Draft Reviews: Los Angeles Angels

2008 Draft Slot: 74th overall (Second round)
Top Pick: Tyler Chatwood, RHP, California high school
Best Pick: Tyler Chatwood
Keep an Eye On: Michael Kohn, RHP, College of Charleston (13th round)
Notes: Michael Kohn has posted excellent pro numbers as a reliever and he has the stuff to succeed: A mid-90s fastball and potentially plus breaking ball. He’s allowed just seven hits and five walks in 17.1 innings so far this season in low A-ball. Tyler Chatwood has actually posted solid numbers even though he has no idea where the ball is going (2.85 ERA, 7.80 BB/9). Just imagine what he could do with some polish.

2007 Draft Slot: 58th overall (Supplemental first round)
Top Pick: Jonathan Bachanov, RHP, Florida high school
Best Pick: Trevor Reckling, LHP, New Jersey (Eighth round)
Worst Pick: Trevor Pippin, OF, Georgia junior college (Fourth round)
Notes: Prep right-hander Matt Harvey, considered a first-round talent who would be a difficult signing, fell to the Angels in the third round and would have been a great player to have. But he headed to the University of North Carolina instead. Top pick Jonathan Bachanov had Tommy John surgery and has yet to make an official pro appearance. Trevor Reckling has become the top pitcher in the system. The soon-to-be 20-year-old hurler is already dominating in double-A.

2006 Draft Slot: 25th overall
Top Pick: Hank Conger, C, California high school
Best Pick: Jordan Walden, RHP, Texas high school (12th round)
Worst Pick: Clay Fuller, OF, Texas high school (Fourth round)
Notes: With no second-round pick and unable to come to terms with its third-round pick, the Angels chose a raw prep outfielder in Clay Fuller and appear to have missed on him. He strikes out way too much and is hitting .220 while playing at high-A ball in his fourth pro season. If he can stay behind the plate (a big IF), Hank Conger could provide above-average offense for the position. The Angels were extremely lucky to find a pitcher of Jordan Walden’s caliber in the 12th round, although he is currently injured.

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2009 Draft Slot: 24th overall
Draft Preference (2006-08): Prep hitters and pitchers
MLB Club Need: Starting pitching, Third base, First base
Organizational Need: Outfield, Third base, Second base, Left-handed pitching
Organizational Strength: Shortstop? Maybe catcher??
Notes: The amateur draft has not been an area of strength in recent years for the organization. The club has thumbed its nose at the draft while preferring to build a winning organization through free agency and trades. The club, though, is running out of tradable commodities. Despite losing its 2009 first round pick (32nd overall) for signing reliever Brian Fuentes, the club actually gained two higher picks (24th, 25th) after losing free agents RHP Francisco Rodriguez and 1B Mark Teixeira. The club also has three supplemental first round picks, so now is the time to rebuild the farm system.