“That’s Amore!” A First-Year Hitter I’m Heavily Targeting Next Season

The game of baseball has evolved. We’ve seen it for the past few seasons where players get their call earlier compared to seasons ago. Last season, we saw Ronald Acuna Jr. get his call at the age of 20, and he didn’t disappoint. Fast-forward to this season, and we’ve seen numerous young players either break Spring Training with their organization’s Major League team or get their call-up while they were barely 21 years-old. Fernando Tatis Jr. (20) earned a spot on the Opening Day roster for the Padres, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (20) has made his presence felt and his appearance in this year’s Home Run Derby gave us a glimpse of his bright future, Bo Bichette (21) has been phenomenal since his call-up almost a month ago, and Eloy Jimenez (22) has a chance of reaching the 30 home run plateau in his first season in the Majors. Youth has taken over the game, and Jo Adell is one of the next Super Stars in the making, to get his chance in 2020. This week, I want to turn everyone’s attention to Jo Adell, a player that I will be targeting in next season’s leagues, and a player that his high on every owners’ radar.

Entering Sunday, each player has put together a solid season. Acuna is in his second season, and he’s been not only an All-Star, but will be in the running for National League MVP. Christian Yelich (MIL), Cody Bellinger (LAD), and Pete Alonso (NYM) are the front-runners, but Acuna should be a top-10 candidate if not top-5. After Acuna, we see first-year statistics for Tatis Jr., Bichette, Jimenez, and Guerrero Jr. Each player has made a solid impact for their respective fantasy owners, and I expect the same next season when Jo Adell gets his call. I’d assume the Angels will play the control game with their young super star, but I truly believe Adell has an outside chance of breaking camp with the Angels did just Fernando Tatis Jr. and Eloy Jimenez did this season with their respective ball clubs.

What can we expect from Adell? At 6’3″ 215lbs, Adell possesses the size to be a great source of power. He can hit to all parts of the field, and he’s destined to hit 30+ home runs per season. He’s arguably one of the best five-tool players we’ve seen in quite some time. The power is evident, as well as the ability to drive the ball, but one thing to keep an eye on is his eye at the plate. Currently, he’s posted a 29.9 K% in the minor leagues. It’s not uncommon to see a young player, especially one with a great amount of power, strikeout frequently. However, Adell will need to cut down on strikeouts as he becomes more familiar with Major League pitching. Still, there is a lot to get excited about, and he gives the Angels another solid, young player to pair with super star Mike Trout. He has the arm to features in right field, and I believe that’s where we will see him player once he’s called up by the Angels. I was hoping we’d get a glimpse of the future once rosters expand next month, but recent reports suggest the Angels do not plan to call Adell this season.

Along with his hitting ability, Adell possesses speed on the base paths, and I see him positing similar numbers to Ronald Acuna Jr. I’d go as far as suggesting Adell could produce more power numbers that Acuna Jr. while racking up a similar number of stolen bases as Acuna Jr. If I had to project his first year numbers, I’d say they would be similar to Fernando Tatis Jr., and we could see 20+ home runs and 20+ stolen bases. Before being shut down for the season, Tatis Jr. was on his way to reaching the 20 stolen base plateau finishing the season with 16. Tatis Jr. was going to push for 30 home runs and 20 stolen bases.

Adell battled an ankle and hamstring injury early in the 2019 season, so next Spring Training will be a big one for Adell. Not only will he want to come in healthy, but how he fares against Major League-ready pitching should put a timeline on his call to the Major Leagues. Again, he has little left to prove in the minor leagues, and he will be a hot commodity entering 2020 drafts.

Kyle Amore

I'm a former collegiate and semi-pro baseball player. I underwent successful Tommy John Surgery in 2008, and can give a wide-range of tips on the surgery and rehabilitation. Chicago sports are the love of my life [Cubs, Bears, Blackhawks, Bulls] as well as Serie A football [Forza Rossoneri!]. 2018 will be my fourth writing for Major League Fantasy Sports, and each season gets better than the previous. 2016 was very emotional for Cubs fans alike. After 108 years, they finally scaled the mountaintop! "Baseball been berry, berry good to me!"