ANAHEIM >> Jo Adell will at least get a short runway to let the Angels see what they have been missing.
Adell was recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake on Wednesday as Hunter Renfroe went on a short stay on the paternity list.
With an afternoon flight to Orange County, Adell was not expected to be on hand until just before game time against the Chicago Cubs and was not in the starting lineup. It means his chances to produce are even further limited with stints on the paternity list limited to one to three days.
“You know, a lot of things could happen in the next couple of days,” Manager Phil Nevin said when asked if Adell will head back to Triple-A as soon as Renfroe returns. “... I’m not sure if (Renfroe) will take the whole time or not. They are here in town so we’ll just see how the next couple of days go.”
Adell has yet to deliver consistent production in short stints with the Angels over the past three seasons. He saw time in 88 major league games last season, batting .224 with a .637 OPS and hitting eight home runs with 27 RBIs.
This spring, Adell hit four home runs with six RBIs in 48 at-bats but he also struck out 22 times and was sent to Salt Lake before the season began. If Adell was upset about the assignment, it was the baseball that absorbed the brunt of his wrath.
Adell’s first home run of the season came in his fourth game with the Bees. It was the start of a six-game stretch when he hit seven home runs and totaled 10 in April. As of Wednesday, he had 18 home runs, 43 RBIs and a .958 OPS in 41 games with Salt Lake.
“Obviously everybody knows the start he got off to,” Nevin said. “Nobody is going to stay that hot for an entire year, but he’s still swinging the bat good, playing great defense and really working (hard) still. Everything we’ve heard back: Great attitude, great teammate. We look forward to seeing him.”
Adell is expected to start in tonight’s series finale against the Cubs.
The Angels also sent outfielder Mickey Moniak to Salt Lake after a productive spring. Moniak was called up over three weeks ago and his transition back to major league life has been solid with a .315 batting average, a .956 OPS and four home runs with seven RBIs.
Put a candle on it
Wednesday was Phil Nevin’s one-year anniversary as manager after he took over when the club parted ways with Joe Maddon.
Nevin has gone 78-90 in the head chair with the Angels, producing a 46-60 (.434) record last season under an interim designation and a 32-30 (.516) record heading into Wednesday’s game.
“How do I feel? I feel the same,” Nevin said. “I love what I do. I’m in a great place, I’m home. I work with some great people. If you can call it a dream job, it is. I love what I do. It would be nice to win more games, of course, and I think we are on that track.”
Also
Outfielder Taylor Ward was out of the starting lineup with an illness but was expected to be available off the bench. Luis Rengifo received his fourth start of the season in left field. ... Other than feeling rusty, third baseman Anthony Rendon (groin) reported no issues after his return to the lineup on Tuesday, when he played five innings. Nevin will curb Rendon’s innings when he gets the chance, especially for the remainder of the homestand.