2011 MLB Draft: Angels Select Slugger C.J. Cron With First Round Pick

Birthdate: 01/05/1990
Height: 6’4"
Weight: 235 lbs.
Bats: R
Throws: R

The first thing that jumps out from Cron is his size.  At 6-4, 235 pounds, Cron is being seen exclusively as a hitter.  In Utah, Cron played first base and catcher, holding his own at the position behind the plate.  Cron won the MWC Player of the Year for the second year in a row and rightfully so.  Cron amassed a .434 average in 198 at bats with 31 walks and only 21 strike outs.  His 15 home runs and 26 doubles aided his insane .803 slugging percentage, while being on base at a .517 clip. 

Because of his size, Cron is expected to play first base or become a designated hitter.  Cron has family in the major leagues with his father, Chris, being a manager of the Detroit Tigers Double-A affiliate, Lake Erie Seawolves, and former catcher, Chad Moeller, who played in the majors for 10 years.

From MLB.com:

There’s no question the University of Utah slugger understands the game, with a father managing in the Detroit Tigers system, a cousin in Chad Moeller, the former big league catcher, and even a younger brother who’s a high school prospect committed to TCU.

There’s also no question Cron can flat-out hit the baseball. He should hit for average and power, with the ability to hit with authority to all fields. He doesn’t have plus bat speed, but with terrific plate discipline and a natural feel for hitting, he’s going to be a productive offensive player.

He’s caught and played first base at Utah, and nearly everyone thinks he’ll be playing that infield corner as a professional. He’s not one who has to catch to have value. His bat will be just fine at first and should be more than enough to get him off the board fairly early.

From Utahutes.cstv.com:

About Cron: A two-time first-team All-American (2010 and 2011) … 2011 Golden Spikes Semifinalist … two-time Dick Howser Trophy semifinalist … two-time MWC Player of the Year … set Utah career record for batting average (.396) … only player in the country in 2009 to get three hits in a game off No. 1 MLB draft pick Stephen Strasburg (5/14/09) … played over the summer of 2010 with the Conduit Kettleers of the Cape Cod League and was near the top of the league in batting average, home runs and RBI before an injury … was scheduled to spend the second part of the summer with USA Baseball before being sidelined with an injury … comes from a baseball family.

From Diamond Scape Scouting:

Cron will make his money off the strength of his bat, which shows the potential to provide production both in the power department and as a pure hit tool. Because the Utes slugger is so big, and his arms so long, he can give them impression that his bat takes some time to get through the zone. While he certainly is no Rendon with regards to bat speed, he possesses more than enough to consistently square-up good velocity. While his long limbs and strong core help him to generate good leverage and big raw power, he will have to show that he can adequately cover the inner-half of the plate once faced with more advanced pitching and generally broader repertoires. Cron is comfortable in the box and shows a high level of understanding with regards to approach and pitch selection. He has the strength to hit oppo with power, and the discipline to allow pitches to travel on the outer half before dropping the barrel on the ball.

The MLB Draft is a three-day event, beginning Monday with the first round and supplemental round on MLB Network. For more news and information on the Angels, be sure to read the SB Nation blog Halos Heaven.

The Los Angeles Angels selected first baseman C.J. Cron with their first-round pick, #17 overall in the 2011 MLB Draft. Cron. The first baseman off the University of Utah is the son of former major leaguer Chris Cron, who played for the Angels briefly in 1991 (Cron the elder was 2-for-15). In addition, Cron is the cousin of former MLB catcher Chad Moeller.

The Angels had not picked this high in the first round since 2004, when they selected 12th. This was the third number 17 pick in Angels history, joining pitcher Dennis Rasmussen in 1980 and first baseman Eduardo Perez in 1991. The Angels don't have another pick today. Their next selection is in the second round, which begins Tuesday at 9 a.m. PDT.

The MLB Draft is a three-day event, beginning Monday with the first round and supplemental round on MLB Network. For more news and information on the Angels, be sure to read the SB Nation blog Halos Heaven.

The 2011 MLB Draft is upon us, and the first round and supplemental round will be televised on Monday night. The Los Angeles Angels hold the 17th overall pick in the first round, their highest draft position since 2004. Thanks to the loss of several free agents in recent years, the Angels had five first round picks in the last two seasons, but are back to just one this year. Here is a look at the Angels' first round draft history of the last 10 years:

• 2010 - #18: Kaleb Cowart, high school RHP
• 2010 - #29: Cameron Bedrosian, high school RHP
• 2010 - #30: Chevez Clarke, high school CF
• 2009 - #24: Randal Grichuk, high school LF
• 2009 - #25: Mike Trout, high school CF
• 2008: no first round pick (signed free agent OF Torii Hunter)
  
• 2007: no first round pick (signed free agent OF Gary Mathews Jr.)
  
• 2006 - #25: Hank Conger, high school C
• 2005: no first round pick (signed free agent SS Orlando Cabrera)
  
• 2004 - #12: Jered Weaver, college RHP
• 2003 - #23: Brandon Wood, high school SS
• 2002 - #12: Joe Saunders, college LHP
• 2001 - #13: Casey Kotchman, high school 1B

The draft is important for both producing major leaguers, like Weaver and Conger, and hopefully Trout, one of the best prospects in baseball right now, and for acquiring assets to be used in trades. For instance, 2001 first-round pick Kotchman was traded with others in 2008 to the Braves for Mark Teixeira. When Teixeira signed with the Yankees the next winter, one of the compensatory picks the Angels received turned into pitcher Tyler Skaggs, who was packaged last year with 2002 first-rounder Joe Saunders to Arizona to get Dan Haren.

The MLB Draft is a three-day event, beginning Monday at 4 p.m. PDT with the first round and supplemental round on MLB Network. For more news and information on the Angels, be sure to read the SB Nation blog Halos Heaven.