2 Angels Prospects Receive 80-Grade Tools From Baseball America
While the Los Angeles Angels aren't ranked among baseball's top farm systems by most evaluators, it's essential to recognize the hidden gems within their player development pipeline.
Two prospects garnering well-deserved attention are outfielder Jordyn Adams and pitcher Ben Joyce. Baseball America, a top source for prospect evaluations, recently awarded these rising stars with 80-grade tools — a rare recognition that effectively says, "their best attributes are better than most players' best attributes."
For context, an 80-grade is the highest accolade a player can achieve, showcasing exceptional proficiency in a specific aspect of their game.
Adams earned an impressive 80-grade speed, highlighting his exceptional quickness on the basepaths. This places him in esteemed company — think National League Rookie of the Year Corbin Carroll or, to cite a more relevant example from Angels history, early career Mike Trout.
On the pitching front, Joyce secured an 80 grade for his fastball, underlining the exceptional velocity and effectiveness of this critical pitch.
The strengths of Adams and Joyce highlight the challenge facing the Angels' player development department. Both players' best skills are already more than competitive at the major league level. But can the Angels provide a holistic program that will enhance their weaker skills, enough to allow them to stick at the major league level?
As Adams and Joyce continue to develop, it will be fascinating to see how long each can rely on speed to carry their success.
