Angels claim catcher Jackson Williams off waivers from Rockies

The Angels claimed veteran minor league catcher Jackson Williams, 28, off waivers from the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday.

Williams, a supplemental first-round pick of the San Francisco Giants out of the University of Oklahoma in 2007, has played 663 games in eight minor league seasons, including most of the last five years at triple-A.

A defensive-minded catcher, Williams has a .223 minor league average and a .309 on-base percentage with 41 homers and 229 runs batted in. He has three hits, including a homer, in 14 major league at-bats.

Williams, who caught Angels right-hander Garrett Richards for one season in college, is coming off knee surgery and has been placed on the 60-day disabled list. He is expected to catch at triple-A Salt Lake and serve as insurance for Angels catchers Chris Iannetta and Hank Conger.