Matt Thaiss #23

Matthew Kevin Thaiss (rhymes with 'ICE')...Originally signed by Angels scout Nick Gorneault ... On Twitt er: @Matt _Thaiss ... Designated as Angels' #8 prospect for the 2018 campaign by Baseball America ... Wrapped junior season in 2016 at University of Virginia leading team in average (.375; 87/232), home runs (10), RBI (59), total bases (134), slugging (.578) and OBP (.473)...Finished season tied for fourth in ACC in hits, sixth in batting average, sixth in RBI, seventh in slugging and total bases and eighth in OBP ... Named 2016 Second Team All-American by Baseball America, his second straight season with All-America honors...Was a semi-finalist for both the Dick Howser Trophy (College Baseball Player of the Year) and the Johnny Bench Award (top collegiate catcher) ... Across his three seasons with the Cavaliers, combined to hit .338 (187/554), with 115 runs scored, 36 doubles, two triples, 20 home runs and 130 RBI...Helped lead Cavaliers to the College World Series Finals in both 2014 and 2015, with Virginia capturing their first national championship in school history in 2015 ... In 2013, Thaiss was selected by Boston in the 32nd round out of Jackson Memorial High School (Jackson Township, NJ) where he was twice named First-Team All-State ... Batt ed .343 with 17 homers and 70 RBI in high school career...Named First-Team All-Shore Conference three ti mes...Named to High Honor Roll all four years.

2017

In sophomore campaign in Angels system, split campaign between Single-A Inland Empire and Double-A Mobile...Combined to hit .274 (141/514) with 75 runs, 27 doubles, four triples, nine HR and 73 RBI in 133 games...73 RBI marked third-most in Halos system....412 OBP with Mobile established career best ... Played with Scott sdale Scorpions in 2017 Arizona Fall League ... Named as Angels' #2 prospect for 2017 by Baseball America.

2016

2016 marked first professional season after first round selection (16th overall) in June Amateur Draft ... Second New Jersey native to be selected in first round by Angels, joining OF Mike Trout (25th overall in 2009) ... Originally assigned to Rookie-level Orem...Slashed .338/.394/.569 in 15 games before promotion to Single-A Burlington (.276/.351/.427 in 52 games)...Combined to hit .292 (77/264) with 40 runs, 19 doubles, four triples, six home runs and 43 RBI in 67 minor league games in 2016...Walked 26 times and struck out just 32 times in 264 at-bats.