Minor start, Major impact — Former Provo Angels making their names with L.A. Angels

Reggie Willits has never been at the top of any prospect list for the Los Angeles Angels organization.

But he now finds himself at the top of the Angels' batting order.

Seven years after minor league baseball arrived in Utah County, former Provo and Orem players are filing up the organizational ladder. Willits, a member of a 2003 Provo Angels team that featured two much more celebrated prospects, is the most recent success story. He's one of three starting position players for the first-place Angels who began their professional careers in Utah County, while several others have made significant contributions to the big club in 2007.

Willits made the Angels' roster coming out of spring training, but he really made his presence felt once he got the chance to play every day.

An injury to veteran outfielder Garret Anderson in late April afforded him that opportunity. Willits became the Angels' lead-off hitter on May 4 in a 5-1 win over the White Sox and entrenched himself in that position with a .330 average and .430 on-base percentage during the month. He continued his solid play in June, hitting .342 with a .432 OBP.

"We're really not surprised about how well he's done," said Tony Reagins, director of player development for the Angels.

What Willits has done is ignite the Halos' offense. His ability to get on base helped the Angels improve their run production from 4.4 runs per game in April to 4.9 in May and 6.1 in June.

According to Salt Lake Bees manager Brian Harper, who saw Willits bat .327 with a .448 OBP in Triple-A last season, the ability to be patient on a team of free swingers has made Willits valuable.

"His style of play is exactly what they need," Harper said.

A native of Ft. Cobb, Okla., Willits joined the organization as a seventh-round draft pick out of the University of Oklahoma in 2003. He played in Provo with highly regarded prospects Brandon Wood, who is currently with Salt Lake, and Howie Kendrick, now the starting second baseman in Anaheim. While in Provo, Willits hit .300 with 14 stolen bases and a .410 OBP.

"The one thing that Reggie has always had is a good idea of the strike zone," said Willits' Rookie League manager, Tom Kotchman. "He's not afraid to take strike one, and he's got a small strike zone, and he takes advantage of that."