Angels Prospect Hints He Was Rushed to Majors Last Year

Last season, the Angels elevated several young players to the major league level for their debuts. Zach Neto and Nolan Schanuel debuted after being drafted by the Angels in 2022 and 2023, respectively, and swam more than they sank.

Jordyn Adams, 24, cannot say the same. While he also saw playing time at the major league level, the 2018 draftee struggled at the plate in 17 games. He recorded only one hit in 39 plate appearances.

According to Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register, Adams believes he might not have been ready last season.

Adams, who had been known as an outstanding defender, misplayed a fly ball and made three bad throws in his first big-league game in August in Atlanta. He also went hitless in four at-bats, with two strikeouts.

Now, the Angels’ 24-year-old prospect can look back on his big-league debut and appreciate what was missing.

“Mentally, I probably wasn’t ready for that,” Adams said this week. “It probably showed. But now I’m ready for anything.”

— via Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register

Sometimes a prospect needs to struggle before things eventually click for him at the game's highest level. Famously, Mike Trout got sent back down to Triple-A in 2011 after he could not find his footing offensively. 

Now that Adams has had a cup of coffee with the Angels, he can use that experience to his advantage. The lights might not shine so bright this time around, and he figures to be more comfortable in Anaheim if and when he arrives again.

This spring, Adams has performed well at the plate with an .844 OPS, eight walks, and seven strikeouts. He might not break camp with the team, but he should be one of the first called up when needed in 2024.