ANAHEIM — Jo Adell and the Angels’ hitting coaches decided that the time had come to finally unveil their experiment.
And on the first day, it was a success.
The Angels outfielder had used a leg kick throughout his career, but he played his first game without it on Tuesday night. He hit a tie-breaking homer in the seventh inning of their comeback victory over the Colorado Rockies, and he also drew a walk and struck out. He was hit by pitches in his other two trips.
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“I felt like I made a lot of great decisions at the plate,” Adell said on Wednesday. “As the game went on, I felt more comfortable with how it was moving. At the end of the day, it’s all about decision-making. I want to be on top of that. I felt like yesterday I was able to make decisions and then get a pitch to drive. I had plenty of time to make my decisions to swing, and I didn’t feel like I was caught in between.”
Adell, 25, has been evolving at the plate all season. He got off to a hot start, demonstrating his normal power along with a reduced strikeout rate and an increased walk rate. Adell then slumped through most of June, before beginning an upward trajectory again in July.
Adell has hit .275 with an .895 OPS since July 12, which has brought his season numbers up to .193 and .663.
He obviously still has a long way to go to get his overall approach at the plate to catch up to his natural power.
And the change with his leg kick is one step in that direction.
Adell said he and hitting coaches Johnny Washington and Tim Laker had started experimenting in spring training, and again recently in pregame work.
Adell had always brought his front foot about 12 inches off the ground as he prepared to swing, using that trigger mechanism on all pitches. On Tuesday, though, Adell simply lifted his heel, keeping his toe on the ground.
“We’re trying to find a way to essentially get in rhythm and simplify,” Adell said. “I’ve kind of battled with what that looks like. Obviously, my leg kick, when it’s on, it’s great, and when it’s not, it’s can be detrimental. So, we’re trying to kind of find that middle ground.
“We think we’re kind of working with something that we like. For me, I’m not going to go out and do something that I can’t compete with. And we got to a point where, yesterday I knew I could compete with the move that I had.”
Adell said he is now “pretty convicted” that he’s going to “abolish” the leg kick and use this swing indefinitely.
“I’m watching myself miss pitches that I shouldn’t be missing,” Adell said. “It got to the point where you draw a line in the sand and say what’s the best thing. I think this is something I can be more consistent with.”
Third baseman Anthony Rendon, who was placed on the injured list with back stiffness on Tuesday, said on Wednesday that he started to feel something last Thursday. He tried to play through it for a couple of days before he was shut down.
Rendon said an MRI exam showed that “there’s some stuff going on,” but it was nothing that he anticipated would keep him out for long. He’s eligible to be activated next Tuesday, the first day of the trip.
“I’m planning on coming back whenever the IL stint is up,” Rendon said. “I want to come back.”
Rendon has missed time in each of the last four seasons, but this is the first time he’s had a back problem.
There was no report on the result of Mike Trout’s evaluation of his left knee as of Wednesday afternoon. General Manager Perry Minasian said on Tuesday that Trout had a “setback” and he was going to be checked again. The three-time American League MVP has been out for three months after tearing his meniscus. …
Right-hander Mike Baumann, who was acquired in a minor trade on Tuesday, joined the Angels on Wednesday and took the roster spot vacated when reliever Luis Garcia was traded. The Angels are the fourth team of the season for Baumann. “It’s been quite the adventure,” Baumann said. “In and out of clubhouses. Meeting a lot of new people. A lot of new faces. Just learning to take it one day at a time. Just really happy to be here.” …
Left-hander Reid Detmers gave up two runs in five innings, with nine strikeouts, for Triple-A Salt Lake on Tuesday. Detmers has allowed three earned runs in 10 innings in his last two starts, with 14 strikeouts and five walks. Detmers still has a 6.19 ERA in nine starts at Triple-A.
Rockies (RHP Ryan Feltner, 1-10, 4.99 ERA) at Angels (RHP Carson Fulmer, 0-2, 3.77 ERA), Thursday, 6:38 p.m., Bally Sports West, 830 AM
