When the Angels drafted Skaggs years ago, I watched the scouting videos, read the profiles, and even watched him myself. He was a beanpole, looked no older than 16, had a completely unrepeatable delivery and looked unsure what exactly was going on. It was perfect. The reason being, he was shiny and new. You see, the beanpole thing and looking 16 tend to be fixed naturally, the delivery was something the Angels coaches could definitely work with him to fix. But wasn’t up for modification was the “stuff”. I’m talking a deceptive 92 mph fastball coming from a baby. A Zito-curve buckling the knees of fellow preps in a manner completely unfair. A best of all, an actual change up, not a work in progress but a professional quality change up from a prep. It was glorious. He was shiny, and new.
But Skaggs was too impressive. Other teams took notice and coveted him. The media took notice too and started driving the hype up. He ended up being dealt to the D-Backs in the Dan Haren deal. When combined with Saunders and Corbin, it was a king’s ransom. Still, Skaggs was just a prospect, and needed to be preserved so the shine doesn’t rub off. With physical maturity and professional instruction and development, Skaggs fastball began reaching the mid-90’s and he was being lauded as an ace or #2 in waiting. Skaggs had transformed into something even more shiny, and newer than ever before. But then they tried to change him. Arizona toyed with his mechanics, his approach, and left a once promising 92-95 heater drop to 89, and a change up altogether ineffective and reduced to a show me pitch.
This led to his reacquisition. For the third time in his career, Skaggs was shiny and new. The Angels traded homegrown slugger Mark Trumbo for Skaggs and fellow lefty Hector Santiago. Mike Butcher worked with Skaggs and the first thing he told him, drop everything the D-Backs told you. And as a result, Tyler was touching 93-94 again with regularity, the curve ball was as good as ever and the change up was beginning to re-emerge as a go-to pitch. Skaggs wasn’t a finished product and to be sure, he did have his struggles, as would any 22 year old in the majors. But he was slowly growing into something more, before the Tommy John epidemic took its toll on Tyler.
And so began the rehab. A move to Arizona, a goal to get back on the mound, a thirst to compete, and pestering the coaching staff and front office in an attempt to get back on the mound early.
And so here we enter 2016, and once again, Tyler Skaggs in shiny and new. And yet he’s largely forgotten. Two other impressive lefty prospects have stolen the show. Andrew Heaney came in with a similar track record as Skaggs, with a slightly better change up, the same fastball and a different but equally as devastating breaking ball. He stormed the Angels and grew into the #3 starter most believed he would be. And Sean Newcomb. A high octane prospect with all the tools to lead a rotation. Of course, Newcomb has made headlines lately not because he’s an Angel, but because he’s no longer an Angel.
But forgetting about Skaggs, would be a mistake. He’s completely healthy following an extended rehab that’s purposefully lasted 6 months longer than recommended. The Angels wanted to make sure Tyler comes back healthy, with no readjustment period, similar to Matt Harvey of the Mets. But Skaggs’ background suggests that HE could be the answer to any of the Angels pitching concerns. Let’s not forget, this is the kid that was absolutely dominating the high minors as a 19 and 20 year old, posting ERA’s under three in not the most friendly of environments. He’s just 24 years old. He has MLB experience, and the quality stuff to step into the middle of an Angels rotation in much the same way that Andrew Heaney has.
Sure, the Angels have Jered Weaver and C.J. Wilson in their final year, they have Richards and Heaney already pencilled in, and have Shoemaker, Santiago and Tropeano all battling for the 5th spot in the rotation, and also being trade candidates. There’s a lot of uncertainty, but there are also a lot of options. But when the dust settles, Tyler Skaggs should be viewed as the exciting prospect he always was, and not automatically assumed to be minor league depth when it’s entirely possible or even likely that he’s better than every pitcher on this team not named Richards or Heaney.
Regardless of the crowded rotation and likely outcome, we’ve got a young lefty with tremendous upside as a surprise acquisition headed into 2016. Thanks, Jerry.
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