Jo Adell is a name that has been on the radar of baseball fans for a few years now. The highly-touted outfield prospect was drafted 10th overall by the Los Angeles Angels in 2017, and quickly made a name for himself with his impressive performance in the minor leagues.
However, since making his major league debut in 2020, Adell has struggled to find his footing at the highest level of competition.
With an OPS+ of just 82 in 425 plate appearances between 2021 and 2022, there are questions about whether Adell will live up to the hype that surrounded him as a prospect.
In this post, we’ll take a closer look at Jo Adell’s performance to date, analyzing his minor league and major league numbers and considering his potential for future success.
Adell’s Minor League Performance
Jo Adell’s minor league career is marked by impressive offensive production and a diverse set of skills that made him one of the most highly-regarded prospects in baseball. He began his professional career in 2017, splitting time between rookie ball and Class A.
In 2018, Adell moved up to Class A Advanced, where he hit .290/.355/.543 with 20 home runs in just 99 games. He continued his success in 2019, hitting .308/.390/.553 with 10 home runs in 43 games split between Double-A and Triple-A.
As a hitter, Adell has shown a combination of power and contact skills, with an ability to hit for both average and power. His swing generates impressive exit velocities and he has a knack for driving the ball to all fields.
He is also a threat on the basepaths, with good speed and an aggressive approach that allows him to take extra bases.
Defensively, Adell has been praised for his range, arm strength, and athleticism in the outfield. He is capable of playing all three outfield positions, and has shown an ability to make highlight-reel plays with his speed and instincts.
Despite his success in the minors, Adell did face some challenges as he climbed the ladder of professional baseball. Injuries and a more advanced level of competition were the primary obstacles he faced.
He missed time with hamstring and ankle injuries in 2018 and 2019, and struggled at times with the jump to higher levels of competition.
However, he also showed an ability to make adjustments and bounce back from setbacks, ultimately earning a reputation as one of the most exciting young players in the game.
Adell’s Major League Performance
Jo Adell made his major league debut in 2020, but struggled to find his footing at the plate and in the field. In 38 games, he hit just .161/.212/.266 with 3 home runs and 7 RBI. He also had some struggles defensively, committing 3 errors in just 33 games in the outfield.
Despite these struggles, Adell showed flashes of the talent that had made him such a highly-regarded prospect, including a few highlight-reel catches and a memorable home run off Clayton Kershaw.
In 2021 and 2022, Adell continued to have a difficult time in the major leagues. In 114 games, he hit just .221/.284/.394 with 16 home runs and 45 RBI. His OPS+ during this time was 82, well below the league average.
While Adell did show some improvement in certain areas, such as reducing his strikeout rate and hitting more fly balls, his overall performance was still disappointing relative to expectations.
There are several factors that may have contributed to Adell’s struggles in the major leagues. One is his plate discipline, as he has shown a tendency to swing at pitches outside the strike zone and struggle with breaking balls.
Another is his swing mechanics, which some analysts have suggested may need to be adjusted to better handle major league pitching. Adell has also faced challenges defensively, particularly in terms of his positioning and route-running in the outfield.
Despite these struggles, there are reasons to believe that Adell can still develop into a successful major league player. He is still just 23 years old, and has shown a willingness to make adjustments and work on his weaknesses.
The Angels are also committed to his development, and have indicated that they believe in his long-term potential as a cornerstone of the franchise.
Adell’s Future Outlook
Jo Adell is still young and has a lot of potential as a player, despite his struggles in the major leagues. He is only 23 years old, and has already shown an impressive combination of power, speed, and defensive ability.
While he will need to continue to make adjustments and improve his plate discipline, there is reason to believe that he could become a star player at the major league level.
One step Adell could take to improve his performance is to work with hitting coaches and other experts to refine his approach at the plate.
This could involve making adjustments to his swing mechanics, as well as developing a more patient and disciplined approach to pitch selection. He could also focus on improving his defensive positioning and route-running in the outfield.
The Angels’ roster construction and organizational support will also be important factors in Adell’s development.
The team has a number of talented young players, such as Shohei Ohtani and Jared Walsh, who could help take some of the pressure off Adell and allow him to develop at his own pace.
The team also has a strong group of coaches and support staff who can work with Adell to help him reach his full potential.
Ultimately, the future outlook for Jo Adell will depend on his ability to continue to improve and make adjustments at the major league level.
If he can refine his approach and make the necessary adjustments to his game, he has the potential to become a valuable contributor to the Angels’ lineup for years to come.
Jo Adell’s Statistics in the Minor Leagues and Major Leagues
| Season | Level | Plate Appearances | AVG | OBP | SLG | HR | SB | OPS+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Rk | 191 | .325 | .376 | .532 | 5 | 8 | N/A |
| 2018 | A | 463 | .290 | .355 | .543 | 20 | 15 | N/A |
| 2019 | A+,AA | 288 | .289 | .359 | .475 | 10 | 7 | N/A |
| 2019 | AAA | 132 | .264 | .321 | .355 | 0 | 2 | N/A |
| 2020 | MLB | 132 | .161 | .212 | .266 | 3 | 2 | 31 |
| 2021 | AAA | 241 | .289 | .342 | .592 | 23 | 8 | N/A |
| 2021 | MLB | 173 | .246 | .314 | .451 | 8 | 4 | 82 |
| 2022 | MLB | 252 | .221 | .287 | .396 | 12 | 4 | 82 |
Note: N/A indicates that Adell did not play enough games at that level to qualify for an OPS+ calculation.
This table shows how Adell’s statistics have varied over the course of his career, both in the minor leagues and major leagues.
It also shows how his performance in the major leagues has fallen short of his minor league numbers, but he has shown some improvement in his second season in the big leagues.
Faqs
Jo Adell was highly regarded as a prospect due to his impressive performance in the minor leagues, where he showed a rare combination of power, speed, and defensive ability. He was also highly drafted, being selected 10th overall by the Los Angeles Angels in the 2017 MLB draft.
Jo Adell is primarily an outfielder, but he has played all three outfield positions during his time in the minor leagues and major leagues.
Jo Adell’s strengths as a player include his impressive power, speed, and defensive ability. He has also shown a willingness to make adjustments and improve his game, which bodes well for his future development.
Jo Adell has faced some challenges in the major leagues, including struggles with his plate discipline and swing mechanics. He has also had to make adjustments to the higher levels of competition and adjust to the pressures of playing in the major leagues.
Jo Adell can improve his performance in the major leagues by continuing to work on his plate discipline and swing mechanics, as well as developing his defensive skills. He can also benefit from working with experienced coaches and making adjustments based on feedback from his coaches and teammates.
Conclusion
Jo Adell is a young and talented player who has faced some challenges in his transition to the major leagues. While he has struggled at times with his performance at the plate and in the field, he has also shown flashes of the talent that made him such a highly-regarded prospect.
As he continues to develop and refine his game, he has the potential to become a star player at the major league level.
To achieve this potential, Adell will need to work on his plate discipline and swing mechanics, as well as continue to develop his defensive skills.
He will also benefit from the support of the Angels organization and their strong coaching staff. With these factors in place, there is reason to be optimistic about Adell’s future and his potential to become a valuable contributor to the Angels’ lineup.
