The Los Angeles Angels are the next AL West team on our Players Likely to Debut series. In case you missed it, we have already rolled out over two-thirds of the league.
AL East: Red Sox — Yankees — Orioles — Blue Jays — Rays
NL East: Marlins — Braves — Phillies — Mets — Nationals
AL Central: Tigers — Royals — White Sox — Twins — Cleveland
NL Central: Cardinals — Reds — Pirates — Cubs — Brewers
Below, you will find a list of three prospects from the respective organization. Each prospect will have a number score next to their name — this number will represent the estimated amount of time we anticipate that player seeing at the big-league level. Players that have already made their big-league debut will not be included on this list.
BREAKDOWN OF TIME ON ROSTER SCORES:
1 — September call-ups / guys that are likely to see less than 20-25 games on the roster
2 — 1/4 of the season (roughly 40 games on roster)
3 — 1/2 of the season (roughly 80 games on roster)
4 — 3/4 of the season (roughly 120 games on roster)
5 — Full season on the MLB roster
LOS ANGELES ANGELS
Position — Name (Time on Roster Score)
OF — Brandon Marsh (2)
As noted by our own Ralph Lifshitz, a mid-2019 change in set-up has allowed Marsh to shorten his load and it has paid off. The shift has allowed Marsh to tap into his power without taking away from his great approach and feel for contact. Like recent Angel’s prospect graduate, Jo Adell, Marsh has shown always the tools and talent worth raving about and now that it is starting to click in games, he should be ready to join the big league team soon. Recent acquisition of veteran outfielder Dexter Fowler may delay things for a little while but it shouldn’t be long before both Marsh and Adell are enjoying roaming the outfield grass alongside Mr. Trout.
RHP — Chris Rodriguez (3)
After missing significant time in recent years due to injury, Rodriguez has found his way onto the Angel’s 40 man roster. There are some bullpen concerns due to the health issues but with all of the makings of a mid rotation arm, he could be a pitcher that the Angels intend to lean on this season if he proves capable this Spring. In fact, it is not far fetched to see him finding a spot sooner rather than later due to an Angel’s rotation filled of many names with notable injury history and/or lack of recent success.
LHP — Reid Detmers (1)
One of my most vivid memories from my time working as an analyst with the baseball team at Georgia Tech was watching a pitching duel between Xzavion Curry and Reid Detmers where Detmers racked up 16 K’s against us.
Now fresh out of the 2020 Draft, Detmers is the type of arm that should move rapidly through a system seemingly always in need of pitching help. Detmers works hitters primarily with a FB/CB mix each of which he has an incredible feel for. While the most likely outcome is a 2022 debut so that he can work on further developing a third offering, he is a big bodied lefty with two pitches capable of getting hitters out, so don’t be surprised if he gets a call just one year after being drafted.
NOTABLE
Currently on the 40-man roster, Jose Alberto Rivera and Hector Yan are two arms that could see some time in the Angels bullpen at some point this year. Yan in particular has the makings of an arm who could find himself pitching in some high leverage situations. One other name to follow is infielder, Jeremiah Jackson. The ability Jackson has to give multi positional value could allow him to get a chance at the big league level to fill out some depth in Anaheim.