Dodgers Select Shortstop, Angels Grab Catcher In First Round Of 2016 MLB Draft
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — The Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim both made 1st round draft picks in the 2016 player draft.
The Dodgers selected shortstop Gavin Lux with the 20th overall pick.
Lux, an 18-year-old native of Kenosha, Wisconsin, is a 6 foot 2 inch 175-pound left-handed hitter.
For his high school, he hit .531 (43-for-81) with six home runs, 10 doubles, four triples, 31 RBI and stole 23 bases this spring. He also drew 29 walks, while only striking out twice in 26 games in 2016, according to the Dodgers.
Lux was rated by Baseball America as the fourth-best shortstop in the 2016 draft and was the 36th overall prospect. He was also named the Gatorade State player of the year for the state of Wisconsin.
"We're really excited that we were able to select Gavin," said Dodger Director, Amateur Scouting Billy Gasparino. "We think he's a bright young man with a lot of ability and comes from a baseball family. He is a pure shortstop that can run, hit, and hit with power from the left side."
Lux's uncle, Augie Schmidt, was the second-overall pick in the 1982 draft by the Toronto Blue Jays and is currently the coach for Division III Carthage College.
Lux is the first position player with their first overall pick since Corey Seager in 2012.
Lux was scouted by Dodger area scout Trey Magnuson, the team said.
The Dodgers second pick (and 32nd overall) was Will Smith, a catcher from the University of Louisville. Smith is 20, 6 feet and he bat right-handed.
The Angels, meanwhile, selected a college catcher from Virginia for their 1st round selection.
It was the second year in a row the Angels picked a backstop.
New Jersey-born Matt Thaiss was the 16th overall pick. The LA Times reported the 6 foot, 195 pound Thaiss led his team in average, home runs, slugging and on-base percentage.
Their second pick (and 60th overall) was 18-year-old high school outfielder Brandon Marsh from the Atlanta area.
In his senior year, he hit .559.
In school he also excelled on the football fiel d but told the Angels he was excited about focusing on baseball.
