Warren East pitcher Hunter Green was selected Thursday night by the Los Angeles Angels with the 59th overall pick in the second round of the MLB draft.

Green – a 6-foot-4-inch, 180-pound left-hander – is the highest area high school pick since the draft was implemented in 1965.

The area player to be selected highest out of high school or college was Joe Blanton, who played at Edmonson County and Franklin-Simpson and was picked 24th overall in the 2002 draft as a junior at the University of Kentucky. Blanton currently pitches for the Angels.

According to Baseball America, the recommended slot value for Green’s 59th spot this year is $942,000. Green’s last scout visit was by the Angels, he said, and they called shortly before the 59th pick to tell him they would select him in that spot if he was still available. Green said he plans to bypass college – he signed with the University of Kentucky in November – and agree to a deal with Los Angeles. He’ll discuss contract details with the organization Friday. I’ll have full coverage in Friday’s BGDN, but here are a few comments from Green on Thursday night: HUNTER GREEN

Thoughts on being an Angel: “It’s absolutely amazing. Words can’t describe how happy I am. Even though things didn’t pan out how other people expected it to with the first round, that’s fine with me. The second round is still a great place to go, and just getting the opportunity to play professional baseball is a blessing.”

On dedicating the day to former Warren East teammate Michael Vincent, who died in a car wreck one year ago Thursday: ““I believe I’m an Angel for a reason. He was watching over me the whole time, and he was my angel.”

Sitting through whole process: “It was definitely hard. Some of the teams I thought were definitely going to get me, they would pass up on me, and I was starting to get worried. I’m not going to lie. I was getting very frustrated, but the Angels happened to call.”

What was the reaction in your house? “My mom jumped up and started screaming, my dad jumps up and gives me high-fives. They both started crying and started hugging me, and of course I was the happiest I’ve been in my life.”

Representing the area: “Mark (Biggs has) represented it well and made this area happy, and I give him a lot of credit for getting me where I am today. Everybody’s been behind me and supported me, so that’s awesome.”