Angels: Down 4-0, the Angels come up with a late rally to beat the A’s.

ANAHEIM » In back-to-back years, the Angels used their first-round pick on college catchers, neither of whom ended up as catchers in the big leagues.

While 2015 first-rounder Taylor Ward has returned for cameos behind the plate, simply to add to his versatility, the Angels are experimenting with moving 2016 first-round pick Matt Thaiss back behind the plate for a more regular role.

Thaiss has caught seven games this season at Triple-A Salt Lake, and Manager Joe Maddon said they are trying to see if he could catch in the big leagues on more than an emergency basis. Maddon said this was something Thaiss wanted to do.

“The reports are that he’s doing really well,” Maddon said Sunday. “It’s kind of like you can see the naturalness about when he plays the position based on the years of repetition he had. So it’s real. We’re going to see where it goes.”

Thaiss, 26, played first on his way up to the majors. Since reaching the big leagues in 2019, he also has gotten some opportunities at third, second and left field. He has hit .202 with a .696 OPS in 189 big-league plate appearances.

Thaiss was hitting .300 with a .947 OPS through his first 53 plate appearances at Triple-A.

If Thaiss could make himself into a capable bigleague catcher, he could be a good left-handed complement to a right-handed hitting starting catcher like Max Stassi.

Asked if it’s realistic to think Thaiss could get that far this year, Maddon said it’s too soon to tell.

“There’s so much think about when you engage in this position, and good catchers make it look second nature,” Maddon said. “Until it is, you’re constantly thinking and really dissecting and digesting the game plan. There are all these different things that get thrown at you that make it a little more difficult. There’s no timeframe, but yes, go ahead Matty. Go ahead and become a bigleague catcher.”

Adell update

Jo Adell has also gotten off to an intriguing start at Triple-A, with nine homers in his first 76 plate appearances, including two homers on Sunday. Adell was hitting .261 with 26 strikeouts though.

“I know he’s making some progress, but we still think he has things to work on,” Maddon said. “It’s one of those things you just have to wait. You don’t want to force somebody into a role here because you feel there’s a need.”

Lineup shuffle

Maddon used a non-traditional lineup with Justin Upton in the leadoff spot and Juan Lagares in the cleanup spot, the first time for either player to start in those spots.

Upton came into the game in a 3-for-35 slump. Maddon said that in the past he’s taken struggling power hitters like Tim

Salmon or Anthony Rizzo and put them in the leadoff spot to get them going.

“My only advice is to try to get on base, set the table, use the middle of the field and have a good time with it,” Maddon said. “Just go out there and play some baseball. If you get J-Up going, that would be huge for us.”

As for Lagares, Maddon said he’s liked the way he’s been swinging the bat lately, especially against left-handed pitchers.

Facing lefty Sean Manaea also encouraged Maddon to give Shohei Ohtani the day off and drop Jared Walsh to No. 6.

Maddon said Ohtani can now have two straight days off, including the scheduled off day on Monday, before playing the rest of the week. Ohtani is tentatively scheduled to pitch Friday.

Notes

Chris Rodriguez (shoulder inflammation) threw his third bullpen session Saturday. Maddon said he’s nearing a rehab assignment. …

Jon Jay, who has been up for two stints with the Angels and was playing last week for Triple-A Salt Lake, is among the former big leaguers on the roster for Team USA as it prepares for an Olympic qualifying tournament. Longtime Angels manager Mike Scioscia will guide the team in the tournament, which starts May 31. Any player not on a 40-man roster is eligible. Matt Kemp, Todd Frazier and Matt Wieters are among the other wellknown former big leaguers on the roster.