Top prospect Adell reps Halos in Futures Game

June 29th, 2019

ANAHEIM -- Angels top prospect Jo Adell is heading to the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game for a second year in a row, as the outfielder will again represent the club in an all-new format that pits the American League against the National League at Cleveland’s Progressive Field on July 7.

Adell, ranked as the club’s No. 1 prospect and the No. 4 overall prospect by MLB Pipeline, is off to another impressive season after missing 10 weeks with both a left hamstring strain and a right ankle sprain sustained in a Spring Training game on March 9. The 20-year-old is batting .358/.425/.621 with five homers, 10 doubles, 15 RBIs and four stolen bases in 25 games between Double-A Mobile and Class A Advanced Inland Empire.

“Obviously, we think very highly of him,” Angels manager Brad Ausmus said. “We like the tools he has. He’s come very fast over the last year through the Minor League ranks from Burlington to IE to Mobile last year. Of course, the injury’s hampered him but now he’s back at Mobile. He’s a guy who’s got a lot of power, a lot of speed, a lot of athleticism. He’s still developing.”

Adell served as leadoff hitter for the U.S. Team last year, going 1-for-4 with a double and a sacrifice fly in a 10-6 win at Washington's Nationals Park. This year, however, will pit the AL and the NL against each other for the first time in the 21-year history of the event. Hall of Famer Jim Thome will serve as the manager for the AL club. Adell said on MLB Network that he enjoyed participating in the game last year.

"For me, it was the competitiveness,” Adell said. “We had both sides out there, the USA and the World, competing to win and it was awesome. Any time you can play in an All-Star Game where guys are going at it and trying to win the game, trying to do what you can to contribute, it's unreal."

Adell, the No. 10 overall pick in the 2017 Draft, remains on the fast track to the Majors and could see a promotion to Triple-A Salt Lake in the second half of the season. He’s unlikely to be a September callup because of the time he missed early in the season, but is expected to make his Major League debut next season. He joins several prominent Angels players who have participated in the Futures Game, including Mike Trout, Justin Upton and Tyler Skaggs.

Adell has batted .310/.370/.550 with 30 homers, 53 doubles and 27 stolen bases in 173 career games in the Minors and credited getting consistent playing time and coaching for his development.

"Coming into pro ball, my goal was to get into a routine,” Adell said of his approach. “I'm pretty routine-orientated. Obviously, playing every day in pro ball, that opportunity was given to me and I ran with it. And I have to give credit to all the hitting guys."

MLB Network will exclusively televise and MLB.com will live stream the Futures Game at 7 p.m. ET. Greg Amsinger, Harold Reynolds and Jim Callis will call the action, with Heidi Watney providing reporting from both dugouts. The game also will be available to SiriusXM subscribers.