Quarterback Locker is drafted again

The crop for this year’s first-year player draft was considered by some analysts to be among the weakest in years. That may explain why the Angels decided to spend their 10th-round selection on a guy who has played only 10 games in the last three years and already has another steady job.

But it may turn out to be the shrewdest pick in the draft if Jake Locker’s career goes the way the Angels think it will.

Locker, who last played regularly at Washington’s Ferndale High in 2006, gave up baseball to become the starting quarterback at the University of Washington, where a broken thumb limited him to four games as a sophomore last fall. And while Locker still considers a career as an outfielder nothing more than a fallback if football doesn’t work out, many scouts believe he has the potential to become a star if he concentrates on baseball.

“All my attention is on football and this doesn’t change any of that,” Locker said in a conference call Wednesday, noting that the Angels “understand that if I have a chance to play football, I’m going to.”

If football doesn’t work out, he said the opportunity to play baseball still would be there.

If the Angels sign Locker by Aug. 17, the deadline for 2009 draft picks to reach agreement on a contract, the club would hold his baseball rights for six years. Signing a contract would force Locker to forfeit the final two years of his football scholarship, however, something the Angels would have to make up.

“If we can come to an agreement on some kind of contract terms, that’s something I’m looking into now,” said Locker, who was drafted by the Angels in the 40th round following his senior year in high school.

This isn’t the first time Angels scouting director Eddie Bane has taken a chance on a quarterback. Five years ago he spent the team’s second pick on Pat White, who went on to play quarterback at West Virginia before being selected by the Miami Dolphins in the second round of this year’s NFL draft.

More draft

In addition to Locker, the Angels picked 26 other players during the second day of baseball’s three-day draft, taking seven outfielders, eight infielders, nine pitchers and a pair of catchers. Among those were four players with Southern California ties: Norco High infielder Wes Hatton (fourth round); UCLA corner infielder Casey Haerther, a West Hills Chaminade High graduate (fifth round); Cal State Northridge outfielder Richard Cates (21st round) and Elsinore High outfielder Jordan Drake (23rd round).

No stars for Scioscia

Tampa Bay Manager Joe Maddon spent six seasons as Mike Scioscia’s bench coach in Anaheim and the two still have a close relationship. Despite that, Maddon said Wednesday that Scioscia would not be asked to be a part of his staff for next month’s All-Star game in St. Louis.

Maddon, whose staff will be announced next week, said baseball officials suggested he invite two other AL managers since Scioscia is almost certain to be a coach next year, when the Angels play host to the game.

“Absolutely,” Maddon answered when asked if he wanted to invite Scioscia. “It’s just one of those situation things.”

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kevin.baxter@latimes.com