Angels select college slugger C.J. Cron with first-round pick

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With the 17th overall pick of Monday’s draft, the Angels selected University of Utah first baseman C.J. Cron, a right-handed-hitting slugger who hit .434 with 15 home runs and 59 runs batted in this season.

Cron is the first college player the Angels have taken in the first round since they picked Jered Weaver in 2004, perhaps signaling a change in philosophy under new scouting director Ric Wilson, who replaced Eddie Bane last October. Bane leaned heavily toward high school players, especially in the first few rounds.

Cron, who is 6 feet 4 and 225 pounds, is the son of former Angels first baseman/outfielder Chris Cron. He is a junior who was projected by most draft analysts to be picked in the lower part of the first round.

The 17th overall pick of the 2010 draft, Josh Sale, a high school outfielder from Washington state, signed with the Tampa Bay Rays for $1.62 million.

For more on Cron later this evening, go to www.latimes.com/sports.

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--Mike DiGiovanna