23-year old righty starting pitcher Garrett Richards came into this season as the Angels’ #3 prospect according to Baseball America. Richards had a rough into to the majors last year when he pitched in 7 games (3 starts) in which he was 0-2 with a 5.79 ERA and a 1.64 WHIP. But, he looks pretty good so far in AAA ball this year. He has pitched in 3 games (all starts) in AAA-ball so far this year and he is 2-0 with a 2.14 ERA and a 0.76 WHIP. He has only given up 12 hits and 4 walks while whiffing 21 batters in his first 21 innings so far this year. Whether Richards gets another shot at the rotation this year will likely depend on how well Jerome Williams pitches as he is the #5 starter for the Angels right now. I think Richards will pitch better in 2012 for the Angels, if he gets that chance at some point in the year.

20-year old righty swinging outfielder Mike Trout came into this season as the Angels’ #1 prospect according to Baseball America. He has a rough time in his first taste of the majors last year when he played in 40 games in which he was 27 for 123 (.220 avg, .671 OPS) with 20 runs scored, 5 homers, 16 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. Trout is trying to get back to the majors in 2012, but he will need an injury to one of the Angels’ starting outfielders to likely get than chance. Trout has played in 12 games in AAA-ball so far this year and he is 21 of 50 (.420 avg, 1.094 OPS) with 12 runs scored, 3 triples, 1 homer, 6 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. I think Trout will be much better the next time around in the majors, especially if he gets consistent playing time.

The Angels have designated 27-year old righty reliever Rich Thompson for assignment. Thompson pitched in 2 games (0 starts) for the Angels this year and he was 0-1 with a 15.43 ERA and a 2.57 WHIP. He pitched in 81 games (0 starts) in his six years with the Angels and he was 3-4 with a 4.24 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP. The Angels have called up 27 year old lefty starter/reliever Brad Mills to replace Thompson in the bullpen. Mills started 1 game in AAA-ball this year for the Angels and he was 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP. Mills will be used in long relief by the Angels.

UPDATE: (4/21/2012) - The Angels have lost Rich Thompson on waivers to the division rival Oakland A’s.

The Angels won’t likely have a lot of P.T. available for rookies in 2012. That being said, here’s four of them who could help the Angels in 2012:

Mike Trout: 20-year old righty swinging outfielder Mike Trout comes into this season as the Angels’ #1 prospect according to Baseball America. Trout played in 40 games for the Angels last year and he was 27 of 123 (.220 avg, .672 OPS) with 20 runs scored, 5 homers, 16 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. He also played in 91 games in AA-ball last year in which he was 115 of 353 (.326 avg, .958 OPS) with 82 runs scored, 11 homers, 38 RBIs and 33 stolen bases. Trout has now played in 266 games in his first three years in the minors and he is 351 of 1,040 (.338 avg, .930 OPS) with 218 runs scored, 22 homers, 121 RBIs and 102 stolen bases. If any of the starting outfielders gets hurt for the Angels, Trout will be the first player called up.

Garrett Richards: 23-year old righty starting pitcher Garrett Richards comes into this season as the Angels’ #3 prospect according to Baseball America. Richards pitched in 7 games (3 starts) for the Angels last year and he was 0-2 with a 5.79 ERA and a 1.64 WHIP. Richards also pitched in 22 games (21 starts) last year in AA-ball in which he was 12-2 with a 3.15 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP. Richards has now pitched in 56 games (55 starts) in his first three starts in the minors and he is 27-8 with a 3.14 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP. Richards could get some starts for the Angels in 2012, as Jerome Williams won’t be ready for the season to start.

Alexi Amarista: 22-year old lefty swinging 2B/OF Alexi Amarista comes into this season as the Angels’ #19 prospect according to Baseball America. He played in 23 games for the Angels last year and he was 8 for 52 (.154 avg, .432 OPS) with 2 runs scored, 0 homers and 5 RBIs. He also played in 86 games in AAA-ball last year and he was 106 of 363 (.292 avg, .755 OPS) with 49 runs scored, 4 homers, 50 RBIs and 15 stolen bases. Amarista has now played in 463 games in his first five years in the minors and he is 578 of 1,838 (.314 avg, .816 OPS) with 308 runs scored, 20 homers, 227 RBIs and 116 stolen bases. He could make his way to L.A. at some point in 2012.

Andrew Romine: 26-year old switch-hitting 2B/SS Andrew Romine comes into this year as the Angels’ #25 prospect according to Baseball America. Romine played in 10 games for the Angels last year and he was 2 for 16 (.125 avg, .301 OPS) with 2 runs scored and 1 stolen base. He has now played in 15 games in his first two years with the Angels and he is 3 for 27 (.111 avg, .254 OPS) with 2 runs scored and 1 stolen base. Romine also played in 105 games in AAA-ball last year and he was 107 of 381 (.281 avg, .709 OPS) with 67 runs scored, 4 homers, 35 RBIs and 23 stolen bases. He has now played in 524 games in his first five years in the minors and he is 534 of 1,935 (.276 avg, .713 OPS) with 307 runs scored, 15 homers, 174 RBIs and 144 stolen bases. If a middle infielder gets injured, the Angels could give Romine an extended look in 2012.

The Angels will be without 24-year old lefty swinging outfielder Jeremy Moore for the next 3-5 months due to hip surgery. Moore comes into this season as the Angels’ #11 prospect according to Baseball America. Moore played in 8 games for the Angels last year and he was 1 for 8 (.125 avg, .250 OPS) with 3 runs scored. He also played in 113 games in AAA-ball for the Angels last year and he was 127 of 426 (.298 avg, .876 OPS) with 76 runs scored, 15 homers, 66 RBIs and 21 stolen bases. Moore has played in 611 games in his first 7 years in the minors and he is 620 of 2,241 (.277 avg, .803 OPS) with 351 runs scored, 75 homers, 327 RBIs and 124 stolen bases. This is a bad break for Moore as he was likely going to have a good shot to make the team this spring.