The Angels announced this afternoon that they’ve place outfielders Kevin Pillar and Jo Adell on the 10-day Injured List. Pillar is out due to a left thumb sprain, while Adell is being shelved due to a left oblique strain. Outfielder Jordyn Adams was recalled to the big league roster and outfielder Bryce Teodosio had his contract selected to replace the pair on the big league roster. To make room for Teodosio on the 40-man roster, the Angels transferred right-hander Jose Soriano to the 60-day IL.
It’s not yet clear how long either Pillar or Adell is expected to be out, but absences of any significance are likely to spell the end of the season for the hitters with just three weeks left in the 2024 campaign and the Angels set to miss the playoffs for the tenth consecutive season. If Pillar doesn’t return this season, it’s possible that means he’s already played his final MLB game given that he acknowledged back in July that he’s likely to retire following this season.
The 35-year-old veteran has enjoyed his best offensive season in a 162-game campaign since 2015 by measure of wRC+ as he’s hit a decent .242/.298/.392 in 93 games between the White Sox and Angels this year, including a fantastic 145 wRC+ against left-handed pitching. In addition to Pillar’s excellent numbers against southpaws, he’s played solid defense at all three outfield spots and chipped in ten steals in 13 attempts on the basepaths. Should Pillar not return to the field this season and decide to retire, he’ll finish his 12-year career with a .256/.294/.408 slash line with 1042 hits, 113 homers, and 106 steals.
As for Adell, the 25-year-old was a big league regular for the first time since he made his debut back in 2020 this year, acting as the Halos’ everyday right fielder. Unfortunately, the tenth overall pick of the 2017 draft and former top prospect left much to be desired with his performance in that first taste of regular playing time. The youngster got off to a hot start early in the season with a .234/.301/.516 slash line in his first 43 games year, but in 87 games since then he’s hit a paltry .195/.270/.350 with as many home runs (10) in his final 307 trips to the plate as he had in his first 144 plate appearances this year. While his overall wRC+ of 89 is an improvement over his career 70 wRC+ entering the year, it’s still both a major disappointment for a player who was once a consensus top-5 prospect in the game and a far cry from the production expected from an everyday corner outfielder.
Replacing Adell and Pillar on Anaheim’s big league roster are Adams and Teodosio. The Angels’ first-round pick in the 2018 draft, Adams made his big league debut last year with a 17-game cup of coffee where he hit just .128/.125/.128 with a 40% strikeout rate in 40 trips to the plate. Following that lackluster debut, Adams has struggled at the Triple-A level this year with a .261/.333/.386 line in 549 trips to the plate, good for a wRC+ of just 81 in the Pacific Coast League this year. Despite that lackluster production in the minors this year, the 24-year-old will now get another taste of big league action down the stretch in hopes of establishing himself as a potential big league option for the Halos in 2025.
As for Teodosio, the 25-year-old Clemson product signed with the club as a undrafted free agent back in 2021 and worked his way up the minor league ladder to reach the Triple-A level this year. In 114 games at the level this season, Teodosio has slashed .276/.339/.418 with an 89 wRC+ with similar overall numbers to those of Adams, though he’s managed to separate himself a bit with an excellent 40-for-44 record on the basepaths. With Teodosio now poised to make his big league debut when he first makes it into a game, he’ll join Adams in the club’s outfield down the stretch alongside Taylor Ward and Mickey Moniak in hopes of making enough of an impression to be looked at as an option in the outfield headed into next year.
Making room for Teodosio on the 40-man roster is Soriano, whose season is now over after being transferred to the 60-day IL. As noted by Sam Blum of The Athletic, Angels brass indicated that Soriano has not suffered a setback and is dealing with the same arm fatigue issue that initially sent him to the IL in mid-August. The 25-year-old hurler moved to the rotation in 2024 after pitching in relief during his rookie season last year. With a 3.42 ERA and 3.82 FIP in 113 innings of work, Soriano generally impressed with his work out of the rotation this year and appears likely to head into Spring Training next year with the inside track toward a 2025 rotation job.
The Free Mickey Moniak Brigade continues…..
Soriano is well past his previous innings totals. Glad they’re being smart with him.
If this is it for Pillar, congrats on a great career and one of the best defensive highlight reels ever.
Let’s give Moniak and Adams some looks to wrap up the season.
plus, fifth outfielder battle between adams and teodosio
not saying it’s exciting but something i’ll have an eye on
Someone’s info is out of date. Playing for the Angels has changed Pillar’s mood and he wants to play for another year. Whether it’s for the Angels or not remains to be seen
I’d welcome him back. He’s a good veteran to have around young guys like Adell (who took a big step forward defensively this season).
Ideally Trout DH’s more next year, so there’s a need for a CF capable guy.
Wow 10 straight years no playoffs. And that’s with the best player in baseball Trout in his prime for many of those years. Also had Pujols the former best player on baseball and Ohtani the current best player in baseball.
How do you screw that up so bad?
They refuse to believe that players age.
Pujols ages 32-41
Wilson 31-35
Upton 30-34
Cozart 32-34?
Rendon 30-36
Hamilton 32-36
Wells 32-35
They acquire high-priced FAs who might have been really good at one point, but sign them to contracts where most of the contract will be under-water.
Depends, Steroid users like Nelson Cruz, Bartolo Colon, and David Ortiz didn’t age. They have have have posted stats that contradicted 100 years of data. All from the same country but all have passed most tests but have failed drug testing at least once.
Under Arte Moreno’s leadership, the Angels have been dysfunctional, but in their defense, Trout has spent much of his prime on the IL.
A complete failure to invest in scouting and player development meant those guys had no supporting cast.
Arte’s legacy is one of abject, self inflicted failure.
Angels just need to give their young guys a shot to prove themselves.
Wasn’t Adell only a “regular” bc he’s out of minor league options and is untradable (in the opposite way meaning no one wants him for less than zero)?
Wasn’t he given credit for a “turnaround season” in May by some foolish fans and their announcers and front office?
Adell’s slash line from about the All Star break on was .252/.339/.437 and he showed remarkable improvement with the glove.
Jo largely abandoned his leg kick over those last two months.
His overall numbers look bad, but he showed signs of sustained improvement on both sides of the ball.
Adell’s numbers have been decent since he has abandoned. They not great, but they are serviceable. He wasn’t off to great September. though. This injury came at a bad time. Would be nice to see how he finished out the season. Ward has also been good recently.
When I look at the Angel’s rotation moving forward, most of it will hinge on Detmers. He pitched well in his first game back from AAA. If he is bad as he has been, this rotation will be bad. If he finally realizes potential, , the rotation will be better than most people realize.