Adell is placed on the IL, is likely done for the season.
CHICAGO >> It happened again.
Jo Adell was placed on the injured list on Wednesday with a left abdominal strain, and Manager Joe Maddon said he’s not expecting the outfielder to play again in the final twoplus weeks of the season.
Adell is the latest in a string of Angels players to wind up missing more time with an injury than the club originally predicted.
Maddon explained on Wednesday afternoon that the information he was given changed in the days after Adell was hurt crashing into the outfield fence in the ninth inning of Saturday’s game in Houston.
Maddon said even up until Tuesday afternoon he didn’t believe Adell would need to go on the injured list, but shortly before Tuesday’s game, the medical staff “told me something different. They were concerned that it’s something more than that and it’s going to take longer. ... That all happened relatively fast.”
Adell would be eligible to come back on Sept. 22, which would leave just 11 games in the season.
“Those injuries are kind of weird, as you know and they can take longer,” Maddon said. “We have two weeks left. It’d be hard to imagine that (Adell could play again). If I had to say anticipate, I would anticipate that he wouldn’t, but we’ll see.”
If this is the end of Adell’s season, it was an upgrade from his disappointing rookie year in 2020. Adell, 22, lifted his batting average from .161 to .246 and his OPS from .478 to .703. He cut his strikeout rate from 41.7% to 22.9%. His defense was also markedly better.
“I think you’d have to give him plus grades at everything over last year,” Maddon said.
The Angels recalled utility player Jose Rojas to take Adell’s roster spot.
Trout too?
It’s been apparent for some time now that Mike Trout was not going to have enough time to return, but the Angels are reluctant to make that official because the three-time American League MVP still is rehabbing in hopes of playing.
Trout, who has been out since May with a strained calf, is with the team in Chicago and working out, although he isn’t doing baseball activity.
Maddon conceded the obvious on Wednesday, saying that he “would be very surprised” if Trout played this season. Maddon said it’s up to Trout to make that official, though.
General manager Perry Minasian, who joined the team in Chicago on Wednesday, said they won’t stop Trout from continuing to try if he wants to.
“I like the fact that he wants to play,” Minasian said. “Playing is important to him. The fan base is important to him. He’s built to play baseball. I’m not going to be the one to say no, especially if he wants to. If we felt he could really injure himself doing what he’s doing, it’s a different story. We would never put anybody in harm’s way.”
Rengifo remains
Luis Rengifo was in the Angels’ lineup on Wednesday, a day after reports surfaced that there’s a warrant for his arrest in Venezuela because of a charge that he falsified divorce documents and sold property without knowledge of his wife. Rengifo’s father, sister and lawyer are currently detained in Venezuela, according to the reports.
Rengifo declined to comment through a team spokesperson on Wednesday. Minasian also said he couldn’t comment on the legal case, but that Rengifo would remain an active player “unless we find out something else or drastically different. It’s a personal thing, so I can’t talk about it.”
Maddon said he would keep putting Rengifo in the lineup.
“Until I’m told otherwise, he’ll be in there,” Maddon said.
Notes
Shohei Ohtani was included in Time Magazine’s list of the “100 most influential people,” with Alex Rodriguez writing the short description of what makes Ohtani special. “I was very pleased for him on a personal level,” Maddon said of Ohtani’s inclusion. “And I thought from the Angels’ perspective, I like the idea that the Angels are out there with that kind of positive notoriety.” ... Infielder Mike Stefanic has not been called up to the big leagues, despite a .336 batting average and a .920 OPS at Triple-A. “There’s more than just hitting,” Minasian said. “There’s different facets of the game, and he’s not there yet.” ... Alex Cobb (wrist) will be activated from the injured list to start on Thursday. Cobb is not expected to pitch more than four or five innings, at best.