It’s been three years since the Angels selected Kentucky center fielder Jo Adell with the 10th overall selection in the June 2017 MLB Draft. Since then, the dynamic 21-year-old Adell has found success at every level in his climb to the major leagues.
He’s dealt with his share of adversity, too. Last spring, in the middle of Cactus League spring training, an ankle injury cost him the first half of his season. He made up for it by showcasing his talents in the Arizona Fall League and for Team USA last fall.
On Tuesday, the Angels’ top prospect since Shohei Ohtani will make his Angels debut in Seattle. The move has been confirmed by the team. Mike Trout will also be reinstated from the paternity list while Michael Hermosillo and Jared Walsh were optioned to the alternate training site.
Jo Adell has been training at the Long Beach alternate training site since the beginning of the 60-game season two weeks ago. Now, Adell will be joining new father and fellow outfielder Mike Trout on the Angels’ upcoming six-game road trip to Seattle and Texas. Adell will provide much-needed life to the Angels’ batting order with middle-of-the-order hitters batting .200 or below through the first 10 games.
Adell is a .298/.361/.518 hitter across 224 minor league games and hit .273 with three home runs, nine runs batted in, and three stolen bases for the Mesa Solar Sox of the 2020 Arizona Fall League. Immediately following the AFL season, Adell joined Team USA for their Olympic qualifying tournament and was nothing short of amazing. Adell hit .394 with three home runs, two stolen bases, and a .687 slugging percentage for the USA national team. Adell’s performance before thousands in the Toyko Dome was incredible as he put on a show at the plate as well as making several highlight reel plays in the outfield.
Now, Adell will play beside Mike Trout in either left field or right field as Brian Goodwin and Justin Upton share the other outfield spot or designated hitter roles.
Adell’s call-up comess just days after last Thursday’s service time window date which gives the Angels seven years of team control of a very valuable Scott Boras client. That’s seven years of Mike Trout and Jo Adell sharing the same outfield and lineup together. That’s surely promising as the franchise begins a new decade of play with the best player in the game and a six-year playoff drought looming in the balance.
Baseball America ranks Jo Adell as the third-best prospect in baseball while MLB Pipeline has him rated sixth overall in their latest rankings. Adell will provide the Angels with speed, offense, and defense that they have not seen in an MLB prospect since both Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout.
On Tuesday, Adell will get his chance to make his Major League Baseball debut against fellow rookie Justin Dunn at T-Mobile Ballpark. The Angels are hoping Adell coupled with the return of Mike Trout will provide the club the much-needed spark the offense needs to turn around their 3-7 start.
Despite their losing record, the Angels are currently only trailing the Astros and Athletics by 2.5 games in the American League West.
