The Angels’ number one draft pick from 2016, the University of Virginia’s Matt Thaiss, made his professional baseball debut on Tuesday for the rookie-level Orem Owlz. He went 3-for-5 with two doubles and a game-winning three-run homer in the ninth inning to lift the Owlz over the Idaho Falls Chukars by the score of 7-4. Thaiss was a catcher in college, but he played first base for the Owlz in his debut. He was credited with making one error while trying to field a pick off throw.
The Angels would do well to infuse their farm system with some power hitters because the ability to slug is something that has been sorely missing down there for a couple years now. Currently the Angels’ Triple-A Salt Lake Bees are last in the sixteen team Pacific Coast League in home runs, the Double-A Arkansas Travelers are last in the eight team Texas League in home runs, the High-A Inland Empire 66ers are last in the ten team California League in home runs, and the Low-A Burlington Bees are thirteenth in the sixteen team Midwest League in home runs. Traveler first baseman Eric Aguilera leads all Angel minor leaguers with 10 home runs.
In good news, however, 66ers catcher Wade Wass was just named the Cal League position player of the week. He went 12-for-27 for a .444 average in his last seven games in which he hit three home runs, a triple, and three doubles.
In even more good news, Wass’ teammate on the 66ers, outfielder Tim Arakawa, had a single and scored a run in the California League versus Carolina League All-Star Game. Burlington Bee outfielder Jared Foster was able to top that by having two hits, two runs scored, and an RBI in the Mid East versus Mid West All-Star Game.
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