- LHP Andrew Heaney
- LHP Sean Newcomb
- RHP Joe Gatto
- RHP Chris Ellis
- RHP Nick Tropeano
- 3B Kyle Kubitza
- RHP Cam Bedrosian
- 2B Taylor Featherston
- SS Roberto Baldoquin
- RHP Trevor Gott
1. Andrew Heaney
Position: LHP
DOB: 06/05/1991
Height/Weight: 6’2” 185 lbs
Bats/Throws: L/L
Drafted/Acquired: 1st round, 2012 draft, Oklahoma State University (Stillwater, OK)
Previous Ranking: #1 (Org), #30 (Top 101)
2014 Stats: 5.33 ERA (25.1 IP, 26 H, 17 K, 6 BB) at major-league level, 3.87 ERA (83.2 IP, 75 H, 91 K, 23 BB) at Triple-A New Orleans, 2.35 ERA (53.2 IP, 45 H, 52 K, 13 BB) at Double-A Jacksonville
The Tools: 6+ FB; 6+ potential SL; 5+ potential CH
What Happened in 2014: Heaney pitched 137 1/3 innings across two levels, striking out a batter an inning in the process, but hit some resistance in his first taste of The Show.
Strengths: Repeatable delivery; athletic; easy arm action; fastball jumps on hitters due to deceptive release; comfortably operates in low 90s with arm-side run; will reach for more when needs it; can throw heater to both sides of the plate; snaps slider with a loose wrist; capable of changing shape; buries for chases and shortens for strikes; grades as present plus; flashes feel for change; displays bottom-dropping action.
Weaknesses: Fastball can grab a lot of plate; more of a strike-thrower than spotter with offering; command can get loose; velocity ticks up and down; can stand to add more strength to withstand rigors of position; at times struggles to maintain release of slider; starts too low for consistent chases; change lags behind other offerings; lacks turnover and high-quality action.
Overall Future Potential: High 6; no. 2/3 starter
Realistic Role: 6; no. 3 starter
Risk Factor/Injury History: Low risk; achieved major leagues; command progression.
Bret Sayre’s Fantasy Take: The clear top fantasy prospect in the Angels’ system, Heaney will get another crack at fantasy viability in 2015. He’s likely to be more of a contributor in the ratios than in strikeouts, but don’t sell him short on the latter—he has the potential to miss more bats with sharpened command. He should be a strong SP3 for a long time.
The Year Ahead: Heaney should have the inside track on a rotation spot with the big club this spring, and there’s little left for him to prove in the minors. When the left-hander is on, he flashes three major-league caliber offerings and an ability to work hitters in a variety of ways. The 23-year-old’s easy, balanced delivery allows the overall stuff to play up, and there is some deception baked in with the ball seemingly jumping out of his uniform, especially when delivering his heater. While Heaney’s athleticism and fluid actions allow him to repeat his mechanics, he can get into trouble working too much of the white and he’ll need to improve upon the fastball command in order to limit solid contact against elite hitters. Fortunately, the lefty has some potential command growth in front of him thanks to the ease in which he delivers the ball and his overall athleticism, so this hopefully will not linger as a long-term issue. The profile is solid and 2015 should serve as the first step in earnest towards Heaney establishing himself as a mid-rotation mainstay. He’s the clear-cut headliner in this system and one of the better left-handed arms percolating through the ranks across baseball.
Major league ETA: Made debut in 2014
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