LOS ANGELES ANGELS

Best Pro Debut: LHP Michael Anton (12) led the Rookie-level Arizona League in strikeouts with 82 in 62 innings and struck out seven more in seven innings with Rookie-level Orem. RHP Mason Tobin (16) went 4-1, 2.08 between the AZL and Orem and allowed only one homer in 56 innings. 3B Jay Brossman (36) hit the game-winning homer for Orem in the Pioneer League title game and batted .346/.388/.474 for the Owlz.

Best Athlete: Unsinged OF Pat White (27) is West Virginia's starting quarterback; the Angels drafted him in the fourth round out of high school in 2004. Nondrafted free-agent RHP Jonathan Plefka, at 6-foot-9, played basketball at James Madison and for Bobby Knight at Texas Tech.

Best Pure Hitter: Brossman is a solid hitter who is more of a grinder than a top-shelf prospect. DH Justin Bass (21) has a sound swing and hit .275 despite needing arm surgery; he could end up at second base or left field.

Best Power Hitter: OF Trevor Pippin (4) has raw power potential from the left side and resembles Todd Hollandsworth overall. He struggled mightily in his debut, hitting .188/.269/.203.

Fastest Runner: SS Andrew Romine (5) and OFs DeAndre Miller (24) and Terrell Alliman (43) are above-average runners.

Best Defensive Player: Orem manager Tom Kotchman called Romine the best defender he's coached, and Kotchman in the last seven years has managed the likes of Brandon Wood, Alberto Callaspo and Erick Aybar. Romine's strong, accurate arm, plus range and nimble feet make him a 70 defender.

Best Fastball: Draft-and-follow signee Jordan Walden, who hit 100 for Orem in the playoffs, is the hardest-throwing Angels newcomer. Among '07 draftees, RHP Jon Bachanov (1s) hit 96 mph when at his best this spring. The Angels shut him down in August with a tender elbow.

Best Secondary Pitch: Anton's plus changeup has screwball action. LHP Trevor Reckling (8) throws a curveball so good, the Angels limited him to one per outing in instructional league so he would work on other pitches.

Most Intriguing Background: Anton pitched two seasons at Virginia Military Institute, but a car accident in December 2004 caused him to struggle on the field and in the classroom. He didn’t pitch on any team for two years, but after moving to Arizona to live with his relocated mother, he was working out with Angels farmhand Jesse Smith and caught the attention of Angels scout John Garcio. Bass' father Kevin played 14 seasons in the big leagues, primarily for the Astros. Romine's dad Kevin played in the big leagues, and brother Austin was drafted in the second round by the Yankees. Unsigned C Matt Scioscia (41), attending Notre Dame, is the son of Angels manager Mike.

Closest To The Majors: Tobin has plus command of his 89-92 mph fastball, a slider than can be a plus pitch and a development changeup.

Best Late-Round Pick: Tobin.

The One Who Got Away: Got a minute? RHP Matt Harvey (3) was the highest-drafted player who didn't sign and attended college; he's at North Carolina. LHP Tanner Robles (14) and RHP Martin Viramontes (11) were highly-touted recruits at Oregon State and Loyola Marymount.

Assessment: The Angels were disappointed by the players they failed to sign, and Bachanov's injury add to the disappointing early returns. However, Walden has a first-round arm, and second-day selections such as Anton, Reckling and Tobin have promise.

Source is baseballamerica.com