Angels All-Time prospects who never quite made it

[JAHV76]

2 hours ago, tdawg87 said:

Chad Curtis was great in the minors.

He's now struggling in the pen

[Inside Pitch]

5 hours ago, Chuckster70 said:

I still cannot believe we took a chance on McKay Christensen with such a high pick. (6th overall)

What a waste! 

http://www.ldsliving.com/The-LDS-Teen-Who-Turned-Down-1-Million-to-Serve-a-Mission/s/77920

[Chuck]

1 hour ago, Inside Pitch said:

http://www.ldsliving.com/The-LDS-Teen-Who-Turned-Down-1-Million-to-Serve-a-Mission/s/77920

Yep. I totally respect his decision to do that. He definitely had a lot of faith to turn down guaranteed money.

My comment was more toward the Angels taking a chance on him knowing he was a risk, that they'd lose two years of development in the minors. 

[Rico]

13 hours ago, Chuckster70 said:

 

2B Justin Baughman, Taylor Lindsey

 

Bobby Rose.

[Chuck]

42 minutes ago, Rico said:

Bobby Rose.

I knew I was forgetting someone.

[Inside Pitch]

13 hours ago, Chuckster70 said:

Yep. I totally respect his decision to do that. He definitely had a lot of faith to turn down guaranteed money.

My comment was more toward the Angels taking a chance on him knowing he was a risk, that they'd lose two years of development in the minors. 

I didn't think you were aiming it at anything other than at the risk they took and I totally agree with you  -- I posted that article I had come across because it actually talked a bit about just how talented he was as a two sport guy.   It's really kind of crazy that even after taking a two year mission, he was in the majors at age 23...   He played in less than 350 minor league games before making his MLB debut -- dude must have been crazy talented but it seems clear his heart was elsewhere.

Just an interesting dude/story.

[Inside Pitch]

The Mathis/Kotchman/Fabregas of the world were busts compared to their expectations but at least they had MLB careers of some merit, so, I kinda go easy on them.

Guys that were seriously hyped and just flamed out....   

Arias 3B, Orton C, Rose 2B, Kevin Flora 2b (tragic story), Greene C, Wood 3B, Stevens 1B, Torres LHP, Bob Kipper LHP, Erik Pappas C, Urbano Lugo RHP, Mark Holzemer LHP, Norm Hutchin OF, Eplidio Guzman OF, Nathan Haynes OF,  Matt Perisho LHP.  Jeff Schmidt RHP.  J.R Phillips 1B, D-Mac 3B, and the original age-gate guy.  Jr Felix (OF).   He was the crown jewel of the Devo trade, was thought to be 22 at the time of the trade, turned out he was at least 27 and possibly as old as 32.  Pretty hilarious article about it here.. http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1993-01-28/sports/9303173083_1_angel-manager-buck-rodgers-junior-felix-florida-marlins

Guys that were hyped and the Angels moved before they could get anything out of them... (actually had careers most for other teams)... 

Paul Sorrento 1B, Mark McLemore 2B,  Bill Simas RP, Russ Springer RP, Mike Fetters, Dante Bichette OF, Tom Brunanski OF, Roberto Hernandez RP.  2B Damon Easley

[eligrba]

Tony Reagins

[fan_since79]

19 hours ago, Kody Mac said:

How dare you list Mathis up there. CERA king!

The idea that Jeff Mathis never made it is simply not true. He's had a 12-year major league career, is still active at age 33, and parlayed a 1.8 career WAR into $12 million of earnings so far. He also has another $4 million guaranteed in the contract he just signed with the Diamondbacks.

I would call that making it.

 

[Inside Pitch]

1 hour ago, fan_since79 said:

The idea that Jeff Mathis never made it is simply not true. He's had a 12-year major league career, is still active at age 33, and parlayed a 1.8 career WAR into $12 million of earnings so far. He also has another $4 million guaranteed in the contract he just signed with the Diamondbacks.

I would call that making it.

 

Dude is gonna get a full MLB pension -- people can mock him all they want.. he won.   He won't have to worry about healthcare or money.. ever...

[fan_since79]

43 minutes ago, Inside Pitch said:

Dude is gonna get a full MLB pension -- people can mock him all they want.. he won.   He won't have to worry about healthcare or money.. ever...

Rarely has a .197 batting average and 53 OPS+ had such a reward.

 

[Angelsjunky]

Mathis was regarded as a close second to Joe Mauer among catching prospects. Clearly he didn't pan out as hoped.

And what about Hunter Green, who seemingly spontaneously combusted and was never heard from again.

We could also look at first rounders who didn't amount to much, which is the vast majority.

[California Cajun]

On Saturday, February 25, 2017 at 0:13 PM, Chuckster70 said:

1B Lee Stevens, Casey Kotchman, Jim Eppard

2B Justin Baughman, Taylor Lindsey

SS Brandon Wood, Gus Polidor

3B Dallas McPherson/George Arias

OF: McKay Christensen, Mark Doran, Billy Taylor, Chevy Clarke

C: Jeff Mathis, John Orton, Jorge Fabregas, Hank Conger, Todd Greene

DH: Eduardo Perez, Danny Goodwin

P: Kyle Abbott, Pete Janicki, Willie Fraser, Joe Torres, Chris Bootcheck, Seth Etherton, Jonathan Bachanov, Trevor Bell, Tyler Kehrer, Trevor Reckling

It's hard for me to consider Kotchman a bust.  If he had stayed with the Angels I think he would have had a much better career.  He was just a first baseman that didn't hit a lot of home runs.

Your list is great.  I forgot about some of the players you mentioned. 

[Hufflepuff]

What about Chevy Clarke and Ryan Bolden? That was a bad draft...

[Rico]

Rose and DiSarcina came up together roughly the same time and they were billed as our Alan Trammell/Lou Whitaker.  Add Lee Stevens to the mix and this was going to be our infield of the future.  Yeesh.

[Chuck]

On 2/26/2017 at 10:23 AM, Angelsjunky said:

Mathis was regarded as a close second to Joe Mauer among catching prospects. Clearly he didn't pan out as hoped.

And what about Hunter Green, who seemingly spontaneously combusted and was never heard from again.

We could also look at first rounders who didn't amount to much, which is the vast majority.

Hunter Green wasn't a 1st round pick or a top prospect if memory serves me. Just a wasted pick if anything, but never hyped. 

Here's one. Fabio Mesa-Martinez. 

[Taylor]

Just about every prospect drafted during the Stoneman era.

[Angelsjunky]

2 hours ago, Chuckster70 said:

Hunter Green wasn't a 1st round pick or a top prospect if memory serves me. Just a wasted pick if anything, but never hyped. 

Here's one. Fabio Mesa-Martinez. 

Chuck, it is Martinez Mesa, I think, and then he dropped the "Mesa."

Yeah, he was a high-upside guy. It looks like he last played for the Dodgers in AA in 2015. Hasn't played since, probably retired. I think we traded him?

Johnny Hellweg!

[Angelsjunky]

Steven Shell.

Brian Specht.

Not top prospects, but well regarded.

Jared Abruzzo!

[California Cajun]

I remember 60s players, but don't remember which ones were highly regarded.

Does anyone remember which ones did or didn't meet expectations?

[Chuck]

Anyone remember the type of season Brok Butcher had in the high octant Cal League?

http://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=butche001bro

2.69 ERA through 18 games, 15 starts for the Quakes. A sinkerballer with good movement on his fastball, got injured after a few starts in Arkansas, tried to make a comeback in 2008 but decided to retire. 

He's now a small business owner in real estate, but I'll never forget his minor league journals. They were the best. 

If you never read them, check them out. You'll get a good idea of what it's like as a minor leaguer. 

https://angelswinblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/brok-butcher-journal-summer-edition.html

https://angelswinblog.blogspot.com/2008/04/brok-butchers-minor-league-journal.html

https://angelswinblog.blogspot.com/2008/03/brok-butchers-spring-camp-journal-2nd.html

https://angelswinblog.blogspot.com/2008/05/brok-butcher-journal-may-edition.html

https://angelswinblog.blogspot.com/2008/07/brok-butcher-minor-league-journal-june.html

https://angelswinblog.blogspot.com/2008/03/brok-butchers-spring-camp-journal.html

and our interview with Brok: https://angelswinblog.blogspot.com/2008/02/angelswincom-interview-with-brok.html

----

Fast forward to life after a baseball injury: http://www.brokbutcher.com/

[TroutCron]

On 2/25/2017 at 4:13 PM, California Cajun said:

Very interesting topic.  I'm going to post my list before reading other responses.

• Brandon Wood
• Rick Reichardt
• Tom Egan
• Tom Satriano
• Jorge Fabregas 
• Darryl Scioners 
• Dallas McPherson 
• Jay Johnstone (became an impact player after leaving the Angels)
• Chad Curtis
• Willie Aikens 
• Devon White (became an impact player after leaving the Angels)

Devo doesn't deserve to be on that list. He was heading into his prime when he was traded to a he Jays. Had he temained with the Angels he would have been an All Star.

[TroutCron]

On 2/26/2017 at 4:47 AM, Inside Pitch said:

The Mathis/Kotchman/Fabregas of the world were busts compared to their expectations but at least they had MLB careers of some merit, so, I kinda go easy on them.

Guys that were seriously hyped and just flamed out....   

Arias 3B, Orton C, Rose 2B, Kevin Flora 2b (tragic story), Greene C, Wood 3B, Stevens 1B, Torres LHP, Bob Kipper LHP, Erik Pappas C, Urbano Lugo RHP, Mark Holzemer LHP, Norm Hutchin OF, Eplidio Guzman OF, Nathan Haynes OF,  Matt Perisho LHP.  Jeff Schmidt RHP.  J.R Phillips 1B, D-Mac 3B, and the original age-gate guy.  Jr Felix (OF).   He was the crown jewel of the Devo trade, was thought to be 22 at the time of the trade, turned out he was at least 27 and possibly as old as 32.  Pretty hilarious article about it here.. http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1993-01-28/sports/9303173083_1_angel-manager-buck-rodgers-junior-felix-florida-marlins

Guys that were hyped and the Angels moved before they could get anything out of them... (actually had careers most for other teams)... 

Paul Sorrento 1B, Mark McLemore 2B,  Bill Simas RP, Russ Springer RP, Mike Fetters, Dante Bichette OF, Tom Brunanski OF, Roberto Hernandez RP.  2B Damon Easley

Carney Lansford! The best third baseman the Angels ever produced. 

[SlappyUtilityMIF]

Reggie Montgomery

Daryl Scoiners

BWood (who has been mentioned)

George Arias (same as above)

Willie Mayes Aikens (a couple good years with us and the Royals then off to the drug scandal).

[SlappyUtilityMIF]

On 2/25/2017 at 10:13 AM, Chuckster70 said:

1B Lee Stevens, Casey Kotchman, Jim Eppard

2B Justin Baughman, Taylor Lindsey

SS Brandon Wood, Gus Polidor

3B Dallas McPherson/George Arias

OF: McKay Christensen, Mark Doran, Billy Taylor, Chevy Clarke

C: Jeff Mathis, John Orton, Jorge Fabregas, Hank Conger, Todd Greene

DH: Eduardo Perez, Danny Goodwin

P: Kyle Abbott, Pete Janicki, Willie Fraser, Joe Torres, Chris Bootcheck, Seth Etherton, Jonathan Bachanov, Trevor Bell, Tyler Kehrer, Trevor Reckling

Cris Cron....... DOH!