3 hot-hitting Angels prospects impressing in AFL

The Arizona Fall League -- a way for prospects to get some much-needed experience playing against fellow top prospects, many of whom are on the cusp of reaching the Majors -- is in full swing.

This year, the Angels have their prospects playing for the Salt River Rafters, and they have seen several strong offensive performances, while their pitchers mostly have struggled. But considering the club’s farm system is pitching heavy, with 20 among the Angels' Top 30 prospects, per MLB Pipeline, it’s encouraging to see position players faring well.

General manager Perry Minasian believes the Fall League is an important tool both to get experience for younger players and to analyze how they fare against top competition.

“I still think it's a league that stands above the rest in terms of [allowing] prospects to go and highlight what they can do,” Minasian 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 we see it with the Latin American players, they play all winter. It's a huge advantage.”

Here’s a look at three top performers for the Angels so far in the Arizona Fall League this year.

Raudi Rodriguez, OF

Rodriguez had a breakout year with Single-A Inland Empire, hitting .281/.372/.470 with 14 homers, 21 doubles, 14 triples, 38 stolen bases and 83 RBIs in 125 games. And he's kept it rolling in the AFL by hitting .471/.571/.706 with one homer, three doubles, one triple, two stolen bases and five RBIs in 11 games. He also came up clutch with Inland Empire, leading the 66ers to the Cal League finals and blasting two homers in Game 2 of the semifinals. Rodriguez, 22, isn’t among the club’s Top 30 prospects, but he’s looking like a late bloomer with both power and speed who can play all three outfield positions.

Juan Flores, C

Flores, ranked as the club’s No. 17 prospect by MLB Pipeline, is just 19 years old, but he has more than held his own with Salt River, hitting .300/.370/.525 with one homer, four doubles, one triple and seven RBIs in 11 games. It’s a good sign, as he had an up-and-down year offensively, hitting .207/.283/.341 with 10 homers, 11 doubles and 40 RBIs in 89 games with High-A Tri-City.

Flores, though, is regarded as a strong defender at the plate and has consistently played against much older competition. He’s several years younger than the average Fall League player and has plenty of time to develop. New Angels manager Kurt Suzuki spent time with him in Spring Training and was impressed with the way he handled himself, especially defensively.

David Mershon, SS

Like Flores, Mershon didn’t have the best year offensively in the Minors this season, but he’s been making up for it with a knack for getting on base with the Rafters. Mershon has hit .222/.439/.370 with one homer, one double and six RBIs in nine AFL games. He missed the first few games after his wife, Elise, welcomed their first child, Lorelei Mary, on Sept. 22.

The Angels were high on Mershon heading into the year, as he spent time in Major League camp in Spring Training and impressed the coaching staff with his work ethic and defensive ability despite a 5-foot-7, 175-pound frame. But he had a rough year, hitting .182/.314/.245 in 91 games between the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League, Double-A Rocket City and Triple-A Salt Lake. Mershon, who isn’t ranked among the club’s Top 30 prospects, projects to be a utility-player type, but he will need to get the bat going again this year.