Los Angeles Angels

TRACK RECORD: Knowles, who signed out of the Bahamas for $850,000, struggled in a repeat season at Rookie-level Orem in 2019 and was not brought to the alternate training site in 2020. But he spent six weeks at instructional league in Arizona, where he earned rave reviews for his strong defense at all three outfield spots, improved baserunning and plate discipline and his ability to make more consistent contact from both sides of the plate.

SCOUTING REPORT: Knowles is a gap-to-gap contact hitter with plus speed. He has a clean, compact, quiet swing from both sides and average raw power potential, with more pop coming from the left side. He has a chance to hit for more power as he gets bigger and his bat-to-ball skills improve. Knowles was introduced to second base at instructional league in 2019 and will continue to explore the position moving forward. His arm is strong enough to play three outfield spots, and it should play up in the infield.

THE FUTURE: Knowles projects as a high on-base percentage, speedy utility man more than a regular. He will likely start 2021 at low Class A.

TRACK RECORD: Vera signed for $2 million as a 16-year-old as part of the Angels' renewed commitment to Latin America. He was confined to an Arizona apartment complex during the coronavirus shutdown in 2020 and put on a little too much weight by the time he reported to instructional league in the fall. Even with the added weight, he showed a tool set that remains intriguing.

SCOUTING REPORT: The switch-hitting Vera has an advanced understanding of the strike zone and good bat-to-ball skills from both sides. He works counts and rarely swings at pitches outside the strike zone. He's more of a line-drive hitter but should hit for more power as he matures physically and gains strength. Vera is athletic in the field with quick hands, a strong arm and an ability to throw from all angles at shortstop. He's an average runner now but will likely slow down as he fills out.

THE FUTURE: Vera is too gifted of an infielder to move off of shortstop for now. If he continues to add weight, he might project more as a third baseman.

TRACK RECORD: Rivera impressed enough at the Puerto Rico Baseball Academy to be selected in the fourth round in 2019 and was announced by the Angels as a two-way player. He continued to take at-bats as a designated hitter in instructional league in 2020, but he appears to have more upside as a pitcher.

SCOUTING REPORT: Rivera has a smooth, athletic delivery and induces plenty of swings and misses with a fastball that averages 92 mph and touches 95 mph. His 77 mph curveball resembles a slider, with a little more sweep than depth, and an emphasis in the fall was adding velocity to, and improving the command of, his breaking pitch. Rivera has shown improvement on an 83 mph changeup that has some fade. At the plate, Rivera has plenty of raw power but has struggled to make consistent contact.

THE FUTURE: Rivera should reach low Class A in 2021. He may continue to get at-bats, but his future is firmly as a pitcher. He projects as a mid-to-back-of-the-rotation starter or possibly a swingman.

TRACK RECORD: Bonilla signed for $600,000 in 2019 and showed good pull-side power with occasional opposite-field pop during a 20-game stint in the Dominican Summer League. He stayed in shape by playing sandlot ball in the Dominican Republic during the coronavirus shutdown and was a full participant in instructional league in the fall.

SCOUTING REPORT: Bonilla has a clean bat path that allows him to barrel baseballs consistently and produce high-end exit velocities, and he has a natural launch angle that helps him hit the ball into the air. As he grows and adds muscle, he has a chance to hit for average power. The stout-framed Bonilla is not as athletic as many of the organization's top middle-infield prospects, but he's a smooth, polished defender with a plus-plus arm that allows him to make throws from deep in the hole. The Angels love Bonilla's work ethic and baseball IQ.

THE FUTURE: Though he handles shortstop well, Bonilla's body type might necessitate a move to third base. He will likely start 2021 in the Rookie-level Arizona League.

TRACK RECORD: The Angels signed Ramirez for $1 million based on the belief he had the power potential to grow into a middle-of-the-order slugger. He showed that pop as a 17-year-old with 17 extra-base hits, including four homers, over 39 games in the Dominican Summer League in his pro debut. Ramirez was quarantined in an Arizona apartment last summer during the coronavirus shutdown and slowed by a sore shoulder during fall instructional league.

SCOUTING REPORT: Ramirez is big, strong and muscular with an athletic frame, and he can hit the ball a long way. But there is some swing-and-miss in his game--he struck out in one-third of his plate appearances in 2019--and his bat-to-ball skills, timing and ability to hit breaking balls all need work. Ramirez is an average runner who is still learning to manage his long strides. Though he has solid defensive instincts in the outfield and an above-average throwing arm, Ramirez is still growing into his body and has occasional coordination issues.

THE FUTURE: Ramirez projects as a power-hitting corner outfielder, but the Angels will continue to challenge him by playing him in center field as much as they can. He will likely open 2021 in the Rookie-level Arizona League.

TRACK RECORD: Brady showed excellent command and an attack-the-zone mentality in his first three professional seasons, striking out 157 and walking 44 in 144 2/3 innings as he climbed to high Class A. He had a brief stint at the alternate training site in 2020 before finishing in instructional league, where he placed an emphasis on getting ahead in counts and putting away hitters quicker.

SCOUTING REPORT: Brady gets well above average ride on a fastball that averages 93 mph, and he throws two different 82-mph breaking balls. One resembles a slider and one is more of a curveball depending on how he manipulates the ball, with his curveball drawing above-average grades. His improving mid-80s changeup has some fading action but doesn't have much depth. Brady has average control and is starting to understand how his stuff works: the more he stays in attack mode, the better his results usually are.

THE FUTURE: Brady has a chance to land as a back-of-the-rotation starter, but he is more likely to reach the big leagues as a middle reliever. He will likely start 2021 at Double-A.

TRACK RECORD: The switch-hitting Placencia signed with the Angels for $1.1 million as one of the youngest players in the 2019-20 international signing class. He did not play for an affiliate after signing, so the Angels got their first extended look at him during instructional league last fall.

SCOUTING REPORT: Still only 17, Placencia doesn't have the size right now to generate much impact at the plate. He does have a sound swing, uses his hands well, puts together quality at-bats and makes decently hard contact when he finds the barrel. Despite his size, the natural lift in his swing gives him a chance to develop average or better raw power as he matures physically and gains strength. Defensively, Placencia has smooth actions, soft hands and an average arm with a quick exchange at shortstop. He is a below-average runner.

THE FUTURE: Placencia is not quite as advanced as fellow 2019 international signee Arol Vera in terms of baseball IQ and maturity, but he's extremely athletic with explosive movements. He will likely start 2021 in the Dominican Summer League.

TRACK RECORD: Naughton was named the Reds minor league player of the year in 2019 after going 11-12, 3.32 between high Class A Daytona and Double-A Chattanooga. The Angels acquired him for Brian Goodwin at the 2020 trade deadline. Naughton was durable enough to throw more than 150 innings in both 2018 and 2019 and spent 2020 at the alternate training sites of the Reds and Angels.

SCOUTING REPORT: Naughton is a crafty lefthander who works from a slightly funky, low-three-quarters arm slot that adds deception to his three-pitch mix. He throws his fastball in the low-90s with average command, but his best weapon is a changeup he throws with excellent deception, depth and some armside run. Naughton can spin a breaking ball with some shape, but his curveball isn't nearly as effective as his changeup and fastball. He is able to repeat his delivery and has above-average control.

THE FUTURE: Naughton will likely start 2021 at Triple-A. His lack of high-octane stuff relegates him to the back of the rotation, but with his advanced feel for pitching, durability and control, he should provide starting pitching depth.

TRACK RECORD: Franco signed for $50,000 in 2017 and excited the Angels with his raw arm strength, but the injury bug has bitten him. He spent the first two and a half months of 2019 in extended spring training rehabilitating a forearm injury, which led to a major elbow injury after he made eight starts at Rookie-league Orem. Franco had Tommy John surgery following the season and did not pitch at all in 2020

SCOUTING REPORT: Franco added 25-30 pounds in his first two professional seasons. He vaulted up the organization's depth chart because of his command of a fastball that averages 94 mph and touches 98 mph with riding action at the top of the zone, a considerable boost from his previous peak velocity of 94 mph.Franco has struggled with the command of his secondary pitches. He has a mid-80s changeup with significant fade and depth and an upper-70s curveball that lags behind his changeup.

THE FUTURE: Franco should be ready to go in spring training. He could develop into a starter if he gains better control of his offspeed pitches. If not, his fastball should play up even more in shorter relief stints.

TRACK RECORD: Holmes, formerly known as William English, signed as a two-way player for an over-slot $700,000 bonus in 2018. He hit .320 with a .920 OPS in 43 Rookie-level at-bats in his pro debut, but he appears to have more upside as a pitcher.

SCOUTING REPORT: Holmes is a physical specimen with a broad-shouldered, muscular, athletic frame and huge hands. His fastball sits at 93 mph and touches 97 mph with occasional cutting action. His 81-82-mph changeup spins like a lefthanded slider at times because of the way he naturally pronates his forearm and has a chance to be a plus pitch. Holmes needs to get more depth and better command of his 76-79 mph curveball. Holmes has raw power at the plate, but his promise as a pitcher is too great for him to focus on hitting.

THE FUTURE: Holmes could develop into a starter if can add a little velocity and master his curveball as a third pitch. His fastball-changeup combination might also play in the back of the bullpen.

TRACK RECORD: Soto is one of 12 former Braves prospects who were declared free agents by MLB in 2017 as punishment for Atlanta's violation of international signing rules. He signed with the Angels and gained 15 pounds, but the added strength did not result in more power. Soto hit only one home run and seven doubles in 273 Rookie-level and low Class A at-bats in 2019. His only 2020 action came at instructional league.

SCOUTING REPORT: Soto is one of the best defenders in the Angels system with good instincts and fasttwitch actions, a good first step, quick hands and a strong arm. Though his best position is shortstop, he's also grown into a plus defender at second base. Soto has solid bat-to-ball skills and an advanced approach at the plate--he has almost as many walks (84) as strikeouts (94) in three minor league seasons--but he lacks pop and is a slightly below-average runner.

THE FUTURE: Soto is still only 20 and has time to develop, but unless he hits for more power, he projects more as a utility player. He will begin 2021 at one of the Class A levels.

TRACK RECORD: Martinez played in Cuba's 18U national league in 2016 and led the circuit in batting average while finishing second in slugging percentage behind only Luis Robert. Martinez signed with the Angels for $250,000 the following year and showed promising power at high Class A Inland Empire in 2019, hitting 12 homers, 21 doubles and four triples in 88 games.

SCOUTING REPORT: Martinez has a smooth lefthanded swing, good contact skills and a hit-over-power profile overall. When he gets a pitch he's looking for he can do damage, especially to the pull-side gap. His power tends to show up in flashes and he does have double-digit home run potential. Marinez is only an average runner but gets great jumps off the bat and runs efficient routes, which allows him to get to balls in the gaps and play all three outfield positions. He has an average, accurate arm.

THE FUTURE: Martinez projects as a versatile extra outfielder in the major leagues. He will move to Double-A in 2021.

TRACK RECORD: The speedy Calabrese impressed scouts at the Future Stars Series in 2019 at Fenway Park, where he ran a 6.47-second 60-yard dash, hit several doubles and made a few highlight-reel plays in center field. The Ontario native wasn't able to showcase his ability with Team Canada in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, but the Angels still drafted him in the third round and signed him for $744,200 to turn down a scholarship to Arkansas.

SCOUTING REPORT: Calabrese has a simple, efficient swing from the left side. He doesn't offer much in the way of power with his short, thin frame, but he has a good rhythm at the plate and the elite speed to be a base-stealing threat. Once he gains a more consistent bat path, he should develop into a solid gap-to-gap hitter. Calabrese shows good instincts on both sides of the ball and has the potential to be a plus defender with his plus-plus closing speed and ability to cover a lot of ground in center field.

THE FUTURE: Calabrese has the athleticism and speed to stick in center field. It remains to be seen how much strength he develops in order to impact the ball.

TRACK RECORD: Linginfelter logged a 5.64 ERA at Tennessee in 2019, but he also struck out more than a batter per inning and showed flashes of excellence. The Angels drafted him in the ninth round and signed him for $150,800. He did not pitch for an affiliate after signing, but was a full participant in the 2020 instructional league.

SCOUTING REPORT: The big-bodied Linginfelter has plenty of stuff. His four-seam fastball sits 94-95 mph and touches 98 mph, and he's experimenting with a two-seam fastball that has a little bit of run. His short, late-breaking curveball in the mid-80s looks promising, though his upper 80s slider and a firm changeup, which has some split-finger action, are works in progress. Repetition and consistency are key for Linginfelter moving forward. He has a great arm, but his delivery too often falls apart as he closes himself off and loses feel for the strike zone.

THE FUTURE: Linginfelter will remain in the rotation for now. His fastball-slider mix and his bulldog mentality on the mound may make him better suited for the bullpen.

TRACK RECORD: Hernandez took a winding road in college that included being declared academically ineligible for a year. He struggled in his first pro season at high Class A Inland Empire, where he walked 5.7 batters per nine innings and was dropped from the rotation at one point, but he rebounded with a strong showing as a starter in the Arizona Fall League. His only 2020 action came during instructional league.

SCOUTING REPORT: Hernandez's four-seam fastball averages 92-93 mph with average run. He flashed 96 mph in college, but he hasn't approached that as a pro and he's struggled to hold his velocity for more than three or four innings. Both of his breaking balls, a low-80s slider and upper-70s curveball, have a chance to be swing-and-miss pitches with better command. A tumbling mid-80s changeup might be his best pitch. Hernandez has a fairly clean delivery, but he sometimes loads differently with some pitches and has a tendency to yank his slider.

THE FUTURE: Hernandez's stuff may eventually play up in shorter bursts out of the bullpen. He is set to open 2021 in Double-A.

TRACK RECORD: Pina was not considered an elite prospect when he signed for $50,000 in 2017, but he shot up when he scrapped his changeup in favor of a split-fingered fastball after the 2018 season. The big-bodied, broad-shouldered righthander took off with the new pitch and struck out 146 in 108 innings at low Class A Burlington in 2019. His only 2020 action came in the instructional league.

SCOUTING REPORT: Pina's fastball sits 93 mph and touches 95 mph with average run. His 84-mph splitter sometimes looks like a straight changeup with a little more depth. Pina also throws an 84-mph curveball with a short break that resembles a slider, but the breaking ball has a tendency to back up on him at times. Pina needs to keep the curveball on the outer half of the plate, and out of the nitro zone, of righthanded hitters.

THE FUTURE: Pina will continue pitching in the rotation. His bulldog mentality and mastery of his fastball-splitter mix might eventually be a better fit in the bullpen.

TRACK RECORD: Blakely lost his senior high school season to the coronavirus pandemic, but he was a beast as a junior at Detroit's Edison Academy, batting .469 (45 for 96) with five homers, 11 doubles, seven triples, 38 RBIs, 44 runs and 26 stolen bases in 26 attempts. The Angels drafted him in the fifth round and bought him out of an Auburn commitment for $900,000. He got his first pro action in the instructional league in the fall.

SCOUTING REPORT: Blakely has the long, lean and wiry athletic frame of his idol, Derek Jeter. He had some of the best pure shortstop actions in the 2020 draft class, but there is a rawness to his game that raises some concern. He moves fluidly around the field and has a potentially plus arm, but a highlight-reel play will sometimes be followed by a bobble of a routine grounder. Blakely has a tendency to get long in his swing, but his above-average hand-eye coordination makes up for some deficiencies in the batter's box. There is upside for power as Blakely packs more muscle onto his athletic frame, and he has the speed to develop into a base-stealing threat.

THE FUTURE: A prototypical high-risk, high-reward prospect, Blakely will likely go from extended spring training to the Rookie-level Arizona League in 2021.

TRACK RECORD: Seminaris was off to one of the hottest starts in the nation with 1.23 ERA, 36 strikeouts and three walks in 22 innings for Long Beach State before the coronavirus pandemic shut down the college season. The Angels drafted him in the fifth round and signed him for an under-slot $140,000. He reported to the alternate training site after signing and finished the year in the instructional league.

SCOUTING REPORT: Seminaris won't wow scouts with stuff, but he is polished and has an advanced feel for pitching. He creates some deception with his high-three-quarters arm slot and crossfire delivery. The Angels expect Seminaris' sinking two-seam fastball, which sits between 88-90 mph, to get up to 92 mph. He gets decent horizontal movement on a 76-mph slurvy curveball and some fading action on an 83-mph changeup. He also has a low 80s-slider. How quickly Seminaris moves through the system will depend on his command and his ability to change speeds and sequence pitches in a way that keeps hitters off-balance.

THE FUTURE: Seminaris has the potential to be a back-of-the-rotation starter. His pitchability could help him move quickly.

TRACK RECORD: Warren racked up strikeouts as an undersized reliever at UNC Wilmington and was drafted by the Angels in the sixth round as a senior sign in 2018. He continued that trend in pro ball with 77 strikeouts in 57.2 innings in his first full season while rising three levels to Double-A. Despite his strong pro debut, the Angels did not bring him to their alternate training site or instructional league in 2020.

SCOUTING REPORT: Warren's fastball sat 90-92 mph in college but has ticked up in pro ball. His heater now sits in the 92-94 mph range and plays up with how he pairs it with his above-average slider. Warren throws his slider liberally. At it's best, it's a devastating pitch with short break in the 84-87 mph range and gets frequent swings and misses. The pitch neutralizes righties and his upper-80s changeup with depth and run is good enough to keep lefties at bay. Warren's control is fringy and he will walk batters, but he's a hard-nosed competitor who isn't afraid to challenge hitters.

THE FUTURE: Warren projects as a middle reliever who is especially effective against same-side hitters. He's on track to join the Angels bullpen in the near future.