CHICAGO — The Angels are apparently pretty comfortable with Jo Adell as their everyday center fielder.

By releasing Mickey Moniak and sending Matthew Lugo to Triple-A, the Angels set their Opening Day roster with the intention of giving Adell some runway to play the spot every day.

The backup is Kyren Paris, who has mostly played the infield. Mike Trout obviously could play center field in a pinch, but the Angels would prefer to keep him in right field.

Manager Ron Washington said Adell made strides with his defense in center late in spring training.

“I saw him grow the last couple of weeks,” Washington said. “All of a sudden, his angles got better. He started being in the right place. He started learning how to get behind the ball. He started throwing the ball to the right bag. So it’s coming. It’s going to be work in progress.”

At the plate, Adell hit .172 with a .569 OPS in spring training, although he finished with a good week.

Washington said the primary backup is Paris, who played eight games in center in spring training. Paris played two major-league games in center in 2023.

“He’s got the speed,” Washington said. “He’s got the instincts. There may be some growing pains, but he earned his spot, so I’m not going to sit on him. I’m going to put him out there. I expect him to continue to grow the way he’s grown to this point.”

If Adell gets hurt and the Angels need another center fielder for an extended period, it could be Lugo. He was sent to Triple-A to play center field.

NETO UPDATE

Shortstop Zach Neto, who is on the injured list rehabbing from shoulder surgery, has begun DH-ing in minor-league games in Arizona. He even hit a few home runs.

“Knowing Zach, because he hit the ball out of the ballpark, he thinks he’s ready to come here,” Washington said. “We’ve still got to progress him in his throwing and his movements, and just keep up with him and make sure that everything he’s doing is proper, so when his time comes, he can come here and just take off.”

Neto has been making some throws from shortstop, but he still hasn’t played defense in games.

BACHMAN’S STATUS

Right-hander Sam Bachman, who missed much of spring training with what he vaguely described as some “stuff,” was placed on the injured list with thoracic outlet syndrome. At this point, Bachman is not having surgery. Bachman, the Angels’ first-round draft pick in 2021, has been hurt for much of his short career, with back and shoulder injuries before this latest injury.