This story was excerpted from Rhett Bollinger’s Angels Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
WEST SACRAMENTO -- When Jo Adell first got promoted to rookie-level Orem in 2017 after being the No. 10 overall pick in that year’s Draft, he immediately clicked with two fellow outfielders.
Adell quickly bonded with Brandon Marsh and Torii Hunter Jr., which led to meeting a lasting mentor in five-time All-Star and former Twins and Angels outfielder Torii Hunter. Hunter had just joined Minnesota’s front office as a special assistant in ‘16, knew about Adell from the Draft and saw him play in the Arizona Complex League.
So while Hunter was scouting for the Twins, he was also spending time with his son and fellow teammates when he had the chance. And in the process, Hunter became a father figure to his son’s teammates and someone they could go to for advice on and off the field.
“I got to hang out and meet him, and we kind of clicked,” Adell said. “He was part of the team, basically. And Marshy and Junior, we had a lot of fun. It was awesome. It just felt like baseball at its finest.”
Adell established himself as one of the game’s top prospects that year and ascended to the Majors in quick order, reaching the Majors as a 21-year-old in 2020. But as Angels fans know, it didn’t exactly go to plan for Adell initially, as it took him several years before finally tapping into that power at the plate and improving his defense in right field.
But Hunter went through a similar process, as he played parts of four seasons before things clicked for him as a 25-year-old with the Twins in 2001, before going on to an illustrious 19-year career that saw him win nine Gold Gloves.
“The biggest thing Torii brings is the experiences he’s encountered,” said manager Kurt Suzuki, who was teammates with both Hunter and Adell during his career. “He used to tell me about how he went through his ups and downs, but learned from guys like Tom Kelly. So I think sharing that with Jo really has helped him understand the process. Jo has the tools, so it’s just been fun watching what he’s become.”
Adell, 27, said he’s leaned on Hunter throughout his career and was excited when the Angels brought him aboard as a special assistant in ’24. He always enjoys when Hunter visits during Spring Training and joins them for certain series during the regular season. Hunter was memorably there and in the dugout the night that Adell incredibly robbed three homers against the Mariners on April 4, which was a full-circle moment for them.
“Torii's the type of guy you can talk to about anything,” Adell said. “He’s been such a great guy to spit baseball stuff with, but really just talk about other things in life more than just the game. So I’ve loved having him around, and him being a text message away all the time has been really, really cool.”
Hunter has long embraced being a leader and helping pass on his knowledge to others. He learned from Hall of Famer Kirby Puckett as a youngster with the Twins and has notably mentored some of the game’s best outfielders, such as Mike Trout and Byron Buxton. But Hunter has been impressed by Adell’s desire to get better, especially defensively, after his early struggles in the outfield.
“One thing about Jo, this guy listens,” Hunter said. “For the last three years, he wanted to be better defensively. He actually called it out three years ago, and he's just been working. And the work ethic that he's put in, it shows on the field.”
Hunter has also helped Adell learn to be even-keeled and not dwell on things when they aren’t going right. Notably, Adell didn’t let his most recent mishap affect him, as he’s fared well at the plate and in the field since he had a fly ball go off his glove and hat for a four-base error on June 2, the second time it’s happened in his career. Adell has batted .323 (21-for-65) with a homer, six doubles and seven RBIs over his last 16 games since that miscue, entering play on Sunday.
“He’s just always been in my corner,” Adell said. “It’s really cool to have him be part of my story.”
Hunter has also enjoyed watching Adell continue to develop as a more complete player and believes he’ll only get better with more experience.
“I'm proud of him,” Hunter said. “I've seen the work he's put in. He could be one of the best right fielders in the game.”