Bill Mitchell's Minor League Ramblings

Minor League Ramblings For the week of :
April 8, 2002

Minor League Ramblings is produced by Bill Mitchell for Minor League Watch.

Angels' first base prospect a sure thing?
April 11, 2002

There is no sure thing in baseball. Many surefire first round choices over the years have failed to make it to the big leagues for a variety of reasons.

But Casey Kotchman is as close to a "sure thing" as can be found in the minor leagues this year. The 19-year-old first baseman came to the Angels from Florida's Seminole High School, the nation's number one scholastic program in 2001. Anaheim officials were pleased to find the son of their short season-A manager, Tom Kotchman, still available when it came time to make the 13th overall pick last June.

Assigned to the Angels' Rookie League team in Arizona after signing a contract in late July, the left-handed hitter wasted no time in showing the baseball world that he may be the next great hitter in the pro game. Kotchman went nine for 15 in just four games in Arizona, earning a promotion to his father's Provo team in the Pioneer League. The hit parade continued in Provo, as he hit an even .500 in 22 at bats before suffering a wrist injury that also kept him out of the fall Instructional League.

Despite appearing at the plate only 42 times in his debut season, Kotchman was the consensus choice as the Anaheim organization's number one minor league prospect. Does this acclaim put any undue expectations on the Florida native?

"No, I don't think there's any added pressure," replied Kotchman. "We'll just go out and have some fun and play the game we've always been playing and see what happens."

What's readily apparent about the teenager is the poise he shows on and off the field. How much of his self-assurance can be credited to being raised in a baseball family?

"It was a good experience to be with the ball clubs," replied Kotchman, "watching the professionals go about the business, seeing how they prepare for the games, how they take the road trips, and just playing every day."

Casey Kotchman But it takes more than just poise to make it to the major leagues. What separates Kotchman from his counterparts is his natural hitting ability. His swing is a thing of beauty. Kotchman is already being compared to major league sluggers like Rafael Palmeiro and Todd Helton.

Kotchman knows that he just needs to keep facing good pitching and gain experience through repetition. "I just want to get quality at bats every game and make the most out of each situation I'm put in," said Kotchman, then adding, "and just go out at it hard day in and day out."

The Angels assigned Kotchman to their low-A Midwest League affiliate at Cedar Rapids, Iowa for the start of the 2002 season. After six games, he is batting .391 with two doubles and a homerun in 23 at bats.

With the parent organization already suffering several injuries at the first base position, there's talk among some followers of the team that Kotchman should be called up this year. Conventional wisdom will have him spending at least two more seasons in the minor leagues. But with this young man's poise and natural ability, it wouldn't be surprising to see him be able to contribute at the major league level sooner rather than later.

In the meantime, Kotchman has his own simple goals for 2002. "Go out and help the team wherever I'm at and get some "W's."

That shouldn't be hard, because this kid's a winner.

--- Bill Mitchell