Angels stock up on pitching on Draft Day 2

June 14th, 2017

ANAHEIM -- The Angels reassembled in their war room on Tuesday for Day 2 of the 2017 MLB Draft, continuing their hunt for talented players whom they hope will help revitalize their farm system.
On Monday, the Angels made high school outfielder Jordon Adell the 10th overall pick with their first selection of the Draft, and they concluded the night by taking UCLA right-hander Griffin Canning in the second round.
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The Halos continued to stockpile pitchers on Tuesday, taking six right-handers and a pair of center fielders with their selections in Rounds 3-10.
"I think it kinda is just how it happened," amateur scouting director Matt Swanson said. "I think you go into a Draft with an idea in mind of what you're looking for, and sometimes it goes that way and sometimes it goes in a different direction. But we were looking for youth and we were looking for athleticism. Sometimes that comes out as pitching, and sometimes that comes out as position players."
The Draft concludes on Wednesday, with exclusive coverage of Rounds 11-40 beginning on MLB.com at 9 a.m. PT.
Tuesday covers selections from Rounds 3-10. Here is a pick-by-pick look at the Angels' Day 2 Draft selections:
Round 3: CF Jacob Pearson, West Monroe High School (La.)
Considered one of the best left-handed prep bats in this Draft, Pearson has a commitment to play at Louisiana State University. Listed at 5-foot-11 and 192 pounds, Pearson has solid bat speed with at least average power. The 19-year-old is also a plus runner and has the potential to be a 20-20 player. Pearson underwent labrum surgery on his throwing shoulder as a sophomore and must strengthen his below-average arm.
Pearson hit .519 with 12 home runs, 41 RBIs and just 10 strikeouts in 133 at-bats during his senior season.
"It's somebody that we scouted really heavily during the summer and again during the spring," Swanson said. "Somebody who we feel very comfortable with. I'll echo a lot of what we said about Jo [Adell] yesterday, but we're just very comfortable with who he is as a player and very, very comfortable with who he is as a person."

Round 4: RHP John Swanda, Theodore Roosevelt High School (Iowa)
Swanda, a University of Nebraska commit, was the Iowa Gatorade Player of the Year after going 3-1 with a 2.83 ERA and 29 strikeouts during his senior season. The 6-foot-2, 185-pounder wields a fastball in the low 90s that he can command, and he also throws a curveball.
The 18-year-old told The Des Moines Register that he intends to turn down his college scholarship and sign with the Angels.

Round 5: RHP Joseph Booker, T.R. Miller High School (Ala.)
Booker is viewed as a raw high school arm whose repertoire needs time to polish, but he can spin a breaking ball and is an outstanding athlete who also plays football. 
A two-way player in high school, Booker went 10-0 with a 1.01 ERA and 112 strikeouts on the mound and batted .464 with seven home runs and 38 RBIs. Listed at 6-foot-3, 190 pounds, Booker is committed to the University of South Alabama.
"It's somebody who we view as young and athletic and has tons of upside," Swanson said.
Round 6: CF Jonah Todd, Auburn University
Todd played at Marion Military Institute, a junior college in Marion, Ala., before transferring to Auburn and making the baseball team as a walk-on. He batted .376 with 13 doubles, five triples, no home runs and 37 RBIs in 63 games for Auburn this season, earning All-SEC Second Team and All-Defensive Team honors.
"Jonah's story, from being a true walk-on, to becoming an All-SEC player in his first year at Auburn, is truly amazing," coach Butch Thompson said in a statement when the postseason awards were released. "He's been our catalyst all season, providing an impact with his speed, defense, arm and, most importantly, his bat. It is a great accomplishment for a great player. I'm glad Jonah chose to attend Auburn."
Todd has the ability to hit to all fields but has limited power.
Round 7: RHP Dennis Brady, Mercer County Community College (N.J.)
After transferring from East Carolina University, Brady led the nation with a 0.96 ERA, tied for second with 11 wins and ranked third with 118 strikeouts over 84 1/3 innings for Division II MCCC this season. He was named Region 19 Pitcher of the Year and the NJCAA World Series Pitcher of the Tournament.
"I didn't think I was going to be a better pitcher [at East Carolina], and while I was there I thought I lost a lot of what I was on the mound as a pitcher," Brady told the Cherry Hill Courier Post. "So my decision to come to Mercer was not to recreate myself, but re-find myself and become better as what I did. That's what I worked on and I feel I accomplished it."
Round 8: RHP Connor Riley, University of South Carolina Aiken
Riley started 16 games for the Pacers during his senior season, going 6-2 with a 3.58 ERA and 130 strikeouts over 83 innings. He has hit 93 mph with his fastball and also throws a slider.
"It hasn't really set in yet," Riley told the Aiken Standard. "I really don't know how to react. I was hearing from four or five different teams all day, and out of the blue, the Angels called."
The 5-foot-11, 180-pound right-hander is a native of Aurora, Ill.
Round 9: RHP Brett Hanewich, Stanford
Hanewich made 11 appearances, including two starts, during his senior season at Stanford, logging a 5.00 ERA with 26 strikeouts and 18 walks over 27 innings. His fastball touched 96 when he pitched out of the bullpen. Listed at 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds, Hanewich hails from Bradenton, Fla.
"Our area scout, Brian Tripp, had a lot of conviction in him," Swanson said. "There was probably a bit of a high walk rate, but it strikes me as a real strong package of ability and upside that hopefully we can bring into the system and harness and just let him go."
Round 10: RHP Daniel Procopio, Niagara University
Procopio went 6-4 with a 4.19 ERA with 75 strikeouts and 27 walks over 58 innings in his senior season for Niagara University, where he transferred from Seminole State College. Procopio was previously drafted by the Mets in the 22nd round of the 2013 Draft. The Toronto native is listed at 5-foot-11 and 185 pounds.
"I've been drafted before, but the feeling is still the same," Procopio told the Niagara Athletics website. "The wait was worth it, and now I'm excited to start my pro baseball career. I'm excited to see what the future has in store for me."