Angels right fielder Jo Adell delivered an unprecedented defensive effort, robbing three home runs in a 1-0 victory over the Mariners. The sold-out crowd witnessed Adell’s performance on Saturday night. It was the club’s first home win of the season.
Adell’s Trio of Robberies
Adell’s first robbery came against Cal Raleigh in the first inning. In the eighth, he robbed Josh Naylor of a home run. Adell’s final catch denied J.P. Crawford in the ninth. Adell ended up in the stands in the right-field corner on the final catch. He lifted his glove up in jubilation to signify the catch after a review.
“That was crazy,” Adell said. “Just after the first one, we were pretty fired up out there. And then I got the second one, which looked identical to the first one. And I was like, ‘Wow, like my routes are on point tonight.’ The third one was just grit, just top of the ninth, getting it done.”
Hunter’s Praise and Romano’s Relief
Nine-time Gold Glove winner Torii Hunter called it the greatest defensive performance he’d ever seen. Hunter, a special assistant with the Angels, sat with Adell at his locker before the game. He couldn’t have been more proud to see what he witnessed after their work together in recent years.
“I’ve never seen three and I’ve never seen a guy on the third one fall in the stands, catch the ball, keep his feet in like he’s a wide receiver, and come up with the catch,” Hunter said. “I was so excited, jumping up and down. The pressure almost caused me to pass out. I’m 50. I can’t have that kind of pressure. It was amazing, man. It was the greatest defensive game I’ve ever seen.”
Adell’s final catch will long be remembered by Halos fans. Crawford ripped a 2-1 slider from closer Jordan Romano down the right-field line, but Adell held onto the ball despite ending up in the stands for the first out. Adell made the play as his legs hit the wall and before he was out of play, making it a catch. The drive would’ve been a homer in 23 other parks, per Statcast.
“I don’t think I’ve ever gone from so sad to so happy so quickly,” Romano said. “He put a good swing on it and I’m like, ‘Oh man, like, that’s probably gone.’ And then I just see Jo come running, diving into the stands, best catch I’ve ever seen, incredible.”
Manager Suzuki on ‘The Jo Show’
In the eighth, Adell also took away a homer from Josh Naylor that would’ve tied the score with an almost exact copy of his first catch. Reliever Sam Bachman gave up a deep drive to right to Naylor on an 0-1 slider, but Adell timed it perfectly. It wasn’t struck quite as hard as Raleigh’s, as it had an exit velocity of 98 mph and would’ve been a homer in 10 other parks.
“It was the Jo Show,” manager Kurt Suzuki said. “This guy works as hard as anybody I’ve ever been around. His work ethic, attention to detail, his desire to improve every single day. To see him do that, I don’t believe you’ll see that again.
Adell, a Gold Glove finalist in right field in 2024, made the play.