CLEVELAND -- When Los Angeles Angels outfield prospect Jo Adell badly injured his hamstring and ankle running the bases in an early spring training game, fantasy managers eager for a 2019 promotion to the big leagues groaned. After all, Adell, the No. 10 pick in the 2017 amateur draft, entered this season with just a few weeks of Double-A time, and this injury would cost him several months. How could he miss so much time early in 2019 and still debut? Fantasy managers moved turned their collective attention to other young players.
It might be time to rethink Adell's plight because not only did he heal, but he again looks like a future superstar. The cleanup hitter for the American League Futures team in Sunday's game at Cleveland, Adell enters the second half of the season hitting .360 for Double-A Mobile in the Southern League, showing his signature tools across the board: power, speed, and excellent defense. At 20, Adell's polished, physical gifts are clear, but he is also more mature than most prospects his age. I spoke to him prior to Sunday's game and asked him about his approach, and how his speed might -- and might not -- aid fantasy managers.
"I think the important thing for me is to understand what I do well and to make sure that never goes anywhere," said Adell, hitting .342 across two minor league levels with six home runs in 30 games. He missed more than two months with the hamstring strain and sprained ankle suffered running the bases against the Chicago Cubs on March 8. "I always hit to the opposite field well, always make sure that is part of my game. I hit the other way with authority. I know for me, if I improve and show I can handle a level, I move. I trust what the Angels do and I'm not concerned with the timetable."
Fantasy managers, of course, are greedy for promotions and new players to rely on, especially those producing big numbers with few signs of problem areas. Through 178 minor league contests, Adell is hitting .309 with 31 home runs and 27 stolen bases in 32 chances. This is a potential 30/30 player, but Adell seems aware that in this era the minor league numbers might not equate to the big leagues, and not because of his own limitations.
"One of the things when it comes to stealing bases is opportunity," said Adell, who singled and walked twice in four plate appearances Sunday, and made a terrific diving catch to save a run in the eighth inning. "Early in games if I can get on first base and be in that type of situation to take a bag, then I take one. At the lower levels, it is easier to take bags in certain situations that you can't take at higher levels. If I have for sure a base to steal, I am going to take one. That's what the Angels are big on now. We have such power in the big league lineup. Throughout the minor leagues, we are working a lot harder on making sure guys are stealing bags when it makes sense and not just going. We're big on first-to-third speed more than anything, if you can advance to third on one play that's more important than trying to steal second base and maybe getting thrown out."
Meanwhile, I asked several prospects about the new baseball this season -- in the majors and at Triple-A -- and was a bit surprised at the reaction. Players know. Oh, they know, and it is interesting. "Oh yeah, we talk about it a little bit," said Seattle Mariners first-base prospect Evan White, currently hitting .296 for the Double-A Arkansas Travelers in the Texas League. "Especially being at Dickey-Stephens [the home ballpark in Little Rock] where the ball doesn't travel a whole lot. You hit a ball to the wall and it's like, 'OK, in the majors that ball is gone.' We try not to focus on it too much."
White talked about the adjustments he has made this season, mainly with timing, making consistent contact and his mindset, and fantasy managers that might have looked elsewhere in dynasty formats due to his perceived lack of power -- and position -- should look again. White has 11 home runs in 57 games and a relatively clear path to playing time in the majors perhaps as soon as next season. In a general sense, fantasy managers often overlook first base prospects, because it is the deepest offensive position.
As for pitchers and their thoughts on the baseball, I sought out Minnesota Twins right-hander Jordan Balazovic, because I do not believe fantasy managers have thought much about the Ontario product. OK, so being from Canada hardly means he is the next Mike Soroka, the Atlanta Braves right-hander headed to the All-Star Game, but Balazovic has struck out 91 hitters through 65⅔ innings at two Class A levels. He has permitted four home runs, just as Soroka has in 89⅓ big league innings this season. I asked Balazovic about adjustments he has made -- he is working on his changeup, for example -- but he is also acquainted with the changing baseball.
"I was actually playing catch the last couple days with the big league ball and I threw a bullpen with one," said Balazovic, 20. "Personally, I really like it. It feels good out of the hand. The fastball jumps out of your hand and you really have to finish those pitches because you have less seam now, so if you don't finish the pitch it just stays up. I feel like you see that quite a bit in the big leagues. The baseballs are definitely flying."
San Diego Padres lefty MacKenzie Gore, arguably the top pitching prospect in the sport, is also aware of the new baseballs, though he is also still in A-ball and seems at least a year away from debuting in the majors. "I don't know if there is any magic sauce [on how to adjust to the baseballs.]," he said. "I would just practice, throw it more and get comfortable, make adjustments along the way."
I caught up with a pair of intriguing third-base prospects who might not be able to stay at their positions. Philadelphia Phillies slugger Alec Bohm is now at hitter-friendly Double-A Reading, but there are few concerns about his bat translating to the majors. His glove at the hot corner is another thing but with each underwhelming Maikel Franco big league game, it might not matter. Bohm boasts excellent plate discipline and he is moving quickly through the minors; he is hitting .325 with 37 extra-base hits over three levels. However, he says he is not paying much attention to the sabermetric-inclined stats.
"I don't think of myself as a launch angle guy," said Bohm, the No. 3 pick in the 2018 amateur draft. "I just try to hit the ball out front. Obviously hitting the ball in the air is better than on the ground, but I try to keep it simple. I just want to hit the ball hard."
For Cleveland Indians prospect Nolan Jones, the Eastern Pennsylvania product is 6-foot-4 and elicits plate approach comparisons to Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant, who also plays right field. That could be where Jones ends up, especially with the current stats of Cleveland outfielders. Jones is piling on the walks and strikeouts at High-A Lynchburg in the Carolina League, and few seem concerned about the potential for power, including Jones.
"The power is not something the team is pushing, or I am pushing," said Jones, hitting .286 with a .435 OBP, but .425 slugging percentage. "I think that's something I have to be stubborn with is my approach. My approach is drive the ball other way. It helped me to be successful, draw my walks and drive the ball. I think I am always going to be able to draw walks but knowing what I am able to drive allows me to be able to lay off the pitches I wouldn't be able to hit as hard."
My take: Bohm debuts during the 2020 season and with his excellent plate discipline -- he rarely walks or strikes out -- plus the ability to hit for significant power, he could soon become a top-15 fantasy third baseman. Jones will develop power in time, but his plate approach offers significant upside as well. I opt for Bohm here, and he should debut in the majors sooner.
Finally, the catching position for fantasy managers is quite a mess, with perhaps fewer than five players worthy of being rostered in all types of leagues. For dynasty purposes, new Baltimore Orioles draftee Adley Rutschman is the leader, but San Francisco Giants 2018 top pick Joey Bart should aid fantasy managers quite a bit as well. Bart is struggling some at the plate at High-A San Jose in the California League, but few seem concerned.