enough to be a solid major league utility infielder.
19) OF Bo Way – Leonys Martin
Though Way struggled in the first half, he’s come around as of late and is allowing his natural talent to play up where it should. He should hit for a decent enough average, reach base, run the bases and play defense well enough to carve out a role as a backup in the major leagues.
18) OF Chad Hinshaw – Desmond Jennings
There’s more to Hinshaw than we’re seeing this year, and even so he’s been pretty solid in AA. While he doesn’t compare to the prospect that Jennings was, in the major leagues, they could be quite similar. Though they don’t hit for average, they reach base enough, play the outfield well and can run the bases.
17) LHP Tyler DeLoach – Jose Alvarez
Granted they aren’t built anything alike, but their arsenal is similar. A 90-ish fastball, deception and the ability to go multiple innings.
16) OF Natanael Delgado – Garrett Jones
Rarely do I enjoy a comparison, but with Delgado, as a player he bares an uncanny resemblance to Jones. Not in their looks, but body type, strengths and weaknesses, etc. Delgado should hit for a high enough average and considerable pop, even in the majors. But he lack of defensive ability combined with the inability to reach base will relegate him to part time work.
15) RHP Trevor Gott – Scot Shields
Yes, I know you’ve heard the comp. It’s applicable too. Same arm slot, same movement, same velocity, same team, same number. It works.
14) LHP Nate Smith – Mark Buehrle
Buehrle used to throw in the high-80’s and low 90’s, quite similar to Smith. But it’s the changing of speeds and spotting of pitches that has made into one of the better pitchers of his era. Smith is cut from the same cloth and should find success at the major league level, even if he’s nondescript and no one remembers him. That’ll work in his favor.
13) LHP Hunter Green – Not applicable.
We’ll start drawing comparisons when he starts pitching.
12) 3B Kaleb Cowart – Chase Headley
Even I’m not sure who Kaleb Cowart is, but I know he has similar tools to Chase Headley. Decent pop, good defense, can reach base.
11) RHP Kyle McGowin – A right-handed C.J. Wilson
If you could look at their mechanics side-by-side, McGowin sort of looks like a mirror of CJ Wilson in his delivery. Their repertoire isn’t entirely dissimilar.
10) RHP Victor Alcantara – Francisco Rodriguez
A young K-Rod of sorts. Alcantara is still masquerading as a starter, but then again, so did K-Rod. They’re fastballs are similar at this conjuncture in their careers, and so is the slider. Let’s just hope he isn’t another Fabio Martinez.
9) RHP Chris Ellis – Clay Buchholz
Buccholz plays for the hated Red Sox, but if you’re looking for a comp for Ellis, Buccholz is a pretty safe pick. Blessed with size and three good pitches, Clay’s had an up and down career. When he’s up, he’s an ace. When he’s down, he’s a wrecked 5th starter. The end result is a solid #3 starter you like to take a chance on. Ellis is fighting his command a bit in AA, but once he irons those out, he should be ready for a shot in the majors.
8) RHP Joe Gatto – Ian Kennedy
Kennedy thrives on a sinking, cutting fastball with moderate downhill movement and a couple of solid offspeed pitches. Gatto has a bit more downhill movement to his fastball, but also less horizontal movement. His offspeed pitches show similar promise to Kennedy’s, but lack the refinement, which is understandable at this point in his career. Still, if he develops the way I think he will, Gatto should emerge as a decent #3/4/5 starter in the majors.
7) 2B Alex Yarbrough – Alberto Callaspo
Callaspo was once a pretty decent player. He could switch hit, play passable defense and could be counted on for lots of doubles, few HR’s and a decent OBP. Then he broke his wrist and never fully recovered. Callaspo still went on to be a good player, just not as good as he could’ve been. Yarbrough should be similar to Callaspo except in the OBP department. This makes him a decent second or third division starting 2B in the majors.
6) 3B Kyle Kubitza – Matt Carpenter
This comp actually makes a fair deal of sense. They’re both big, athletic players. Kubitza has more arm and range that Carpenter, but Carpenter comes with a better glove and footwork. They both hit left handed and are more known for the amount of doubles they hit instead of the amount of HR’s.
5) RHP Cam Bedrosian – Kevin Jepsen
Gulp! Jepsen ironed some things out and eventually turned into a good middle reliever, and Bedrosian’s basically one adjustment away from turning into that. The problem with both pitchers has always been inconsistency though. But a mid to high 90’s fastball and fall off the table slider are enough to feature in the middle or back end of most bullpens.
4) RHP Nick Tropeano – Nick Tropeano
As a general rule, whenever a player makes it to the majors, I don’t want to draw comparisons any longer. Tropeano throws strikes with his low-90’s fastball has probably the best change up among up and comers in baseball, and uses a passable breaking ball as a third pitch. He should be a solid #3/4 starter.
3) SS Roberto Baldoquin – Yunel Escobar
Not because they’re both Cuban. This has more to do with their production. Escobar can be flashy at times, but for the most part, he’s more or less just a passable middle infielder. He’ll make plenty of contact and has gap power, but he’ll never be a superstar, more just a mid-tier starter. That’s how I view Baldoquin now that I’ve had a chance to see him. He runs moderately well, has decent actions in the field, chases too many pitches but can also barrel up others into the gaps and occasionally over the wall.
2) LHP Sean Newcomb – Jon Lester
Those comps are well founded. Same arsenal, same size. Lester was once an ace and still may be again. Newcomb may be an ace in the future.
1) LHP Andrew Heaney – Andrew Heaney
He made the majors, and thus I lucked out of making a comp for him. In terms for production though, Gio Gonzalez I think. You know I wouldn’t leave you empty handed like that. Yes, I think Heaney should experience similar success in his career to that of Gio Gonzalez, who is widely referred to as a solid #2/3 starter.
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