ANAHEIM — Jo Adell stepped onto the field at Angel Stadium for the first time as a member of the Cleveland Guardians on Monday afternoon, headed straight toward home plate and bear-hugged the handful of former teammates and coaches who were hanging around the batting cage.
It was about 2½ hours before the Angels hosted the Guardians in the opener of the three-game series, and three weeks to the day since Adell was traded to Cleveland in exchange for catching prospect Jacob Cozart.
Many of the emotions he formed and the memories he gained during seven seasons in Anaheim were still fresh in Adell’s mind.
“It’s just kind of crazy. I turned into a man and a big leaguer in the Angels organization,” he said from the visitor’s dugout. “A lot of great memories here, and I became the player that I am today in this organization, so it’s pretty surreal to be out here now.”
Adell went from being on one of the worst teams in the major leagues this season to a Cleveland team that was tied with the Texas Rangers for the final American League wild-card spot heading into the week.
Adell has fit right in playing right field and batting in the No. 3 spot in the order, driving in 17 runs through his first 17 games with the Guardians.
“The best part about being over here is just jumping right into games and being right in that playoff race,” Adell said. “That’s where we are right now. We’re expecting to come out here and win every game. Really, to step in the middle of the lineup and be a guy that can help the team do that, I’m really honored and glad for the chance to be part of this.”
The Angels still plan to give away a Jo Adell promotional football jersey on Sunday, and a bobblehead on Sept. 16 that honors the night Adell robbed three home runs at Angel Stadium against the Seattle Mariners on April 4.
Adell, who the Angels drafted with the 10th pick of the first round in the 2017 MLB Draft, said he’s honored the organization is continuing with the giveaways, though he’s glad it’s not happening while the Guardians are in town.
“I felt like that might have been a little weird,” he said.
HAVE A WEEK
Angels shortstop Zach Neto was honored as the AL Player of the Week after going 14 for 28 with two home runs and seven RBIs during a six-game road trip that concluded with a 5-3 loss to the Rangers on Sunday.
Neto raised his batting average from .221 to .237 on the trip, and his OPS went from .715 to .753.
He hasn’t hit better than .238 since late April.
“It’s a testament to him and his commitment and his will to keep getting better every day,” Angels manager Kurt Suzuki said. “What he did this week was pretty amazing. … the adjustments that he’s made, the willingness to work on getting better and, I think all those traits, that’s what he needs to become a great player.”
Neto played in his 128th game of the season on Monday, the same number of games he played last season when he missed the first 18 while recovering from offseason shoulder surgery, and the last 15 because of a left hand strain.
He entered Monday with the same number of RBIs as last season (62), one less run scored (81) and two fewer extra-base hits (53). His walks and strikeouts are both considerably higher than last season, and he had 16 errors on defense, compared to 11 last season with 70 more chances.
“We want to use these games as a platform going into the offseason,” Suzuki said. “Carrying some momentum of improvements that he’s made and adjustments he’s made. I think he’s learning a lot about himself … how to overcome stuff like this, tough times and maturity and experience and all that is only going to help him get better.”
STACKING ZEROS
Angels reliever Luke Murphy has been impressive so far in his first month in MLB.
Murphy has made five straight scoreless appearances over six innings.
He has allowed just two runs overall in nine appearances since he was recalled from Double-A Rocket City after the Angels traded fellow right-hander Chase Silseth.
“Whatever opportunities they put me out there, I’m willing to go out there and do the best I can,” Murphy said.
Murphy led all minor leaguers with 18 saves while posting a 0.71 ERA over 34 appearances before his MLB recall.
It has been a long road to the majors for the 26-year-old, who missed his freshman season at Vanderbilt after undergoing Tommy John surgery, had his second season shut down by COVID, and then spent four seasons putting up good numbers with Rocket City.
“It’s been an up-and-down battle,” he said.
UP NEXT
Guardians (RHP Gavin Williams, 12-7, 3.72 ERA) at Angels (RHP Walbert Ureña, 8-9, 2.80 ERA), Tuesday, 6:38 p.m., ABTV, 830 AM