ARLINGTON, Texas — One of Jo Adell’s best tools still hasn’t shown up this season.
Adell suffered a hip injury in the first weekend of the season, and he said on Wednesday that his running has been limited ever since.
Last season Adell was in the 86th percentile in the majors for sprint speed, and this season he’s in the 31st.
“Definitely getting close to how I want to (run), but we’re still being smart with how we’re playing it,” Adell said. “I’m competitive, man. I’m trying to win games, so it’s hard to get out there and not go 100%. I’ve still got to be smart with what I’m trying to do in the game. But I’m getting great treatment here. The guys are great. Just working to get back to where it’s completely behind me.”
Adell said he “could probably turn it loose now,” if necessary, but he’s mostly still running cautiously.
“I’m hoping to be who I can on the base paths and in the field really soon,” Adell said.
At the plate, Adell came into Wednesday’s game hitting .200 with two home runs and a .621 OPS. His 15.2% barrel rate and his 54.5% hard hit rate are both well above the major league average, which suggests that more production could be coming.
He also now has one of the new “torpedo bats.” Adell is the first one on the Angels to receive an order, although some other players are waiting for theirs to arrive.
Adell used it for the first time in Tuesday’s game, and he broke one on a bloop single in his first at-bat. He used the other one for the rest of the game. He grounded out and hit a flyout in his other two trips.
“I’m using it and I’ve liked it so far,” Adell said. “Just kind of see where it goes.”
The bats are narrower than a normal bat at the end, with the extra weight moved down toward the handle.
“Most of my mis-hits are up the label, a little bit towards the inside part of the bat,” Adell said. “So I was intrigued by it. I thought it could give me a better chance to mis-hit some pitches on the inside part of the bat and maybe get away with a few. Definitely gonna continue to see how it goes and how I feel with it.”
O’HOPPE OUT AGAIN
Catcher Logan O’Hoppe was out for a second straight game because of the effects of a stomach illness he had on Monday.
Although O’Hoppe said on Tuesday that he expected to play on Wednesday, he acknowledged that his workout later Tuesday wasn’t normal.
“I felt really good walking around, but when I started doing everything I needed to do, I felt gassed pretty quick,” O’Hoppe said on Wednesday. “But today I felt really good.”
Manager Ron Washington said O’Hoppe still wanted to play on Wednesday, but he insisted on giving him one more day.
“It was precaution on our behalf,” Washington said. “The way he felt yesterday when he worked, I just wanted to give him another day. That’s on me. I just wanted to give him one more day so he’ll be good and strong and we don’t have to worry about anything coming back up. That’s all that is. He will be in there tomorrow, without a doubt.”
NETO UPDATE
Zach Neto was scheduled to play the full game at shortstop at Triple-A on Wednesday night, which would mark the first time in his rehab assignment that he played full games in the field on back-to-back days. Washington said that was an important test for him to pass before he could be activated.
Asked if there was a chance that Neto could then be activated to play in Texas on Thursday, Washington said: “We haven’t discussed it, but anything is possible.”
Neto, who is rehabbing from shoulder surgery, can’t remain on his rehab for more than 20 days. The 20th day would be Sunday. The Angels’ first game after Sunday is next Tuesday.
NOTES
Washington said Mike Trout’s first full off day of the season could come as soon as Friday, which would be a home game after a late arrival from Texas. “I haven’t talked to Mike yet, but I was thinking about that day,” Washington said. “We’ll see how Mike feels. I’m gonna mention it to him, and it’s gonna be up to him to decide.” …
Catcher Travis d’Arnaud was in the batting cage late after Tuesday’s game and he was hitting on the field early before Wednesday’s game. D’Arnaud was hitting .091. “I just thought his swing was too big,” Washington said. “He came out today and tried to shorten it.” Despite d’Arnaud’s slump to start the season, Washington has put him in the No. 5 spot in the lineup because he trusts his experience in those spots more than the younger players who hit behind him. …
Right-hander George Klassen, one of the Angels’ top pitching prospects, struck out eight and didn’t walk any in five innings on Wednesday at Double-A. It was only the second time in his pro career that he’s pitched at least five innings without a walk. Control has been one of the biggest issues throughout his young career.
UP NEXT
Angels (RHP Jack Kochanowicz, 1-1, 5.74 ERA) at Rangers (RHP Kumar Rocker, 0-2, 7.94 ERA), Thursday, 5:05 p.m. PT, FDSN West, 830 AM
