6-4-2 — an Angels/Dodgers double play blog

Baseball America lists their idea of the top 20 prospects in the Arizona League (full scouting reports). In a bit of a reversal of the way things have been going lately, there's four Angels on the list, more than any team save for the Giants (who also have four), and no Dodgers:

11. Mason Tobin, rhp, Angels
B-T: R-R Ht: 6-3 Wt: 210 Age: 20 Drafted: Angels '07 (16)

The Braves controlled Tobin's rights for two years as a draft-and-follow, first at Western Nevada CC and later at Everett (Wash.) CC. When Atlanta couldn’t sign him, the Angels drafted Tobin in the 16th round this June. They got a relatively polished lefthander [sic — he's a righty, the summary above got it right — RLM] who pumps his fastball in the 89-92 mph range.

Tobin has excellent mechanics with an effortless delivery that adds deception and helps his fastball play up. At times, he can rely on his heater alone, but he'll need to refine his slider and particularly his changeup as he moves up the ladder. His slider at times is a plus pitch but lacks consistency.

Concerns about his work ethic dogged Tobin as an amateur. But once he's on the mound, he's a bulldog who challenges hitters.

"He loves to pitch inside," Angels manager Ty Boykin said. "He threw strikes and was aggressive, and he succeeded at this level because he commanded the fastball and used both sides of the plate."

12. Michael Anton, lhp, Angels
B-T: L-L Ht: 6-3 Wt: 195 Age: 22 Drafted: Angels '07 (12)

Like Tobin, Anton is a 6-foot-3, 195-pound lefthander who slipped through the cracks until the Angels drafted him in the middle rounds this year. Anton spent two seasons at Virginia Military Institute but hadn't pitched since 2005 because of academic difficulties and injuries related to a December 2004 car accident. He was working out with Angels farmhand Jesse Smith in Arizona when the Angels spotted him.

Anton pitched like a 12th-round steal in Arizona, commanding three pitches and showing perhaps the league's top offering, a plus-plus changeup with screwball action. He threw it for strikes and also got hitters to chase it out of the zone.

His 86-88 mph fastball has room to grow as he continues to gain strength, and his curveball is solid average. Anton will be even more effective when he learns to work inside.

17. Clay Fuller, of, Angels
B-T: B-R Ht: 6-2 Wt: 180 Age: 20 Drafted: Angels '05 (4)

A year after signing as a fourth-rounder, Fuller repeated the league while he learned to switch-hit. He displayed top-of-the-order tools and led the league with 55 runs, and also showed how raw he remains. One of the Angels' fastest prospects, he's a 70 runner on the 20-80 scale, and has well above-average range in center field.

Fuller, whose older brother Cody played in Double-A for the Angels this year, has surprising power, especially from his natural right side, where he hit three of his five homers in just 49 at-bats. He still has trouble making consistent contact as a lefty, but his speed and athletic ability give the move a good chance for success. He lacks the feel for hitting of nondrafted free agent Anthony Norman, his teammate who won the AZL batting title (.362), but Fuller has better pure tools and athleticism.

While he still needs work on his routes to balls, he has an average arm and projects as an asset defensively.

19. Ivan Contreras, 2b, Angels
B-T: R-R Ht: 5-9 Wt: 155 Age: 20 Drafted: Angels FA '05

Even after trading the likes of Alberto Callaspo and Alexi Casilla for little in return, the Angels still have an excess of middle infielders at the upper levels. The system hopes to be sprouting a new era of middle-infield prospects with its AZL combo this summer, featuring Contreras and shortstop Darwin Perez, another switch-hitter but one with less offensive upside than Contreras.

Though short, the Dominican native Contreras has added strength and has surprising pop in his swing, producing average power to the gaps. He has a feel for squaring balls up, as he led the AZL with 69 hits, and he's a well above-average runner as well. His aggressiveness gets the best of him at times in terms of pitch recognition and baserunning.

"He thinks he's Jose Reyes," Boykin said with a chuckle. "He's a lot of fun to watch, has an effusive personality and loves the game. More important, he can hit."

An interesting side note is that the Giants have the number one prospect on this list, 3B Angel Villona.

Update: Yes, this should have been the AZL not the AFL. A little early to be giving out commendations for work not done. Thanks for pointing that out, Fats.

Labels: angels, minors