BA Angels Top 10

by matthewmafa on Jan 18, 2026 6:38 PM EST Comment 23 comments

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/rankings/organization-top-10-prospects/2010/269388.html

TOP TEN
PROSPECTS

1.	Hank Conger, c
2.	Peter Bourjos, of
3.	Mike Trout, of
4.	Trevor Reckling, lhp
5.	Garrett Richards, rhp
6.	Fabio Martinez, rhp
7.	Randal Grichuk, of
8.	Tyler Skaggs, lhp
9.	Jordan Walden, rhp
10.	Trevor Bell, rhp

BEST
TOOLS

Best Hitter for Average	Hank Conger
Best Power Hitter	Mark Trumbo
Best Strike-Zone Discipline	Hank Conger
Fastest Baserunner	Peter Bourjos
Best Athlete	Mike Trout
Best Fastball	Garrett Richards
Best Curveball	Garrett Richards
Best Slider	Fabio Martinez
Best Changeup	Trevor Reckling
Best Control	Trevor Bell
Best Defensive Catcher	Bobby Wilson
Best Defensive Infielder	Andrew Romine
Best Infield Arm	Rolando Gomez
Best Defensive Outfielder	Peter Bourjos
Best Outfield Arm	Angel Castillo

PROJECTED 2013
LINEUP

Catcher	Mike Napoli
First Base	Kendry Morales
Second Base	Howie Kendrick
Third Base	Brandon Wood
Shortstop	Erick Aybar
Left Field	Torii Hunter
Center Field	Peter Bourjos
Right Field	Mike Trout
Designated Hitter	Hank Conger
No. 1 Starter	Jered Weaver
No. 2 Starter	Scott Kazmir
No. 3 Starter	Joe Saunders
No. 4 Starter	Ervin Santana
No. 5 Starter	Trevor Reckling
Closer	Kevin Jepsen

Poll

You Angels Top Prospect?

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no comments?

My oh my, how this system has fallen . . .some interesting potential, but nobody you’d want to bet too hard on.

So let’s get a little something started here. Conger is, in my opinion at least, a really hard guy to evaluate. His numbers aren’t great on the surface, although he finally stayed healthy and his plate discipline picked up. The power wasn’t there, which was a little surprising for a guy who had 65-70 power coming out of high school. Then again, playing catcher in the Texas League is absolutely hellish.

His defense has improved from “1B in the making” to “could probably do a passable job if a team doesn’t have a better option”, although I’m wondering if he might need a move off the position to realize his offensive potential.

So what do we think of Hank Conger? Predictions for next year? Projection for what type of player he ends up as?

by mrkupe on Jan 18, 2026 10:50 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I was a bit surprised he was #1

I’m not really confident enough in his defense to put him that high. Fabio Martinez Mesa is one of the more intriguing prospects in this system for me.

by jar75 on Jan 18, 2026 11:01 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Why do you say this system has fallen?

BP, BA and Sickels all seem to suggest this is an up and coming system with a lot of potential coming through. The 2009 draft appears to be huge for the Angels. And they have 5 1st (and 1st supplemental) round picks in 2010.

If anything they ‘fell’ from 2006-2008 (although with some great little picks, such as Bourjos, Reckling, Adenhart, Walden and Conger) but are very much on their way back.

Re. Conger, the organization were very happy with his health and performance behind the plate last year. He had wrist issues that seemed to contribute to a minor power sappage (in a tough hitters park as well) but his plate discipline and contact skills were solid. He was also just 21 years old in AA. When added to positive scouting reports, the B+ Sickels ranking and BA top organizational prospect ranking indicate future potential. Next year will be a crucial year in his development I believe.

by TheQuestforMerlin on Jan 19, 2026 12:04 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It's fallen

because what, 3 or 4 years ago the entire starting infield were still prospects along with guys like Sean Rodriguez. The 2009 draft looks to be a step in right direction, but the level of talent in this system has been on the decline for the last couple of years. It’s entirely likely that the 2009 and 2010 drafts help to push this system back up the charts but I don’t see how you can argue that it hasn’t fallen off from recent years.

RIP Nick Adenhart

by gatling on Jan 19, 2026 1:30 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Well

I agree with characterizing the organization as fallen in the years 2006-2008. That seems evident and I think we’re in agreement of that. It was a weak system due to promotions to the bigs and a lack of investment in the draft.

However this would be the year that I would describe the Angels minor league system as up and coming in the ‘prospect cycle’, and the prospect rankings all seem to say the same. I don’t know, I think to describe them as ‘fallen’ this year is lazy.

by TheQuestforMerlin on Jan 19, 2026 1:45 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Just for example

Using John’s gradings for draftees in 2009:

Mike Trout B+
Garrett Richards B
Tyler Skaggs B-
Randell Grichuk B-
Carlos Ramirez C+
Tyler Kehrer C+
Pat Corbin C+

Thats a pretty nifty haul for one draft in their first year of being graded.

Plus the above doesn’t include recent international signees from 2008:

Fabio Martinez Mesa B-
Alexei Amarista C+
Jean Segura C+

by TheQuestforMerlin on Jan 19, 2026 1:59 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

This might be a matter of semantics...

I always try to think conservatively when it comes to the newest draft class… I like to see how players/prospects adjust to professional ball before grading them. So I see the Angels’ system as one with the potential to be an up and coming farm system thanks to the haul from the 2009 draft but they’re still at the starting gate.

The monster at the end of this blog.

by grover on Jan 19, 2026 11:42 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Up and coming farm system

Oh I can definitely see your point of view. If you view them as at the starting gate, I have them at the first bend although ultimately classified as an up and coming farm system.

But I have no issues with your line of thought or the reasoning behind it. It’s probably more practical than mine. However with a weak farm for the last few years i’m excited to see it turn around for the Angels, much like Ranger and Oakland fans have been excited with their bus-load of top prospects and their top farm systems these past few years.

by TheQuestforMerlin on Jan 19, 2026 2:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

2009 draft

The draft looks decent, I really can’t say more than that at this time. It looks “great” in terms of quantity . . .but when you’ve drafted a bunch of guys in the first couple rounds of the draft who haven’t had a chance to fail yet, the draft SHOULD look good.

All in all, it’ll probably fall pretty close to the standard success rate when you look at the individuals rather than the group.

by mrkupe on Jan 19, 2026 4:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree that he's a tough guy to evaluate

Mostly because due to injuries we have relatively little data about him, both scouting and statistical, compared to others who’ve been around as long as he has.

As for the power drop off, the scouting report said:

The power-suppressing dimensions of Little Rock’s Dickey-Stephens Park initially got in Conger’s head. But when he focused on stroking line drives in the second half, he batted .305/.404/.457.

That got me curious, and I looked up the HR multipliers for that stadium (opened 2007):

2007: .85
2008: .88

That is pretty low, and easily the lowest in the Texas League. I couldn’t find any park factors from this past season, but I am guessing it didn’t change too much (but who knows).

That’s certainly doesn’t make the concerns go away, but it’s something to think about.

by aCone419 on Jan 19, 2026 9:28 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Conger

Conger’s numbers should look great in SLC. If not, prospect status will fall. It will probably take 2-3 years in SLC to supplant Scoscia’s golden boy catchers - Napoli & Mathis. Good Luck with that, Hank.

by Colorado Fan on Jan 20, 2026 1:21 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

you mean Mathis only

I’m not a fan of the Angels, nor am I affiliated with Napoli in fantasy leagues, but Scoscia’s refusal to play him over Mathis last year at times was maddening.

The fact that a few big time hits by Mathis in the playoffs may uphold this trend in the future is worrisome.

by FastBennyF on Jan 20, 2026 3:00 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

stud

top 5 offensive. if he stays at catcher?

by svigen on Jan 18, 2026 11:15 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Congers rated better than Flowers?

Exactly how special is Conger’s bat supposed to be. Flowers is a totally solid bat with power + OBP and has an edge both defensively and with his path to the majors. Yet Flowers is consistently rated below Conger. Granted Conger is younger, but also has the injury history and whatnot… your thoughts?

The 2008 Rogelio Moret League Fantasy Baseball Champions!

by The Congo Hammer on Jan 19, 2026 2:22 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I think Conger is the more complete hitter, as I have serious questions about Flowers’ bat. I dont know if Flowers will be much more than a .250 hitter in the majors. He has a big, long swing with holes in it.

BUT I feel Flowers is much more likely to stick at catcher than Conger now - which is about 180° from what I thought this time last year. If they’re both catchers, I have no doubt Conger is the better player and prospect.

by alskor on Jan 19, 2026 2:31 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

+1 on Flowers

Don’t think he’ll be able to make enough contact at the major league level to make a profound impact. Definitely a Conger fan as well, particularly if he’s improving his defense.

..Man it seems Conger has been around forever. Just takes so, so long for C’s.

by WrenFGun on Jan 19, 2026 9:57 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I don't think that being a catcher has a whole lot to do with it

Of the 2006 HS hitting draftees, I’m pretty sure that only Snider has logged any MLB at bats so far. Besides Snider, all of the other first round HS bats from that year are all behind Conger in terms of how far they’ve advanced (he’s had a full year in AA): Rowell, Marrero, Parmelee, Sapp, Cody Johnson, Jason Place.

It would be asking a lot of Conger to expect him to be further along than he is now.

by jibs on Jan 19, 2026 10:26 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

He was 21 in AA this year. That’s young for the league, regardless of position.

by aCone419 on Jan 19, 2026 11:47 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

special?

I wouldn’t really call his bat “special” . . .I think the projected upside on it has always been something like 60 contact, 65-70 power. Don’t get me wrong, that’s a really good bat, but you’d need a pretty loose threshold for “special” for it to apply here.

I guess my biggest question with Conger is: can you get everything out of him? I worry that if he’s a catcher, he’s one with okay defense and a bat that doesn’t quite realize it’s full potential. And if you move him to 1B then you might get him to realize his offensive potential, but then as a 1B obviously you have to expect more.

by mrkupe on Jan 21, 2026 2:48 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs