If there’s anyone who potentially forgot that the Los Angeles Angels are home to Dexter Fowler, they wouldn’t be alone. The Angels traded for the veteran outfielder during the offseason with a plan to finally get a productive Major Leaguer in right field. However, just eight games into the season, he tore his ACL.
Halos fans had not seen much of Fowler after he tore his ACL, but that changed this weekend, as Fowler was in the clubhouse for the Freeway Series opener in Los Angeles. He joined the team for multiple reasons, the main ones being that his rehab is ahead of schedule and that he wanted to provide another veteran presence to a young Angels outfield.
Fowler seemed excited to be back with the team and to work with players like Brandon Marsh and Jo Adell, both of whom need all of the top notch leadership they can get at this stage in their careers, according to J.P. Hoornstra of The O.C. Register:
“I’m eager to get around the guys and just pass on some knowledge,” Fowler said. “Anything I see. Being around here, if it’s the mindset, whatever. These guys are talented. It’s just getting over that learning curve a little bit.”
Angels manager Joe Maddon reiterated that Fowler is out for the season, but he saw strictly positive outcomes from having the veteran outfielder around the club.
“He’s another force multiplier,” Maddon said. “Any time you get Dexter, the team is going to be better off for it. We’re excited to have him here. I love having him in that clubhouse.”
At 35, Fowler’s career isn’t necessarily over. He is a free agent after this season, and with his rehab going ahead of schedule, it’s possible he finds a place either with the Angels or elsewhere for 2022.
His benefit for this year’s team is providing another helpful hand to Marsh and Adell. Ad far as veteran leadership goes for outfielders, it’s hard to do any better than Mike Trout, Justin Upton, Adam Eaton, and Fowler, all of whom are among the game’s most respected players.
Fowler is talking as though he’ll be around the team for the rest of the season. While he won’t be able to help on the field, his work off the field will be incalculable as Marsh and Adell take the reigns for a little while.
Angels-Dodgers series providing a glimpse into future
Patrick Sandoval, Jaime Barria, and Reid Detmers are the Angels’ three starting pitchers against the mighty Dodgers. Marsh and Adell are in the outfield, and it all feels like a signal towards a bright Angels future. That’s how Maddon saw things when previewing how things were going to look during this weekend’s Freeway Series.
