ANAHEIM — Jo Adell’s statistics don’t suggest he’s fully bounced back from the disappointing rookie season, but Joe Maddon’s eyes tell him something else.
The Angels manager moved the second-year outfielder Adell into the cleanup spot Saturday night as a nod to what he felt was an impressive night at the plate in an otherwise quiet night for the Angels.
Adell drew a walk and lined out twice Friday night as Padres righty Joe Musgrove shut out the Angels on three hits.
“Jo Adell’s at-bats yesterday against Musgrove might have been the best of anybody in that game,” Maddon said Saturday. “That stood out to me.”
Maddon was particularly impressed with the walk, when Adell took a 3-and-2 curveball that was off the plate.
“That wouldn’t have happened last year,” Maddon said. “Everything he was doing, he would have been moving, I think that would have been a swing and a miss. Now he’s here, and he’s making better decisions. That’s what I believe I’m seeing.”
Although Adell’s numbers still leave plenty of room for improvement, they are better than last year.
He came into Saturday’s game hitting .224 with a .604 OPS and a 26.4% strikeout rate. Last year, he hit .161 with a .478 OPS and a 41.7% strikeout rate.
Maddon said he also likes what he’s heard from Adell.
“I’m hearing him talk and his confidence is up,” Maddon said. “If we can just keep nurturing that for the rest of the year, you want to build them out of the prospect category to a guy that could actually help you win. This month permits us to put him in positions of difference-making. Let’s see if you’re ready for this, which I think he might be on the verge of. Go ahead and do it.”
One of the reasons for moving up Adell was to get him two at-bats against Padres lefty Ryan Weathers, who wasn’t expected to go deep in the game, but Maddon said he was also trying to send a message to Adell.
“I want to start challenging him a little bit more up in the lineup,” Maddon said. “Nice job yesterday. Here you go. Do it again.”
ANOTHER NEW FACE
The Angels recalled reliever Kyle Tyler for his first big-league assignment, completing a trip that began this season at Double-A.
Tyler, 24, was the Angels’ 20th-round pick in the 2018 draft. He had a 3.66 ERA with 92 strikeouts in 86 innings between Double-A and Triple-A.
“He’s got a really good arm,” Maddon said.
Maddon said he didn’t know much about Tyler’s repertoire, but he classified him as “a stuff kind of guy,” which suggests he has ample velocity and movement but may be lacking polish or control.
Tyler replaced right-hander Cooper Criswell, who was optioned a day after he started in his major-league debut. Criswell gave up three runs and recorded four outs.
In order to create a spot on the 40-man roster, the Angels outrighted Aaron Slegers, who had been optioned last week.
UP NEXT
Angels (TBD) vs. Padres (RHP Corey Kluber, 4-3, 3.04), 6:38 p.m. Monday, Bally Sports West, 830 AM
Leave a Reply