Angels select Matt Thaiss with 16th overall pick

With the 16th ooverall pick in the draft, the Angels have selected Matt Thaiss from the University of Virginia. In mock drafts, Baseball America had Thaiss being selected at 23rd overall, while ESPN had him at 19th and MLB.com had him at 34th, so he was picked a little higher than previously believed.

Thaiss is the second straight college catching prospect to be picked by the Angels in the first round, joining Taylor Ward, who was picked last year. The two catchers are among the top prospects in a weak Angels' system, giving the team options behind the plate.

Law calls Thaiss a "bat-first prospect," while Minor League Ball’s John Sickels says Thaiss has a polished bat and a "good feel for the strike zone," though comments regarding his defense can be mixed.

Thaiss is primarily a catcher, though he has played first base a few times, along with being a designated hitter. It’s not out of the question that he could change positions in the future.

Prior to the draft, MLB.com’s Prospect Watch had Thaiss at 38th while Baseball America’s Top 100 Draft Prospects had him ranked at 34th.