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The Los Angeles Angels will be our next stop on the farm to evaluate the best prospects on each MLB team. Once the 2020 MLB season begins, it may turn out that Minor League systems will be more important than usual. Franchises are losing money during the pandemic layoff, so many teams will be looking for sources of cheap production. It might also take older players longer to rebound from a long layoff meaning we could see more injuries and more roster moves. We might even see expanded rosters, at least in the early going.
One important question to ask is: How will a long layoff affect prospects? One has to assume the more advanced prospects prior to the work stoppage will be at an advantage, while the more “toolsy but raw” type could be hurt with the lack of repetition and in-game action; throwing or hitting in simulated environments just doesn’t match up to the real thing. Many prospects will have to work jobs during the pandemic just to make ends meet, while players who signed for large bonuses will have an advantage. Other prospects that lack strong discipline and commitment to their craft could struggle to stay in shape.
We won’t really know what the layoff impact will have on baseball in general until things start ramping up. But we do know that a strong prospect pool will continue to be an important element for a successful baseball franchise. We're looking at the Top 10 (or more) dynasty prospects in each organization with an eye to discovering which organizations are best positioned to succeed with their player development when games resume. Make sure to check out all of our prospect content, including Top 50 for 2020 and Top 250 for Dynasty Leagues.
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Quick Synopsis
This system is loaded with outfield talent -- including a potential star in Jo Adell. The downside to the system is that there is very little impact pitching.
1. Jo Adell, OF
Dynasty Prospect Rank: 9
2020 Prospect Rank: 7
2020 LEVEL: AAA
MLB ETA: 2020
Adell is one of those players that can really do a little bit of everything with both power and speed. He had a shot at reaching the Majors in 2019 but an injury issue slowed him down and he didn’t look at full strength when he returned to action. He has plus raw power but needs to get the ball in the air more consistently to really tap into his home run pop. His biggest need is to cut down on the swing-and-miss tendency as the strikeout rate has been hovering around 30% since he reached Double-A.
2. Brandon Marsh, OF
Dynasty Prospect Rank: 53
2020 LEVEL: AAA
MLB ETA: 2020
An impressive athlete, Marsh is a stick of dynamite waiting to explode. He has all the raw potential to be a 20-20 player but he has shown only glimpses of the total package. A former high school football player, Marsh has needed some time to polish his approach at the plate with some pretty high strikeout rates but he did a nice job improving in that area in 2019 while continuing to take a ton of walks. He’s a swing-adjustment waiting to happen as a 6-foot-4, 215-pound athlete who hits a ton of balls on the ground and has never slugged more than 10 home runs.
3. Jordyn Adams, OF
Dynasty Prospect Rank: 65
2020 LEVEL: A+
MLB ETA: 2022
Yet another toolsy-but-raw outfield prospect in the Angels system, Adams possesses top-of-the-scale speed even though he stole just 12 bases in 97 A-ball games in 2019. He has the pure speed and willingness to take a walk (50 walks last season) to steal at least 40 bases. His power is developing but he could eventually hit 15-20 home runs.
4. D’Shawn Knowles, OF
Dynasty Prospect Rank: 179
2020 LEVEL: A-
MLB ETA: 2023
The fourth outfield in a row, Knowles is the rawest but also has one of the highest ceilings. Signed out of the Bahamas, this toolsy outfielder just needs reps against better pitching to continue to hone his approach at the plate while also learning the nuances of baserunning to take advantage of his raw, plus speed. Once he better understands what pitchers are trying to do, he has a low-maintenance, effective swing which should allow him to hit for a solid batting average.
5. Jeremiah Jackson, 3B/SS
Dynasty Prospect Rank: 185
2020 LEVEL: A-
MLB ETA: 2023
I was a huge fan of Jackson prior to the 2018 draft and suggested him as a potential first-round pick. He ended up lasting until the middle of the second round where the Angels nabbed him. He’s gotten a little carried away with trying to hit for power as a pro, though. He slugged 23 home runs in 65 games last year but it came with a 33% strikeout rate. Jackson has athleticism to spare — a common trait among Angels draft picks — so I still have some faith that he’ll figure things out once he matures and stops trying to yank everything out of the park.
6. Kyren Paris, SS
Dynasty Prospect Rank: 241
2020 LEVEL: SS-A
MLB ETA: 2024
Like Jeremiah Jackson above, I had Paris highlighted as a potential first-round talent in 2019 but he slid to the Angels in the second round (where he was given first-round money to sign). Paris is young and raw — he was just 17 at the time of the amateur draft — but he has an intriguing combination of bat speed and foot speed. He may not hit for a ton of power but he could eventually hit for average, steal 20+ bases and play premium defense.
7. Trent Devereaux, OF
2020 LEVEL: A-
MLB ETA: 2023
Hey, another outfielder! Devereaux was signed out of the Bahamas at the same time as D’Shawn Knowles. He actually got more money to sign but has been slower to develop. Devereaux has a chance to hit for power as he matures and adds muscle but he also needs a lot of experience facing good pitching and polishing his pitch recognition and approach.
8. Jared Walsh, 1B/OF/P
2020 Prospect Rank: 34
2020 LEVEL: AAA
MLB ETA: 2020
I’d really like to see Walsh get a legitimate chance to play at the MLB level but he may need a trade away from the Angels for that to happen given the depth ahead of him. He’s always hit for a solid average but he started taking more walks in 2018 and then added more power in 2019 when he met the juiced ball. He slugged 36 home runs in just 98 games. Adding more intrigue, Walsh can also pitch.
9. Patrick Sandoval, LHP
2020 LEVEL: AAA
MLB ETA: 2020
As you’ve probably figured out by now, outfield prospects are the system’s strength while pitching is… not. Sandoval is the best in the system but he projects as more of a No. 4 starter. If he can improve his command, he has a chance to have three better-than-average offerings from the left side.
10. Chris Rodriguez, RHP
2020 LEVEL: A+
MLB ETA: 2022
If Rodriguez can stay healthy, he has the stuff to zoom up this list. He has mid-to-upper-90s heat and the potential for two above-average secondary offerings but he battled through back issues and eventually had surgery. The delay in the 2020 season due to the pandemic likely bought him some extra time to ensure he’s back up to full strength.
More Prospect Analysis
