Thaiss, Ward among 6 Halos set for AFL action

ANAHEIM -- First-round Draft picks Matt Thaiss and Taylor Ward will be among the six Angels prospects who will participate in the Arizona Fall League this year.
Thaiss and Ward will join right-handers Nathan Bates, Samil De Los Santos, Adam Hofacket and outfielder Troy Montgomery on the Scottsdale Scorpions' roster, which was announced Tuesday. The Arizona Fall League is scheduled to begin its 26th season on Oct. 10 and will run through Nov. 18.
• Angels Top 30 Prospects
Thaiss, the 16th overall selection in the 2016 Draft, is batting .281 with a .782 OPS, nine home runs and 73 RBIs in 126 games between two Minor League levels this season. The 22-year-old first baseman began the year with Class A Advanced Inland Empire before being promoted to Double-A Mobile in July. Thaiss is ranked the Angels' No. 3 prospect by MLBPipeline.com.
2017 Arizona Fall League rosters
Ward, a 23-year-old catcher who was drafted by the Angels with the 26th overall pick in 2015, is heading to the Arizona Fall League for the second consecutive year. Since being elevated to Double-A in July, Ward is hitting .312 with an .882 OPS, three homers and 17 RBIs in 27 games. He is ranked the Halos' No. 11 prospect.
The Arizona Fall League is a "finishing school" for prospects who are close to the Majors. If a team sends a player to the Fall League, it's generally an indication that the club thinks he has the chance to contribute in the big leagues in the near future.
The league has six teams, with five organizations represented on each. Every MLB team is required to send at least six players from its organization.