Jo Adell’s move to Cleveland has already paid off for the Guardians, and now he says the change has sharpened his game too.
Adell, who the Guardians acquired from the Los Angeles Angels before the 2026 deadline, has brought the right-handed power Cleveland needed in a lineup that has struggled to leave the yard. But the impact has gone both ways, according to Adell, who spoke about how much the organization has meant to him through the postseason run.
“I think being an organization like this and the history of how they've been able to get the job done and compete, in October and be able to do this. It's made me a better player,” Adell said.
“Even when I got over here, we had a stretch of games, we had to fight to get to this point where we are now… It's made me a better baseball player. It's made me think about the game in a better way.
“I couldn't be happier to be part of this organization.”
This is Adell’s first career MLB postseason, and it comes after years with the Angels, who have not been to the playoffs since 2014. Now he’s in the middle of a real October series with a club built for this stage.
Cleveland enters Thursday night in Chicago down 2-1 to the White Sox in the American League Division Series and facing elimination.
“It's win it or go home,” Adell added in reference to Game 4 of the ALDS. “Everybody wants the opportunity to play in games that matter like that, so couldn't be happier.”
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Gavin Williams added another layer to that conversation with a new role in Game 4, since his first big league relief outing also marked his first time pitching out of the bullpen since college. Cleveland is trying to manage the present while leaving enough options open for what comes next, including the possibility of deeper October decisions if the run continues. And with future labor questions looming in the background, the Guardians are dealing with more than just the usual postseason chess match. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Suddenly Look Dangerous Thanks To One Deadline Gamble
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Jo Adell, brought in as a recent deadline addition, has been right in the middle of it, giving Cleveland a jolt that has changed the feel of the lineup over just two games. His arrival now looks like the kind of move that can reshape October, and the Guardians will carry that new edge into the next game with a chance to finish the job. [Read more 🡒]
Jose Ramirez May Have Just Saved Cleveland At The Perfect Time
Jose Ramirez has spent much of the season searching for the version of himself Cleveland has leaned on for years, and in Game 4 of the ALDS he finally gave the Guardians a reminder of why he matters so much in October. After working through pain since hamate bone surgery and enduring a difficult offensive stretch, Ramirez kept showing signs of life across the first two playoff games and then added another jolt in a 9-5 win over the White Sox.
The biggest swing came in the fifth inning, when his two-run homer flipped the game and helped Cleveland protect its season for at least one more night. With the series now headed to a decisive Game 5 at Progressive Field, the Guardians suddenly have reason to believe Ramirez may be heating up at exactly the right time, and that changes the feel of everything around them. [Read more 🡒]