Angels’ Jo Adell impresses with new approach in return to majors

3 years ago 446

ANAHEIM — Jo Adell’s statistic don’t suggest he’s afloat bounced backmost from the disappointing rookie season, but Joe Maddon’s eyes archer him thing else.

The Angels manager moved the second-year outfielder Adell into the cleanup spot Saturday nighttime arsenic a motion to what helium felt was an awesome nighttime astatine the sheet successful an different quiescent nighttime for the Angels.

Adell drew a locomotion and lined retired doubly Friday nighttime arsenic Padres righty Joe Musgrove unopen retired the Angels connected 3 hits.

“Jo Adell’s at-bats yesterday against Musgrove mightiness person been the champion of anybody successful that game,” Maddon said Saturday. “That stood retired to me.”

Maddon was peculiarly impressed with the walk, erstwhile Adell took a 3-and-2 curveball that was disconnected the plate.

“That wouldn’t person happened past year,” Maddon said. “Everything helium was doing, helium would person been moving, I deliberation that would person been a plaything and a miss. Now he’s here, and he’s making amended decisions. That’s what I judge I’m seeing.”

Although Adell’s numbers inactive permission plentifulness of country for improvement, they are amended than past year.

He came into Saturday’s crippled hitting .224 with a .604 OPS and a 26.4% strikeout rate. Last year, helium deed .161 with a .478 OPS and a 41.7% strikeout rate.

Maddon said helium besides likes what he’s heard from Adell.

“I’m proceeding him speech and his assurance is up,” Maddon said. “If we tin conscionable support nurturing that for the remainder of the year, you privation to physique them retired of the imaginable class to a feline that could really assistance you win. This period permits america to enactment him successful positions of difference-making. Let’s spot if you’re acceptable for this, which I deliberation helium mightiness beryllium connected the verge of. Go up and bash it.”

One of the reasons for moving up Adell was to get him 2 at-bats against Padres lefty Ryan Weathers, who wasn’t expected to spell heavy successful the game, but Maddon said helium was besides trying to nonstop a connection to Adell.

“I privation to commencement challenging him a small spot much up successful the lineup,” Maddon said. “Nice occupation yesterday. Here you go. Do it again.”

ANOTHER NEW FACE

The Angels recalled reliever Kyle Tyler for his archetypal big-league assignment, completing a travel that began this play astatine Double-A.

Tyler, 24, was the Angels’ 20th-round prime successful the 2018 draft. He had a 3.66 ERA with 92 strikeouts successful 86 innings betwixt Double-A and Triple-A.

“He’s got a truly bully arm,” Maddon said.

Maddon said helium didn’t cognize overmuch astir Tyler’s repertoire, but helium classified him arsenic “a worldly benignant of guy,” which suggests helium has ample velocity and question but whitethorn beryllium lacking polish oregon control.

Tyler replaced right-hander Cooper Criswell, who was optioned a time aft helium started successful his major-league debut. Criswell gave up 3 runs and recorded 4 outs.

In bid to make a spot connected the 40-man roster, the Angels outrighted Aaron Slegers, who had been optioned past week.