Angels Ease Griffin Canning Into Pro Ball

A heavy college workload and a report of “potential issues” in a pre-draft MRI did not scare the Angels off UCLA righthander Griffin Canning, a projected first-round pick who was selected in the second round this year by the Angels.

“To the best of our knowledge, we’re comfortable with his medicals,” first-year scouting director Matt Swanson said of Canning, who signed for $1,459,300. “Everything is checked out, and we’re OK with the player we’re getting. We have no concerns.”

Even so, the Angels are being careful with the 6-foot-2, 180-pound Canning, who is spending the summer in Arizona working on strength and conditioning and the 21-year-old is not expected to pitch for an Angels affiliate this season.

Canning went 7-4, 2.34 in 119 innings over 17 starts this season, finishing second in the nation with 140 strikeouts, walking 32 and holding opposing hitters to a .213 average.

Like most UCLA aces under head coach John Savage, Canning, who won a spot in the Bruins rotation as a freshman, showed durability under a robust workload, including a 134-pitch shutout of rival Southern California in early May.

Canning, the sixth pitcher in UCLA history to record at least 300 career strikeouts, suffered a stress fracture in his back late in his freshman year, causing him to miss the NCAA Tournament.

“We’re very, very aware of his usage,” Swanson said, “and will develop him accordingly this summer.”

Canning’s four-pitch mix includes a 90-94 mph four-seam fastball with good command, a slider, curveball and changeup. His changeup was his go-to secondary pitch as a sophomore, but he threw more breaking balls this season. Most teams project him as a future No. 3 starter.

“What impressed us was his track record, his performance against some of the best competition in the country,” Swanson said. “He’s a polished and advanced college pitcher who can move really quick through our system. He could reach the big leagues in the next two years.”

ANGEL FOOD

• The Angels promoted a trio of high draft picks in July: first baseman Matt Thaiss (first round, 2016) and catcher Taylor Ward (first round, 2015) moved from high Class A Inland Empire to Double-A Mobile, and outfielder Jahmai Jones (second round, 2015) advanced from low Class A Burlington to Inland Empire.