Angels continue to emphasize college players in draft; Matt Scioscia selected Wednesday

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

The Angels continued their run on college players in the draft, using 19 of their final 20 picks on the third and final day of the draft on college or community college players Wednesday.

Among the team’s picks were Matt Scioscia, a Notre Dame catcher and designated hitter who is the son of Angels Manager Mike Scioscia, and UCLA pitcher Brandon Lodge, son of Roger Lodge of KLAA-AM (830). Scioscia was taken in the 45th round; Lodge was selected in the 47th round.

In all, 42 of the 49 picks the Angels had in the draft were used on college or community college players, a stark departure from the strategy used by former scouting director Eddie Bane, who leaned heavily toward high school players. Bane was fired last September and replaced by Ric Wilson.

The Angels drafted two other local players on Wednesday, using their 39th-round pick on UCLA outfielder Christopher Giovinazzo and their 49th-round pick on UC Santa Barbara pitcher Matthew Vedo.

‘We wanted to get balance into our system right away,’ Wilson said in a statement. ‘That was our basic premise behind doing what we did. The scouts worked very hard, and we really like the players we got. It’s been a good draft.

RELATED:

Angels select USC pitchers Austin Wood and Logan Odom

Angels’ top pick has shoulder tear that will require surgery

-- Mike DiGiovanna