SEATTLE -- The Angels will be sending eight prospects to the Arizona Fall League this year, including four pitchers and catcher Juan Flores, who is ranked as the club’s No. 18 prospect by MLB Pipeline. Flores is the lone player ranked among the club’s Top 30 prospects who will be playing for the Salt River Rafters along with prospects from the D-backs, Rockies, Red Sox and Pirates. He’s joined by right-handers Ryan Costeiu, Brandon Dufault, Fulton Lockhart and Victor Najer, lefty Will Gervase, infielder David Mershon and outfielder Raudi Rodriguez. It’s the second straight Arizona Fall League for both Dufault and Mershon. Angels interim manager Ray Montgomery, who also has spent several years in player development and scouting, said he believes the Arizona Fall League is an important avenue for prospects to show off what they have against similarly highly regarded Minor Leaguers. “When it first started, it was like a finishing school,” Montgomery said. “And if you played in that, you were imminently going to play in the big leagues, probably the next year. You'd go there to file down some rough edges on some things you needed to work on before you came here. “I think now you get a combination of guys who've even played here and go there to go back and do some of those things. So, yeah, it's an honor. I still think it's a league that, you know, stands above the rest in terms of prospects to go and highlight what they can do.” |
Flores, just 19, is coming off an up and down season with High-A Tri-City, hitting .207/.283/.341 with 10 homers, 11 doubles and 40 RBIs in 89 games. But he was still young for the league, as he was more than three years younger than the average competition. The Venezuela native has been in big league camp in each of the last two seasons despite his youth, as the Angels believe he can develop into a capable big league backstop, along with fellow catchers Gabriel Davalillo, ranked as their No. 12 prospect, and Dario Laverde, ranked No. 20. Flores is considered a strong defender with a plus-arm and initially joined the organization as part of the 2023 international signing class, receiving a $280,000 bonus. The 5-foot-10, 215-pounder has power but needs to refine his approach and be more selective at the plate. The Angels believe the Arizona Fall League will be a good experience for him, and Montgomery also urged players to consider playing Winter Ball in the offseason as well. Flores has yet to play in Winter Ball because of his inexperience, but the Arizona Fall League will be his first foray into getting some extra work in after the regular season. “Any time you keep playing is a good thing,” Montgomery said. “One of the things that's gone on in the game recently is guys don't play in the winter like they should. And with the Latin American players, they play all winter. It's a huge advantage.” |
MLB MORNING LINEUP PODCAST |
|
|
Who was the first Angels player to record a 30 homer/30 stolen base season? A) Bobby Bonds B) Don Baylor C) Darin Erstad D) Mike Trout |
|
|
MINOR LEAGUER RIO FOSTER IN CRITICAL CONDITION AFTER CAR CRASH |
Minor League outfielder Rio Foster is in critical but stable condition after being a passenger in a car crash on Sept. 5 in Richmond, Wash. Foster, 22, was just named the Northwest League Player of the Month with High-A Tri-City on Sept. 4. Foster was ejected from the vehicle and sustained a traumatic brain injury, according to a GoFundMe page started by his mother Iris Cleveland. Outfielder Jo Adell was one of several people in the Angels organization to donate, as he gave $5,000 to help Foster and his family. “I remember him coming up and being a part of camp toward the end [of Spring Training],” Adell said. “He was having a great couple of weeks of baseball, I know that for sure. We're just feeling for him and his family. Baseball is one thing, but life is something else. ... I know he's got a lot of support, and I know all the guys have stepped up and done their part. Prayers for the family. It's terrible to hear, but I hope he can fight back and come back healthy." |
|
|
HUNTER, SUZUKI AND GUARDADO ON HAND FOR HOMESTAND |
Special assistants Torii Hunter, Kurt Suzuki and Eddie Guardado all spent time with the Angels during their homestand against the Athletics and Twins. Guardado has been serving as the club’s bullpen coach with Steve Karsay out for the rest of the year after undergoing hip surgery earlier this month. Hunter also spent time with the Angels last week during their road trip in Texas and went over to visit with Single-A Inland Empire as they started their postseason series with Rancho Cucamonga with a 5-4 win on Tuesday. Hunter and Suzuki both played for the Twins and Angels, while Guardado never pitched with the Angels but lives locally. “These guys have contributed a lot to the game,” Montgomery said. “It’s unique with Eddie in the situation he's in, having to help us with Karsay quitting on us [laughing]. He's done a great job. I can't think of a better guy to step in and do that, given what he did in his career. He says he can pitch but I'm not sure he could. And then it’s cool for Torii being an icon for both franchises. And ‘Zuk stinks but sometimes he can help out. [Smiling]” |
|
|
A) Bonds, who hit 37 homers and stole 41 bases in 1977. |
|
|
FORWARDED FROM A FRIEND? SUBSCRIBE NOW |
|
|
To subscribe to Angels Beat, visit this page and mark "Angels Beat" from our newsletter list. Make sure you're following the Angels or that they're checked as your favorite team. |
|
|
|
