OC Register: Angels recall Jo Adell as they continue giving opportunities to young players

[AngelsWin.com]

ARLINGTON, Texas — The Angels are clearly shifting their focus toward the future.

Just over an hour after Manager Joe Maddon announced that pitcher Chris Rodriguez would be making his first big league start for the Angels on Monday night, outfielder Jo Adell walked into the Angels clubhouse for his return to the big leagues.

Adell arrived too late to be in the starting lineup, but his promotion to the big leagues is nonetheless a watershed moment.

Adell, 21, was considered one of the top prospects in all of baseball before his disappointing debut season in 2020. He hit .161 with a .478 OPS and demonstrated clear defensive issues, most memorably a four-base error at the very ballpark where he returned on Monday.

His game showed enough holes that the Angels acquired veterans to move ahead of him on the depth chart. They had him start the 2021 season back at Triple-A.

Adell hit .292 with 23 homers and a .943 OPS this season at Salt Lake. He struck out 97 times and walked 22 times in 336 plate appearances, a pair of statistics that each give some reason for concern.

The Angels, however, made a statement with the roster move that they are ready to give him another shot.

The announcement about Adell came after Maddon’s pregame media session, so it’s unclear at this point exactly how the Angels plan to use him.

He played all three outfield spots at Salt Lake, with 28 games in center, 24 in left and 18 in right. Adell was listed in left field in a lineup that the Angels released just before re-issuing a corrected one without Adell.

Brandon Marsh has been playing center field since he came to the big leagues just over two weeks earlier. Marsh has been solid defensively, but he’s struggled at the plate, carrying a 4-for-33 slump into Monday’s game.

Left fielder Justin Upton has also been slumping since he came off the injured list just over a week ago. The Angels also have veteran Adam Eaton playing in right field.

ROTATION UPDATE

José Suarez will start on Tuesday for the Angels, but they are still undecided for Wednesday and Thursday.

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Shohei Ohtani is a candidate to start on Wednesday, but the Angels need to see how he comes out of a bullpen session from Monday afternoon. Ohtani had his start pushed back a few days because he hurt his thumb when he was struck by a foul ball in the dugout.

The Angels also have Dylan Bundy as a candidate to start on Wednesday. Patrick Sandoval could start on Thursday.

NOTES

Neither outfielder Mike Trout nor third baseman Anthony Rendon traveled with the Angels for this four-game trip to Texas, although both had made the previous trip to Oakland and Minnesota. Maddon said on Sunday that Rendon (hamstring) still isn’t doing baseball activity, and Trout (strained calf) remains in a holding pattern while waiting for him to no longer feel discomfort. …

The Angels optioned infielders Kean Wong and Matt Thaiss, creating spots on the roster for Adell and Rodriguez.

UP NEXT

Angels (LHP José Suarez, 4-4, 3.45 ERA) vs. Rangers (RHP Jordan Lyles, 5-7, 5.04), Tuesday, 5:05 p.m., Bally Sports West, 830 AM

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