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LA Angels: 3 reasons why the Angels should bring up Jo Adell

By Evan Desai |
Sep 5, 2020; Anaheim, California, USA; Los Angeles Angels right fielder Jo Adell (59) hits a solo home run against the Houston Astros during the game at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Angels Baseball/Pool Photo via USA TODAY Network
Sep 5, 2020; Anaheim, California, USA; Los Angeles Angels right fielder Jo Adell (59) hits a solo home run against the Houston Astros during the game at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Angels Baseball/Pool Photo via USA TODAY Network
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LA Angels top prospect Jo Adell has been clubbing homers left and right in Salt Lake (Triple-A).

Jo Adell has been on the LA Angels‘ radar for a long time now, and even had his first crack at the big leagues last season.

Listed at the very top of the Baseball America‘s Current Top Prospects of the Angels list, his talent has been raising eyebrows as he plays for the Bees.

There are cases to be made both for and against bringing up Jo Adell. This article will hit on the argument for the Angels to bring up Adell, and the next story on Halo Hangout will focus on the counterargument.

Number 1 reason Jo Adell should be brought up: Adell’s power surge

Jo Adell has hit 12 home runs in 23 Triple-A games this year. He’s tacked on four doubles and an incredible 23 RBI in those 23 games.

The Angels rank sixth in the American League in home runs. Not terrible, but could be much better, and will need to be much better if the Angels are to make a run for the playoffs.

Adell has a knack for driving teammates in, and that’s something the Halos are missing as well. They’re tied for seventh in RBI with 233 RBI. The Halos haven’t scored a lot of runs in general this year; just seventh in the AL with 247.

Jo Adell has made his way around the bases 19 times in Salt Lake this year. He finds ways to help put up crooked numbers, and that’s something the Angels are missing.

Sep 16, 2020; Anaheim, California, USA; Los Angeles Angels left fielder Justin Upton (10) is congratulated by right fielder Jo Adell (59) for scoring against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the game at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Angels Baseball/Pool Photo via USA TODAY Network
Sep 16, 2020; Anaheim, California, USA; Los Angeles Angels left fielder Justin Upton (10) is congratulated by right fielder Jo Adell (59) for scoring against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the game at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Angels Baseball/Pool Photo via USA TODAY Network /

Number 2 reason Jo Adell should be brought up: Adell’s Major League experience

Jo Adell isn’t some young kid who doesn’t understand the pressure of the Major Leagues. He’s played Major League baseball before, in 2020.

Sure, it didn’t go the way he wanted it to, but he understands the task of being a Major League Baseball player.

So, if he’s smoking Minor League pitches out the yard regularly and already knows and has experienced the expectations of Major League production, what’s the hold up?

His swing is significantly more powerful that what it was coming into the Majors last year. This is evident in his numbers jump from his time in Triple-A in 2019 to his numbers in Triple-A now.

He had 12 less home runs and 15 less RBI in his previous stint in Triple-A before heading up to the Major League team. Yes, that means he had zero home runs and eight RBI in 2019 at the Triple-A level.

He’s leaps and bounds more powerful than he was then. The player that played poorly in the MLB last year is not the player that Adell is today. He’s not going to drive in an RBI every game in the Majors like he does in Triple-A, but he’s undoubtedly a more powerful hitter than he was in 2020.

Sep 27, 2020; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes (15) flies out to Los Angeles Angels center fielder Jo Adell (59) in the sixth inning of the game at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 27, 2020; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes (15) flies out to Los Angeles Angels center fielder Jo Adell (59) in the sixth inning of the game at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /

Number 3 reason Jo Adell should be brought up: Adell can provide depth

There’s a reason that Angels fans felt a little nervous when Justin Upton left the contest after a collision in shallow-left field.

Upton will be okay, but the thought of already missing Trout for a while, along with another starting outfielder isn’t a very fun thought to have.

The entire league has seen so many injuries this year. What if Upton does get hurt, or what if Juan Lagares or Taylor Ward gets injured? Then, the Angels are in a really tough spot when it comes to having outfield bodies they can count on.

The injury bug has landed on the Angels at times this season, and has also threated to land on the Angels at other times this season. It’s important to have a young player like Adell who could use extended playing time in a situation like that, and also has upside to be a star in an injured outfielder’s place.

It’s already June, and the Angels need a spark. They’re six games back of the division lead, and bringing up a player who will provide instant power to a lineup could work wonders for the Halos.

Next. Injuries, underachievement highlight Rendon signing

There’s solid arguments for both sides to the Adell conversation. Head back to halohangout.com in a few hours for the other perspective.

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