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BOSTON — Before the angels fell, 4-0, to red stockings Tuesday, outfielder Jo Adell disembarked from the team plane at Logan Airport. Some staff members unpacked their uniform at the visiting clubhouse in Fenway Park. Adell addressed the media in front of his locker. He took batting practice out in the field, throwing half a dozen balls into the stands. He signed autographs for some kids who called out his name.
He seemed in every way to be a Major League Baseball player. The only hint that Adell is, for now, a minor leaguer came just before the game started, when he changed into his street clothes and left the ballpark. He will fly commercial on Wednesday to join the Triple A Salt Lake Bees.
“He has a good attitude about it,” the center fielder said. mike trout. “It’s tough, but he knows what he has to do to get back here.”
Adell, 23, has been among the Angels’ top prospects since the team selected him with the 10th pick in the 2017 draft. Within two years, he was one of the game’s consensus future stars. But since his debut during the COVID-shortened 2020 season, he has struggled on both sides of the ball. This year, he has hit .231 with 24 strikeouts and a walk in 66 plate appearances, and Statcast rates his defense as tied for second-worst among outfielders for above-average outs (-4).
Jo Adell was sent back to the minors on Tuesday after another slow start in the majors.
Chris Bernacchi/Getty Images
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But Adell didn’t play as much off the roster as two of his teammates played on it. Trout might be the best player the game has ever seen. Adell, Brandon Marsh and taylor neighborhood He opened the season expecting to rotate through the corner spots. Marsh then hit .267 in a brutal offensive setting with a solid defense, and Ward set the world on fire: The 28-year-old is a few at-bats short of classifying the league leaderboards, but among those with at least 70 at the plate. appearances, he ranks first in batting average (.390), on-base percentage (.493), slugging percentage (.746) and OPS (1.239).
In a different year, perhaps Los Angeles could have let Adell learn on the job at the expense of two players with better current stats but lower ceilings. But at 15-10, the Angels lead the AL West, the first time they’ve done so in early May in Trout’s career. His first month has increased his playoff odds by 21 percentage points, to 66%. The trout is 30 years old. bidirectional star shōhei ohtani he may be a free agent after next season. Halos’ window is open and they’re looking through it.
So on Tuesday afternoon, Adell was summoned to manager Joe Maddon’s office. Waiting inside were Maddon, general manager Perry Minasian and assistant hitting coach John Mallee. The main office had started discussing the possibility on Sunday night, Minasian said later, and made the decision official on Monday morning.
“The way the other three played allowed them to play every day,” Minasian said. “So I think from a team standpoint, it was the right thing to do. Ward is playing like he is playing. Marsh is playing like he is playing. Obviously, Mike is going to play. Those guys’ names will be on the lineup for the most part. Being a young player and not having consistent playing time is very, very difficult.”
Adell will get consistent playing time at Triple-A. Even on one of the toughest days of his career, Adell never seemed flustered. He didn’t see the degradation coming, but he understood it.
“I’m not excited about it,” he said. “I mean, I’m not going to make a parade about being sent out, but I’m going to do my best to come back. … I will not bow my head. I’m confident enough in my game and what I’m capable of knowing that at some point my time will come where I can be here every day and help these guys. And hopefully I can come back and get to where the standards are for this club and these guys and be able to come back and help.”
Over the next few days, his coaches will work with him on the details of his offensive approach and the intricacies of defense. But on Tuesday, Trout had another message. As soon as he heard that Adell would be sent, the star found the boy. “Hello,” Trout said. “See you soon.”
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