The American pro baseball team Anaheim Angels have selected an ethnic Korean catcher in the Major League Baseball draft.

The team on Tuesday selected with the 25th pick Hyun Choi "Hank" Conger, a senior at nearby Huntington Beach High School who was named California's best prep player of the year.

Six feet tall (183 centimeters) and a switch hitter, he earned a host of state and national honors in hitting .449 with eleven homers and 27 runs batted in to lead his team.

Conger has verbally committed to play baseball at the University of Southern California, but said he will likely forgo college to play professionally.

Angels manager Mike Scioscia, who played catcher during his playing career, said Conger has great tools including his switch hitting ability.