Adell (hamstring, ankle) to return in 10-12 weeks

Angels top prospect was injured running the bases

March 11th, 2019

TEMPE -- Results of an MRI on Angels top prospect Jo Adell confirmed a Grade 2+ right ankle sprain and a Grade 1+ left hamstring strain, the Angels announced Sunday night. A general timeline for return to play is 10-12 weeks. Adell sustained the injuries Saturday while running the bases in a non-televised split-squad game against the Cubs.

Adell said earlier Sunday that the hamstring injury came first while he was attempting to go from first to third on a base hit by in the second inning. He’s going to be on crutches for the near future, but said his ankle felt better on Sunday and that he can put some weight on it when he walks. His hamstring, though, remains tight and it’s the first time he’s dealt with a hamstring injury.

“I knew I could get to third base on the play, so I kind of turned on another gear and felt the top part of the hamstring pull,” Adell said. “I tried to shut it down. When I got around the bag, I rolled the ankle over after that."

Adell, ranked as the club’s No. 1 prospect and the No. 14 overall prospect by MLB Pipeline, had been playing well in his first taste of Major League camp. The 19-year-old was hitting .391 with three RBIs in 11 games before sustaining the injuries.

He was likely to open the year at Double-A Mobile, but he is expected to remain in Arizona to rehab his injuries until he’s healthy.

"For me, it's just a minor setback,” Adell said. “I'm going to be in here every day, working, trying to get back. The [training] team is great. They're going to have a plan for me and they already do. I'll be back before you know it and be ready to roll."

Adell is coming off a breakout season in which he hit .290/.355/.543 with 20 homers, 32 doubles, 15 stolen bases and 77 RBIs in 99 games across three levels, including Double-A. The Louisville native was taken by the Angels as the No. 10 overall pick in the 2017 Draft.

His family was in town from Kentucky this weekend to see him play, so they witnessed his injuries firsthand. But Adell said it helped to have his parents around to talk to last night.

“I'm just glad they were able to come and see me,” Adell said. “That's what it is all about. I went over there with them last night and talked with them. Having them there is always a plus.

"You know how it is talking with parents. When things go bad and you need someone to talk to, they're always there."