Angels Farm System Gets A Boost In Latest Top 30 List

The Los Angeles Angels hired interim GM John Mozeliak to add depth and talent to the organization, and the Angels’ latest edition of their Top 30 prospects list reflected the new GM’s success so far. 

The Angels changed course in their draft habits by selecting a high school player, as 17-year old Jared Grindlinger from Huntington Beach High School became the team’s top choice and the No. 12 overall pick. 

Mozeliak then leaned heavily on scouting director Tim McIlvaine, according to Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com, as the Angels went back to the college well by selecting  Georgia Tech second baseman Jarren Advincula in the second round, Texas A&M third baseman Gavin Grahovac in the third, Georgia outfielder Rylan Lujo in the fourth and Oklahoma shortstop Jaxon Willits (son of former Angels outfielder Reggie Willits) in the fifth. 

All of those players are now part of the club’s Top 30 list, and Mozeliak kept going at the trade deadline when the Angels became one of the biggest sellers in the market. They wound up trading a total of seven players, and the big prize they got back in return was shortstop Arjun Nimmala from the Toronto Blue Jays as part of  a three-prospect package for starter Jose Soriano. 

Nimmala is now the Angels’ No. 1 prospect and No. 38 overall in MLB’s updated Top 100 list, and he got off to a strong start at Double-A Rocket City, according to Bollinger, before he sustained a hand laceration on a slide into home in his second game on Aug. 6. Nimmal did returne to the lineup on Saturday, however. 

Another deadline deal led to the acquisition of right-hander Mason McGwire (son of slugger Mark McGwire) from the Cubs for reliever Ryan Zeferjahn while also getting a much-needed catching prospect in Jacob Cozart from the Guardians for right fielder Jo Adell, per the writer. 

Add those players to a system that already included right-hander Tyler Bremner, and the result is a farm system that’s considered on the rise. The system also includes outfield prospects Hayden Alvarez and Raudi Rodriguez having strong seasons along with breakout years from pitching prospects such as Johnny Slawinski, Trey Gregory-Alford, Dylan Jordan and Talon Haley.

Bollinger also included a full Top 30 list that featured the new top five prospects along with their ranking in the Top 100:

1. Arjun Nimmala, SS (No. 38)

2. Tyler Bremner, RHP (No. 46)

3. Hayden Alvarez, OF

4. Jared Grindlinger, OF

5. Johnny Slawinski, LHP