Angels' top pick makes impression

He has the physical structure of Sean Rodriguez -- lean and lithe, with muscular forearms -- along with a distinct facial resemblance to Brandon Wood.

If Angels scouting director Eddie Bane is on the money with the Angels' first of two first-round picks, Randal Grichuk -- pronounced GRICH-ick -- could emerge as a talent in the same mold of Rodriguez and Wood. That should make Angels fans happy for a very long time.

Grichuk was at Angel Stadium on Saturday night along with his father, having made the trip from Rosenburg, Tex., about a half-hour from Houston, to sign a contract and get started with the Angels rookie ball outfit in Tempe.

Grichuk stands 6-foot and goes 195, and it's rock solid at 17. Bane, with a tip of the hat to area scout Kevin Ham, thinks Grichuk has the ability to become a right fielder with power.

No high school hitter in America hit as many home runs as the 38 by the kid from Lamar Consolidated High School the past two seasons, and Bane loves the way he drives the ball to right center, a power alley visited frequently by Rodriguez and Wood, right-handed hitters like Grichuk.

"A lot of people say I've got quick hands," Grichuk said when asked about the source of his power.

Bane is one of those people.

"He can really smoke a ball to right center," Bane said. "High school kids are all trying to pull the ball, but not Randal."

In that easy, respectful Texas manner, Grichuk pointed out that of his 21 homers his senior year, "five or six were to right center, five or six to center."

The plan is to get Grichuk into the hands of manager Tom Kotchman at Orem in the Pioneer League this summer, which would enable him to start next season at low Class A Cedar Rapids.

The Angels hope to have the same luck with their other first-round pick, center fielder Michael Trout of Millville High School in New Jersey.

Grichuk and Trout were taken No. 24 and No. 25 overall. The Angels might have been lucky that Grichuk caught the flu with a 102-degree temperature and was unable to attend a pre-Draft workout by his hometown Astros, who were picking ahead of the Angels.

Grichuk grew up attending Astros games and copying the crouched hitting style of Jeff Bagwell, but he gradually found more comfort in an upright stance. He gained early attention as a star on a Lamar Little League team in 2003 and 2004, placing fifth and third in the world.

That was ages ago, all of five years. He's all grown up now, and the Angels are thrilled to have him.

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