The Los Angeles Angels continue to display confidence Jo Adell, who’s graduated from prospect to third-year player trying to get a hold on his spot in Major League Baseball. On Friday’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays, he launched two home runs, his first since Aug. 4.
Adell has largely struggled in his time with the Angels since being called up on July 13, but the same conversation will continue to be had about his pure potential and raw talent. He’s posted a .233 batting average and .287 wOBA and an 84 wRC+ in that span.
But his two homers fueled the Angels’ 12-0 win over the Blue Jays on Friday and was a ‘boost’ for the still, 23-year-old outfielder, via Julia Kreuz of MLB.com:
“I’ve struggled in the past couple of games or so,” said Adell. “And I’m really trying to stay in my zone and look for my pitches. But coming out tonight and being able to produce, help us win, putting that up on the board, it’s good stuff for me.”
That was Adell’s first multihomer game of the season and his first extra-base hit since Aug. 21. Manager Phil Nevin expressed his support for Adell following Friday’s game.
“These are the things he’s capable of,” said Nevin. “He’s an exciting player, as we know, and he’ll have some streaks like that once in a while. When he gets going, he’s pretty good.”
It’s easy to forget how young Adell is in the grand scheme of things and where he stands as a big-league player. But his red flags prior to entering pro baseball are exactly what he’s displaying now, which is a positive because he is who he is, and hopefully these glimpses become more of a regular thing for an uber-talented player.
Phil Nevin calls Mike Trout best hitter in club history
Following the Angels 12-0 win on Friday, the box score was littered with production, for many guys it was an exhale, especially Mike Trout, who is working his way through his recent diagnosis.
Seven of the nine starters got at least one hit, and six of nine posted at least one RBI. But Trout was the only Angels player to have a record-breaking evening.
In the eighth inning — with the game already out of reach for Toronto — Trout blasted a two-run home run. It was his third home run in the last four games, and it gave him his 1,025th career run scored. This is significant because it gives him sole possession of the Angels’ all-time record.
Not only did Trout break the Angels’ all-time runs record, but he also did it in about 700 fewer games than Garret Anderson. And when it’s all said and done, he figures to have plenty more records to his name, at least according to Nevin.