Sean O’Sullivan shines in Major League debut, notching a win.
By David Saltzer – Angelswin.com Columnist
After taking a week off to revel in the Angels Minor League Draft, Angelswin.com is back to focus on the current group of minor league players. As the Angels sign their draftees and send them to their minor league affiliates, Angelswin.com will monitor their progress in the hopes that they too can join the Hot Prospect lists Since we skipped coverage for a week, the stats listed will be for the last 10 games. Next week, we’ll be back to our normal coverage.
1. Sean O’Sullivan, RHP, Class AAA Salt Lake Bees
Past 10 Days: 2-0, 0 Saves, 2.08 ERA, 13.0 IP, 10 H, 3 BB, 10 K, 1.00 WHIP
Overall (minors): 5-2, 0 Saves, 6.02 ERA, 49.1 IP, 61 H, 15 BB, 35 K, 1.54 WHIP
Overall (majors): 1-0, 0 Saves, 1.29 ERA, 7.0 IP, 5 H, 1BB, 5 K, 0.86 WHIP
What’s Up: We debated quite a bit as to whether or not we should list Sean O’Sullivan as a Hot Prospect this week. After all, he did make his Major League debut this week. But, with the Angels optioning him back down to Salt Lake, he still qualifies as a prospect. And this week, he is the Hot Prospect. Last night, Angels fans got a taste of what Sean can do on the mound. We’re certain that he’ll be back up in the majors in the future and will be ready if we need him on the mound again this year.
2. Trevor Bell, RHP, Class AAA Salt Lake Bees
Past 10 Days: 1-1, 0 Saves, 0.60 ERA, 13.0 IP, 8 H, 4 BB, 10 K, 0.73 WHIP
Overall: 5-3, 0 Saves, 1.97 ERA, 77.2 IP, 56 H, 20 BB, 55 K, 0.97 WHIP, 199 BAA
What’s Up: On the same day that his good friend Sean O’Sullivan made his major league debut, Trevor Bell made his AAA debut and didn’t disappoint. He pitched a complete game shutout and was in command the whole game. He faced the minimum 27 batters and only threw 96 pitches—67 for strikes. This was against a hot-hitting club in a high altitude park. Coachbulldog, one of our local area scouts said after watching Bell pitch that “Bell had the Colorado Springs hitters pounding the ball in the dirt the entire night. He also got stronger as the game progressed. I cannot say enough about how good he was tonight. I hope his performance earns him another start for the Bees.” We hope so too.
3. Brandon Wood, SS/3B, Class AAA Salt Lake Bees
Past 10 Games: 12/40 (300), 2 Doubles, 0 Triple, 4 HRs, 9 Runs, 12 RBIs, 0 SBs
Overall: 301/374/607 with 15 HRs and 1 SB
What’s Up: Over the past 10 games or so, Brandon Wood has seen same playing time at a variety of positions. This isn’t too unusual as the Minor Leagues are places where players and managers can tinker with things. While there was much speculation as to why the Angels would play Wood at 1B, there doesn’t appear to be too much to read into the tea leaves yet. But, what is good to see is that the power is there, the average is there, and that he has a 41:22 K:BB ratio in 183 ABs.
4. Tim Kiely, RHP, Class AA Arkansas Travelers
Past 10 Days: 1-1, 0 Saves, 3.21 ERA, 14.0 IP, 11 H, 4 BB, 16 K, 1.07 WHIP
Overall: 6-5, 0 Saves, 4.17 ERA, 82.0 IP, 88 H, 11 BB, 57 K, 1.21 WHIP, 270 BAA
What’s Up: Making his Double A debut on Monday, Kiely showed what a difference a league can make on a pitcher’s stats. Kiely dominated his game, pitching his 2nd complete game of the season and striking out 13. Coming from the high octane California League, Kiely’s numbers don’t really reflect his overall ability. He’s got great control and is moving up the depth chart as he moves up the organizational chart.
5. Will Smith, LHP, Class A Cedar Rapids Kernels
Past 10 Days: 2-0, 0 Saves, 1.20 ERA, 15.0 IP, 10 H, 5 BB, 11 K, 1.00 WHIP
Overall: 4-2, 0 Saves, 3.32 ERA, 57.0 IP, 57 H, 12 BB, 52 K, 1.21 WHIP, 260 BAA
What’s Up: Smith’s control is still spectacular. With the exception of 2 starts, he has not given up more than 2 runs in any of his starts this year. In fact, of the 21 runs he’s given up so far, 11 of them came in just those 2 games. Taking those 2 games away from his stats, his ERA for the rest of the season is 2.11! Smith has yet to walk more than 3 players in a game while generating nearly 1 K per inning. A mid-season promotion may be in order for him where so he can be challenged by more advanced hitters.
6. Terry Evans, OF, Class AAA Salt Lake Bees
Past 10 Games: 14/41 (341), 2 Doubles, 1 Triples, 2 HRs, 10 Runs, 9 RBIs, 3 SBs
Overall: 290/338/540 with 14 HRs and 15 SBs
What’s Up: Terry has been on a tear for the past 10 days showing power and some speed. He’s still swinging a bit too freely (a 72:17 K:BB ratio in 248 ABs), but, with the Bees holding onto a slim 1.5 game lead for 1st place, Evans’ hot streak couldn’t come at a more opportune time. With the injury to Pettit, Evans has taken over the leadoff spot for the Bees even though he has the power and potential to bat deeper in the lineup.
7. Carlos Colmenares, 3B, Class A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
Past 10 Games: 12/31 (387), 1 Doubles, 0 Triple, 0 HRs, 6 Runs, 1 RBIs, 3 SBs
Overall: 294/378/362 with 0 HRs and 11 SBs
What’s Up: Signed by the Angels in 2004, Carlos switch-hitting 3B and a product of our Dominican Academy. He’s been working his way in the low minors and got promoted to Rancho Cucamonga to help cover the injury to Matt Sweeney. Colmenares has been making the most of his jump up to Rancho, walking 7 times while only striking out 5 times.
8. Eddie McKiernan, RHP, Class A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
Past 10 Days: 0-0, 0 Saves, 0.00 ERA, 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 BB, 1 K, 0.50 WHIP
Overall: 2-3, 0 Saves, 4.45 ERA, 32.1 IP, 29 H, 11 BB, 30 K, 1.24 WHIP, 238 BAA
What’s Up: It’s hard to get excited about relief pitchers when looking at minor league stats. But as Angels fans now know, excellent relief pitching is the difference between an above average season and a very good season. Eddie McKiernan, is one Angels reliever well worth keeping an eye. Earlier in the season he got jumped from Single-A Rancho up to Triple-A Salt Lake to man their pen. He is now pitching back at Rancho and hasn’t given up an earned run in just about a month. Don’t let his numbers fool you—he’s playing in 2 tough hitters’ leagues and in 2 high octane home fields.
9. Bradley Coon, OF, Class AAA Salt Lake Bees Arkansas Travelers
Past 10 Games: 15/40 (375), 3 Doubles, 1 Triple, 1 HR, 9 Runs, 5 RBIs, 4 SBs
Overall: 266/387/452 with 4 HRs and 12 SBs
What’s Up: With the lineup shuffling going on at Salt Lake, Coon has found himself batting 2nd in between Evans and Kendrick. With power and speed in front of him and great contact behind him, Coon has been seeing and hitting plenty of good pitches.
10. Matt Crawford, OF, Class A Cedar Rapids Kernels
Past 10 Games: 14/36 (389), 1 Double, 1 Triple, 0 HRs, 9 Runs, 7 RBIs, 4 SBs
Overall: 292/361/356 with 0 HRs and 15 SBs
What’s Up: Drafted in the 23rd round of the 2008 draft, Crawford has been getting on base and showing some speed. This switch-hitting LFer has been crushing lefties and improved upon his power production from last year. With Amarista, Auer and Crawford in the lineup, the Kernels have several guys who can get on base and decent clip and make plays happen with some speed.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
