Angels’ Adams Proves He’s No Fluke

ANAHEIM—It’s not a chiseled-in-stone organizational philosophy, but farm director Mike LaCassa said the club prefers its prospects to “conquer” the level they’re at before being promoted to the next level.

If that’s the case, it shouldn’t be long before 23-year-old corner outfielder Caleb Adams is bumped from high Class A Inland Empire to Double-A Arkansas.

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A 10th-round pick out of Louisiana-Lafayette in 2014, Adams split 2015 between low Class A Burlington and Inland Empire, hitting .298/.390/.438 with eight homers in 116 games at the two Class A stops. He walked a healthy 11 percent of the time but also struck out 28 percent of the time—too high for a player without plus power.

Adams returned to Inland Empire this season, and through 49 games he hit .291/.355/.412 with one homer and a slightly lower strikeout rate (26 percent).

“He’s not a fluke,” LaCassa said. “Her certainly has bat speed, and he’s hit for the two years he’s been in our system. He’s made a lot of mechanical changes to his swing since came into the system. There were a lot of moving parts.

“He’s done a nice job of simplifying his swing and being as short to the ball as possible (and) being on time. And he’s doing a good job with his mental approach, understanding what pitches he can hit. He’s made a lot of strides.”

The righthanded-hitting Adams is a solid defender who can play all three outfield spots, but he is more suited to the corners. Listed at 5-foot-10, he is barrel-chested and strong.

“Caleb did very well in High-A last year,” LaCassa said. “We just decided it would be best for him to start there this year, and he’s done even better. He’s showing us he’s not going to be long for that league.”

ANGEL FOOD

• The Angels named second baseman Sherman Johnson the organization’s player of the month for April after he hit .365/.500/.673 with eight extra-base hits and more walks (14) than strikeouts (10) in 16 games at Double-A Arkansas. He was promoted to Triple-A Salt Lake in early May.

• Inland Empire shortstop Roberto Baldoquin’s second pro season was off to a disappointing start. The 22-year-old Cuban, who signed for $8 million, went on the disabled list in early May after a setback in his recovery from a pulled hamstring, which sidelined him in April. .