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A byproduct of the Los Angeles Angles' struggles last season appears to be a Salt Lake Bees roster jammed with experienced players practically salivating at the idea of a return trip to the majors.
In many cases it would be returning to the majors. The Bees roster features a combined total of approximately 2,500 games of major-league experience.
The Bees, who went 63-79 last season, open the Pacific Coast League season Thursday at Albuquerque, N.M., with every player on the 25-man roster having previous Triple-A experience.
"A lot of these guys were in big-league camp for a long time," Bees manager Keith Johnson said. "They did their part. They made that decision to send them here the hardest decision that they had to make. There's a lot of talk, a lot of arguing, a lot of back and forth in those meetings about some of those guys and the value they bring to the organization. …
"It's not a matter of them having one foot here and one foot out. It's this is where you are. If you want to be there, do the things down here that you need to do so they have no choice but to call you up there."
Switch-hitting third baseman Kaleb Cowart earned PCL All-Star honors last season, and he's one of eight players who is on the Angels' 40-man roster. He batted .280 with nine home runs, 58 RBIs and 18 stolen bases in 107 games with the Bees, and he played in 31 games with the Angels.
Rey Navarro and Sherman Johnson join Cowart as returners on the infield — the Bees feature 11 returning players — while Matt Williams, Nolan Fontana and Dustin Ackley also will figure into the mix. Johnson likely will start the season as the regular first baseman.
"I think that a lot of guys can get discouraged being here as opposed to being in the big leagues," Cowart said. "But me personally, I just try to keep my blinders on, stay focused and try to get better every day. At some point, I'll be back in the big leagues."
Tony Sanchez, a defensive-minded backstop who first reached the big leagues with the Pirates in 2013, will get the bulk of the catching duties, while Francisco Arcia will provide a veteran backup.
The four outfielders on the roster include Shane Robinson, who played 19 games with the Bees last season, and three newcomers to the system in Ramon Flores, Ryan LaMarre and Eric Young Jr. Young has played both infield and outfield in the majors for the Rockies, Mets, Braves and Yankees.
LaMarre signed as a free agent after spending last season in the Red Sox system, where he batted .303 with 10 home runs, 41 RBIs and 17 stolen bases in 86 games.
The starting rotation will feature right-handers Alex Meyer, Daniel Wright and Drew Gagnon as well as left-hander Manny Banuelos. The Angels acquired Meyer, a former top pitching prospect in the Minnesota Twins system, via trade Aug. 1, 2016. Banuelos once ranked among the top pitching prospects in the minors while in the Yankees system.
Reliever Kenyan Middleton rode a fastball in the upper 90s from High A to Triple-A last season, and Baseball America dubbed him the pitcher with the best fastball in the Angels system. Left-hander Greg Mahle made almost as many big-league appearances (24) as he did with the Bees last year (30). Austin Adams saved eight games in 10 tries for the Indians' Triple-A affiliate last season.
"The older you get, the more you realize that the more I take care of business where I'm at, the more things down the road tend to work out," LaMarre said. "I think this group is great. There doesn't seem like there's any egos in there. It seems like guys all get along. Guys generally like each other. I think a great year is in store for the Bees down here."
Twitter: @LWorthySports Lights, camera, action
The Bees open their season at 6:35 p.m. Thursday at Albuquerque in the first game of a five-game season-opening series. Then they'll return home for a seven-game homestand against Sacramento and Fresno beginning Tuesday evening.
My, my, Meyer
Likely opening-day starter Alex Meyer enters this season ranked by Baseball America as the top pitching prospects in the Angels' farm system. The 6-foot-9 right-hander pitched a total of 251⁄3 innings last season due to a shoulder injury. His main goal this season isn't statistical — it's to stay healthy.
New to the system
Some of the minor-league free agents who figure to play on a regular basis include catcher Tony Sanchez, infielder Nolan Fontana, and outfielders Ryan LaMarre and Eric Young Jr.
Yankee effect
Angels second-year general manager Billy Eppler came from the New York Yankees front office. Pitcher Manny Banuelos, catcher Francisco Arcia and outfielder Ramon Flores each spent time in the Yankees farm system, while infielder Dustin Ackley and Young spent time with the Yankees in the majors last season.
Bees likely rotation
Thursday • Alex Meyer, RHP
Friday • Manny Banuelos, LHP
Saturday • Daniel Wright, RHP
Sunday • TBD
Monday • Drew Gagnon, RHP
Angels farm system
Rookie • Arizona League Angels; Orem Owlz
Low A • Burlington Bees
High A • Inland Empire 66ers
Double-A • Arkansas Travelers
Triple-A • Salt Lake Bees
Angels top prospects
Baseball America
1. Jahmai Jones, OF
2. Matt Thaiss, 1B
3. Alex Meyer, RHP
4. Brandon Marsh, OF
5. Nate Smith, LHP
6. Taylor Ward, C
7. Grayson Long, RHP
8. Chris Rodriguez, RHP
9. Keynan Middleton, RHP
10. Jaime Barria, RHP
MLB.com
1. Jahmai Jones, OF
2. Matt Thaiss, 1B
3. Brandon Marsh, OF
4. Nate Smith, LHP
5. Keynan Middleton, RHP
6. Grayson Long, RHP
7. Taylor Ward, C
8. Alex Meyer, RHP
9. Chris Rodriguez, RHP
10. Jaime Barria, RHP