Blue Jays No. 18 prospect Adams powering up in Triple-A
TRENTON » When Riley Adams was optioned from the major league taxi squad to Triple-A, the Bisons knew they were getting a big guy with a lot of power.
They got to see it in person this past week.
Adams hit a pair of home runs — the first to straightaway center and the second an opposite field shot to right — in his second career Triple-A game.
“I typically try to stay up the middle with everything,” he said. “Most of my power, and I guess that kind of goes back to how I grew up playing baseball, was always to try to go the other way. I know that I have a little more power, little more size than most people, but I try to stay up the middle.”
Ranked as the No. 18 prospect in the Blue Jays’ system, the 6-foot-4, 246-backstop was a 3rdround pick in 2017 out of the University of San Diego. His reputation was that of a power hitter — he slugged 13 homers as a junior in college — with above-average athleticism and defense for a catcher of his size.
The adjustment to pro ball can take time and Adams hit just seven homers in his first 151 games split between Low and HighA. In his 2019 season at High-A Dunedin and Double-A New Hampshire, he launched 14 homers and slashed .261./.366/.443 over 100 games.
“I still feel like I’m kind of figuring out my body,” Adams said. “Figure out how my swing works in space and make adjustments here and there. I’ve also been able to put on weight, put on strength every year. It’s always a work in progress and trying to get better, but recently I feel like I’ve started to figure out a few more things. Each and every day, I feel a little more confident, so that’s all I can ask for.”
Adams spent the abbreviated 2020 season at the Blue Jays’ alternate site and then broke camp this season as a member of the taxi squad, a group of players who travel to road games as an insurance in case of a COVID outbreak or injury.
“It was awesome to kind of be there on the day-today and see how the travel works, see how you get to the field, see the work that so many amazing player on our team do every day, see the little things that are behind the scenes,” he said. “You just try to soak it all in and learn from those guys. You see the routines that they have, see what their hitting philosophies are and how they scout pitchers. There’s a lot of invaluable things just being there in the room with those guys that I definitely try to apply with my own game and my own work ethic.”
While Adams got to experience the major league setup, he didn’t actually appear in any games. For a 24-year-old who has aspirations to help the Blue Jays this season, he first needs regular at-bats.
The two big league options at the moment are a pair of 26-year-olds in lighthitting starter Danny Jansen (.101/.173/.420) and backup Reese McGuire, a former first-round pick of the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2013.
“There’s a lot of benefit to being here,” Adams said. “Getting a little more consistent playing time, getting at-bats, trying to get comfortable. It’s obviously (different) from last season being at the alternate site all year and then going through spring, so being able to get back there and catch nine (innings), go back-to-back days is super important.”
That’s exactly what his Triple-A manager wants for him.
“He’s a big kid who has had success at all levels,” Bisons skipper Casey Candaele said. “He’s really
good behind the plate and has a lot of power. He’s really a good teammate, so it’s a good addition with him coming back and getting back in the groove to get some at-bats and playing time.”
So far the two homers are his only two hits in 10 at-bats, but Adams is confident in his swing, especially when he’s driving the ball to the opposite field.
“It’s easier to adjust to pitches in when you’re focused on staying away and staying to that rightcenter gap,” Adams said. “When you try to yank or pull, it makes it really hard to cover the outside part of the plate. It’s just an easier mindset when you’re trying to look the other way and it’s easier to adjust to that fastball in.”