Adell Shines in Angels’ Narrow Victory
Los Angeles Angels’ right fielder Joe Adell experienced a remarkable game that he won’t soon forget.
In a tight 1-0 win against the Seattle Mariners, Adell showcased his defensive talent, hitting three home runs—one of which soared into the bleachers. His impressive defensive skills garnered praise from former MLB outfielder Torii Hunter.
Hunter, part of the Angels’ front office, called it “probably the greatest defensive game I’ve ever seen.” He remarked, “I’ve never seen three home run robberies in one game. The third guy fell into the stands, caught the ball, and landed like a wide receiver.” His excitement was palpable as he admitted to jumping up and down, nearly passing out from the thrill.
Adell has been honing his defensive skills over five seasons with the Angels. Despite a less-than-stellar year last season, he managed to earn a spot as a 2024 Gold Glove finalist and played a key role in securing the win for his team.
Early in the game, he robbed Cal Lowry of a solo home run in the first inning, then repeated the feat against Josh Naylor in the eighth. In a nail-biting moment in the top of the ninth, Mariners shortstop JP Crawford thought he had tied the game. However, Adell sprinted to the right-field corner, leaping to catch a deep hit and tumbling into the stands—a catch confirmed after a replay review.
Reflecting on the game, Adell said, “I was pretty fired up after the first game. The second route felt just like the first, and I thought, ‘Wow, my route was spot on tonight.’ The third one, well, it was just guts. It’s about making a play when it counts.” He reminisced about the catch, describing how the ball was high enough for him to reach, and mentioned landing in a fan’s lap with a softer impact than expected. The excitement from the fans seemed to fuel his adrenaline.
Since 2020, Adell has hit 10 home runs, tying him with Kyle Tucker from the Dodgers for the most in Major League Baseball during that period. Notably, Jacob Young of the Nationals and Fernando Tatis Jr. of the Padres each had four home run robberies in 2025 alone.
Hunter added, “It was like a scene from a movie. Music was playing; he caught the ball, fell, and we lost sight of him. The music stopped, and he emerged cheering.” Adell acknowledged Hunter’s significant influence on his development in the outfield.
At the plate, Adell had one hit in three at-bats. The Angels gained their lone run from Zach Neto’s solo home run in the bottom of the first inning.
The victory moved the Angels to a 4-5 record for the season, while the Mariners also hold the same record.
