Major League Baseball’s owners may have locked out the players, triggering the league’s first work stoppage since 1994-95 and bringing the offseason to a halt, but that doesn’t mean we’re letting it derail our typical offseason plans. Indeed, CBS Sports is in the process of highlighting the top three prospects for all 30 teams, as well as naming the top 50 prospects in the minors, regardless of team affiliation. That journey finds us today focusing on the Los Angeles Angels‘ farm system.
Do note that these lists are formed after conversations with scouts, analysts, and player development folks from around the league. There is personal bias baked in, as one would expect from subjective exercises, so some disagreement is to be expected.
Now, onto the gasbaggery.
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1. Reid Detmers, LHP
The book on Detmers coming out of Louisville was that he was a polished strikethrower who would move through the minors quickly. Sure enough, Detmers reached the majors after 13 professional appearances. He ended up making five big-league starts, during which he amassed a 7.40 ERA and a 1.73 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Those numbers belie that he’s still a legitimate mid-rotation prospect who pairs a low-90s fastball with a big-time curveball and a slider that fared well in The Show. Detmers should get a longer look in the majors in 2022, and those numbers should improve as the sample size increases.
2. Sam Bachman, RHP
Bachman, the ninth pick in July’s draft, was one of the most polarizing prospects in the class. His raw stuff is undeniable; he has a turbo sinker that has been clocked into triple digits, a swing-and-miss slider, and a promising changeup to boot. The rest of Bachman’s game isn’t as incontestable. He has an unorthodox delivery for a prospective starter, and teams had reservations about his injury history. Bachman should move quickly through the minors, but it’s anyone’s guess if he’ll be able to stick in a rotation, or avoid the injured list, long enough to justify his draft slot.
3. Ky Bush, LHP
Bush, the Angels’ second-round pick in July, is a big-bodied lefty with a steep release point and loud stuff who has thrown more strikes than expected dating back to 2020. His fastball and his slider are both above-average offerings, and he fills out his arsenal with a curveball and a changeup that could use refining. Bush may ultimately end up pitching in relief, but he’s been trending in the right direction.
