Angels go young during second day of MLB draft

The Angels took more of a gambler’s approach to the draft under new General Manager Billy Eppler, using four of their first six picks on high school players who grade high on raw tools but are not as polished as the college players favored by previous GM Jerry Dipoto.

After taking college catcher Matt Thaiss (Virginia) and Buford (Ga.) High outfielder Brandon Marsh with their first two picks Thursday, three of their next four picks Friday were high school players — shortstop Nolan Williams (third round) and pitchers Christopher Rodriguez (fourth) and Cole Duensing (sixth).

The Angels, whose farm system is rated the worst in the game by Baseball America, selected 17 high school players — total — in the last four drafts.

“We definitely wanted to get some athletic, high-ceiling guys into our system,” scouting director Ric Wilson said. “If you hit with those kinds of guys, you hit with them big.”

The 6-foot-1, 190-pound Williams (Kansas City, Kan.) is an athletic switch-hitter with excellent speed and above-average power.

“He’s a very quick-twitch toolsy guy with a lot of upside,” Wilson said.

Rodriguez, a 6-foot-1, 185-pound right-hander from Miami Gardens, Fla., has a 92-95-mph fastball and tight slider.

“He’s attacks hitters with multiple weapons,” Wilson said. “His delivery and arm action lead us to believe there’s more there.”

Duensing, a 6-4, 175-pound right-hander from Overland Park, Kan., features a 90-93-mph fastball and an advanced changeup.

“He has a good velocity and can spin a breaking ball,” Wilson said. “It will take him time to gain his man strength.”

Fifth-round pick Connor Justus, a 5-11, 185-pound shortstop from Georgia Tech, hit .324 with a .442 on-base percentage, .486 slugging percentage, six homers and 37 runs batted in this season after slashing .249/.349/.308 as a sophomore.

Seventh-round pick Jordan Zimmerman, a 6-1, 186-pound second baseman from Michigan State, hit .374/.461/.594 with nine homers, 17 doubles, 37 RBIs, 33 strikeouts and 32 walks.

Eighth-round pick Troy Montgomery, a speedy 5-8, 188-pound center fielder from Ohio State, hit .297/.423/.466 with eight homers, 34 RBIs and 21 stolen bases in 62 games. He had more walks (50) than strikeouts (41).

Ninth-round pick Michael Barash, a 6-1, 200-pound catcher, and 10th-round pick Andrew Vinson, a 6-1, 180-pound right-hander, are seniors at Texas A&M.

Short hops

Andrew Heaney, who underwent stem-cell therapy six weeks ago, will be examined Monday to determine whether there has been enough healing in his left elbow for him to resume throwing. “It will definitely help determine the next steps,” said Heaney, who is trying to avoid ligament-replacement surgery, “but I don’t know what the next steps will be.” … David Huff, who took the loss Tuesday in Yankee Stadium, will start Sunday against the Cleveland Indians. … Pitchers Javy Guerra and Chris Jones cleared waivers and were sent to triple-A Salt Lake.

mike.digiovanna@latimes.com

Twitter: @MikeDiGiovanna