A year ago, the Angels' system was led by a pair of talented lefties. Thanks to graduation and a trade, neither southpaw is on the list.
Andrew Heaney was the No. 1 prospect heading into 2015 and he ended up making 18 starts in the big leagues. Sean Newcomb, the club's top Draft pick in 2014, would have been the heir apparent, but he was sent to the Braves this offseason as part of the Andrelton Simmons deal.
• Angels' 2016 Top 30 Prospect list
With the Angels trying to get back to the top of the American League West, the deal to bring in Simmons, which also included pitcher Chris Ellis (No. 2 on the Angels list at the time of the trade), stripped a fairly thin system even more bare, without a representative on the Top 100 list. The organization is hopeful that the most recent Draft will help restock the shelves and there are eight members of the 2015 Draft class on the new Top 30.
Team Top 30 Prospects lists
That group is headed by Taylor Ward, who was a surprise on two fronts last summer. First, few projected him as a first-round pick out of Fresno State, but the Angels bucked that by taking him No. 26 overall. He outperformed expectations, especially offensively, hitting his way to full-season ball. It also made him the choice as the new No. 1 on the Angels' Top 30.
Biggest jump/fall
Here are the players whose ranks changed the most from the 2015 preseason list to the 2016 preseason list.
Jump: Chad Hinshaw (2015: NR | 2016: 9)
Fall: Hunter Green (2015: 13 | 2016: NR)
Best tools
Players are graded on a 20-80 scouting scale for future tools -- 20-30 is well below average, 40 is below average, 50 is average, 60 is above average and 70-80 is well above average.
Top 10 Farm Systems
Hit: Ward (50)
Power: Natanael Delgado (45)
Run: Kyle Survance Jr. (65)
Arm: Ward (65)
Defense: Julio Garcia (60)
Fastball: Victor Alcantara (65)
Curveball: Joe Gatto (50)
Slider: Alcantara (55)
Changeup: Nate Smith (55)
Control: Jose Suarez (55)
How they were built
Draft: 21
International: 6
Trade: 1
Free agent: 1
Waivers: 1
Breakdown by ETA
2016: 8
2017: 5
2018: 12
2019: 5
Breakdown by position
C: 2
2B: 1
3B: 2
SS: 4
OF: 9
RHP: 9
LHP: 3