The Guardians didn’t need to guess what Jo Adell could be. They knew the profile, knew the upside, and knew exactly where he could help most when they brought him in ahead of the deadline.
A few weeks into his Cleveland stint, that plan is taking shape.
Adell has long carried the label of a power bat with a very specific edge: he has traditionally handled left-handed pitching well, while his production against righties has lagged. The chase is still part of the package, but when he gets a pitch he can drive, he can change a game in a hurry.
That’s been the version Cleveland has gotten so far.
In 12 games since joining the Guardians, Adell has hit .167/.280/.405 overall. On the surface, that line doesn’t jump off the page. But the real reason Cleveland wanted him has shown up exactly where expected - against left-handed pitching, where Adell has been one of the more dangerous pieces in the lineup.
As a Guardian, he has already launched two home runs and posted a 1.092 OPS in 15 plate appearances against southpaws. That production is a little above average, but it lines up with the bigger body of work: a .928 OPS this season and a .801 career OPS against left-handed pitchers.
President of Baseball Operations Chris Antonetti pointed to that strength after the trade, calling Adell’s ability to hit lefties his “calling card.”
Cleveland also hoped Adell could provide more against right-handed pitching, though that has never been the area where the right-handed hitter has thrived.
For now, Antonetti says the team has seen what it expected from its newest outfielder.
“I think we've seen the capabilities [he] has to help us," the exec explained. "[Jo has] fit in seamlessly in the lineup, as well have done what we'd hope and really add some depth and length to the lineup."
That’s the bet the Guardians made, and through the first stretch of Adell’s time in Cleveland, it looks like a pretty familiar one: lean into the power, maximize the matchup, and let the strength play.
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Now in the American Association, Plesac has found himself in some unfamiliar roles as he keeps chasing another chance to stick. His latest chapter has even included time in the field, and a small offensive contribution in one of those games showed just how far his path has stretched from the mound-only profile most fans remember. [Read more 🡒]