Hot Prospects April 23rd, 2010
It is with great pleasure that AngelsWin.com brings back its weekly Hot Prospect lists. In our weekly column, we will be providing a look at who’s been hot down on the farm. Unlike our annual Top-50 Prospects, our Hot Prospects column is not ranked based on the ceiling of the prospect, and instead is just a snapshot of the week that just past on the farm. This year, AngelsWin.com will be presenting the Hot Prospect reports every Friday throughout the season.
1. The Arkansas Firemen, Double-A (Kohn, Aldridge, Walden)
Overall Combined: 15 2/3 innings, 1 ER (0.59 ERA), 29 K’s
What’s Up: Jordan Walden gave up the first run between the three last night against the Royals Northwest Arkansas club. Before then, the three fireballers went nearly 15 innings combined without giving up a run to start the season. Still, a 0.59 ERA and 29 strikeouts in 15 2/3 innings is as dominant as you can get. What’s even more impressive is that between the three, they have only given up four hits. Michael Kohn hasn’t given a hit yet and Aldridge has given up just one hit, while striking out 12 in 5 2/3 innings of work.
2. Luis Jimenez, 3B, Low-A Cedar Rapids Kernels
Past 10 Games: (.364), 5 Doubles, 1 triple, 14 RBI’s
Overall: .293/.323/.431
What’s Up: Yes you read that right, 14 RBI’s in Jimenez last 10 games, including a game winning, base clearing triple back on April 19th against the Oakland A’s Low-A Ball club. Known by his teammates as “Lucho”, Luis Jimenez won the short season Pioneer League home run crown with 15 homers (beating teammates Angel Castillo (14) and Robert Lopez (14)) a year after leading the rookie level Dominican Summer League with 11 HR’s in ’07. He also led the Pioneer League in doubles (28) and extra-base hits with 49, helping the Owlz reach the finals. Jimenez missed the entire 2009 minor league season after offseason shoulder surgery.
3. Mike Trout, OF, Low-A Cedar Rapids Kernels
Past 10 Games: (.439), 1 Doubles, 2 triples, 5 RBI’s, 8 SB’s
Overall: .367/.443/.450
What’s Up: Trout began the season going just 1-13, but he’s had a hit in every game since. In his last 10 games, Trout has stolen all eight of his stolen bases on the season, one of those stolen bases was sliding into homeplate for a run. Trout has an impressive 9:9 walk-to-strikeouts ratio, so when he’s not lacing line drives from foul line to foul line, he’s on base via the walk.
4. Tyler Skaggs, LHP, Low-A Cedar Rapids Kernels
Overall (two starts): 10 IP, 1 ER, 7 H, 4BB, 9 K’s (0.90 ERA)
What’s Up: The southpaw looked great in his second start of the season, throwing five scoreless innings against the Oakland A’s Low-A Ball club. Skaggs fanned six Kane County Cougars.
5. Terry Evans, OF, Triple-A Salt Lake Bees
Overall (6 Games): .455/.500/.682 with, 2 2B’s, 1 HR and 2 SB’s
What’s Up: Terry Evans responded immediately with his play after being demoted to Triple-A after making the club out of Spring Training, seeing just one at bat while with the big league club. Evans went 4-5 with a double and two stolen bases on April 20th against the Las Vegas 51’s club.
6. Roberto Lopez , 1B/C/OF, High-A RC Quakes
Past 10 Games: .351, 3 2B’s, 1 HR, 10 RBI’s.
Overall:.321/.385/.482
What’s Up: Roberto Lopez has played everywhere on the diamond it seems in an effort to become a super utility player down the road and possibly find a position that he can stick with. Lopez has seen time in the outfield, at firstbase and even behind the dish for the Quakes. Lopez could be Robb Quinlan’s future replacement.
7. Sean O’Sullivan, RHP, Triple-A Salt Lake Bees
Last Start: 6 2/3 IP, 2 ER, 6 K’s
Overall: 4.67 ERA, 1-1, 17.1 IP, 16 K’s, 1.21 WHIP
What’s Up: Sully has notched two straight quality starts for the Salt Lake Bees, fanning 15 hitters in 12 and 2/3 innings of work. The increased strikeouts is something to take note of. He struck out just 29 batters in 51 and 2/3 innings in 2009.
8. John Hellweg, RHP, Low-A Cedar Rapids Kernels
Past 3 Games:3 2/3 IP, 6 K’s, no runs
Overall: 6.75 ERA, 2 Saves
What’s Up: The 6’9 reliever who brings the heat at 95-98 MPH has shut down opposing hitters in his last three appearances. In 3 2/3 innings of work, Hellweg has fanned six batters. Hellweg’s first appearance of the the season wasn’t too pretty, as he gave up three runs on three walks and one hit in a 1/3 inning of work.
9. Garrett Richards, RHP, Low-A Cedar Rapids Kernels
Last Start: 5.1 IP, 1 ER, 5 BB, 8 K’s
Overall: 1.10 ERA, 16.1 IP, 20 K’s, 8 BB, .196 BAA
What’s Up: Richards looked dominant in his last start striking out eight batters through 5 and 1/3 innings. Richards had a heavy mid 90’s fastball working for him and his breaking ball generated some ugly swings. He did struggled a bit with the control of his secondary stuff, resulting in five walks. Richards starts tonight against Burlington.
10. Dillon Baird, 3B, High-A RC Quakes
Past 10 Games: .289, 2 HR’s, 4 2B’s, 7 RBI’s
Overall: .259/.349/.519 with 3 HR’s
What’s Up: The Angels saw enough of what Baird could do with the bat last season with the Orem Owlz that they decided to have Baird skip a level and go right to High-A Ball with the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes. Baird has three multi-hit games in his last five contests, including a 3-3, 2 HR performance on the 20th against Lake Elsinore. His other hit was a double and he also walked in the game.
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