Read More: Dan Haren (P – ANA), Mark Teixeira (1B – NYY), Joe Saunders (P – ARI), Casey Kotchman (1B – TAM), Jered Weaver (P – ANA), Brandon Wood (SS – PIT), Hank Conger (C – ANA), Mike Trout (CF – ANA), Tyler Skaggs (P – ARI), Los Angeles Angels

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.

TEMPE – The Los Angeles Angels gave former teammate Joe Saunders a rude welcome.

Jered Weaver was sharp, Bobby Abreu had a two-run double and the Angels hit Saunders hard in a 7-2 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday.

“It was a little weird coming into the visiting dugout,” said Saunders, who made his debut with the Angels in 2005. “I shot my wad and sort of hit a wall in the third (inning).”

Saunders gave up six hits and four runs in two-plus innings. Torii Hunter and Vernon Wells had RBI singles in a four-run third that included Abreu’s double.

Weaver allowed three hits and a run in three innings. He gave up a double to Russell Branyan in the second. Brandon Allen drove him in one out later.

Weaver, 13-12 with a 3.01 ERA in 2010 and the Angels’ expected opening day starter, made his second start this spring. In his previous start, he allowed one run and two hits over two innings March 1 vs. Cincinnati.

Weaver did not get to see Saunders, whose locker was next to his for the previous three springs.

“We’ve got like 90 guys in the dugout so it’s a little tough to sneak a peek,” Weaver said. “My stuff is coming along. I was pushing the ball for a couple of innings. My off-speed pitch came around.”

Saunders has had a rough spring. He allowed two runs and three hits over two innings in his start March 1 and gave up four runs on four hits in 1 1-3 innings Feb. 25.

Last year, he went 6-10 with a 4.62 ERA in 20 starts with the Angels and 3-7 with a 4.25 in 13 games with Arizona after he was sent to the Diamondbacks in the multiplayer trade that landed Dan Haren with the Angels on July 25.

Wells made a diving backhanded grab of Melvin Mora’s liner toward the left-field line in the second.

Peter Bourjos doubled and scored in the fifth.

Erick Aybar and Hunter had two hits apiece for the Angels. Wells and Alexia Amarista each drove in two runs.

Angels relievers Mark Bulger, Rich Thompson and Francisco Rodriguez, competing for spots in the Angels’ bullpen, each worked a scoreless inning of relief.

The Los Angeles Angels gave former teammate Joe Saunders a rude welcome.

Jered Weaver was sharp, Bobby Abreu had a two-run double and the Angels hit Saunders hard in a 7-2 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday.

“It was a little weird coming into the visiting dugout,” said Saunders, who made his debut with the Angels in 2005. “I shot my wad and sort of hit a wall in the third (inning).”

Saunders gave up six hits and four runs in two-plus innings. Torii Hunter and Vernon Wells had RBI singles in a four-run third that included Abreu’s double.

Weaver allowed three hits and a run in three innings. He gave up a double to Russell Branyan in the second. Brandon Allen drove him in one out later.

Weaver, 13-12 with a 3.01 ERA in 2010 and the Angels’ expected opening day starter, made his second start this spring. In his previous start, he allowed one run and two hits over two innings March 1 vs. Cincinnati.

Weaver did not get to see Saunders, whose locker was next to his for the previous three springs.

“We’ve got like 90 guys in the dugout so it’s a little tough to sneak a peek,” Weaver said. “My stuff is coming along. I was pushing the ball for a couple of innings. My off-speed pitch came around.”

Saunders has had a rough spring. He allowed two runs and three hits over two innings in his start March 1 and gave up four runs on four hits in 1 1-3 innings Feb. 25.

Last year, he went 6-10 with a 4.62 ERA in 20 starts with the Angels and 3-7 with a 4.25 in 13 games with Arizona after he was sent to the Diamondbacks in the multiplayer trade that landed Dan Haren with the Angels on July 25.

Wells made a diving backhanded grab of Melvin Mora’s liner toward the left-field line in the second.

Peter Bourjos doubled and scored in the fifth.

Erick Aybar and Hunter had two hits apiece for the Angels. Wells and Alexia Amarista each drove in two runs.

Angels relievers Mark Bulger, Rich Thompson and Francisco Rodriguez, competing for spots in the Angels’ bullpen, each worked a scoreless inning of relief.