The Angels’ top prospect is Kaleb Cowart, a third baseman who I profiled not all that long ago over at Baseball Prospectus. Cowart could be the club’s future at the hot corner.
In Keith Law’s top 100, Cowart ranks #23 among all prospects in baseball. Unfortunately, no other Angels prospects made the list.
What, no love for Cowart’s Inland Empire 66ers teammate CJ Cron? Cron hit .293 with 27 homeruns for the IE last year. The year before that, while playing for the University of Utah, Cron led the nation in OPS with a 1.320 mark. It’s just too bad for the Angels though, that Cron had to make the switch from catcher to first base. He’s 6’4″ and 235 pounds. The man is a beast who can hit for power and average. Cron easily makes my top 100 prospects list.
The California League can boost hitters’ numbers. Not being in the Top 100 isn’t a knock on Cron; there are only a hundred spots. He’s a solid offensive prospect, but the fact that he doesn’t provide much with the glove (first baseman) really drags down his value.
Cowart is a third baseman, and a lot of Angels fans are probably salivating over someone to take over third from Alberto Callaspo, but I like Alberto. He is an above average defender, he gets on base, and he has a little pop in his bat. He isn’t a star, but he is a solid complimentary piece for a championship team.
I completely agree. If things go right, Cowart could be even better, though, which is why he’s so highly rated.