CHICAGO -- Angels center fielder Jo Adell left Saturday¡¯s 1-0 win over the White Sox with left hip tightness sustained while beating out an infield single to lead off the fifth inning.
Facing right-hander Jonathan Cannon, Adell hit a grounder up the middle that deflected off shortstop Jacob Amaya¡¯s glove and went to second baseman Lenyn Sosa, who fired to first base to try to get Adell. Adell beat the throw but looked to be in pain and tried to test it out by running near the foul line.
Adell, though, had to leave the game with the injury and was replaced by Kyren Paris as a pinch-runner. But after the game, Adell said he¡¯s not too worried about it and believes he¡¯ll be able to avoid the injured list.
¡°Obviously, not too concerned,¡± Adell said. ¡°I felt a little something running down the line. It was just kind of precautionary. Just wanted to make sure everything is good. It¡¯s early in the year. It just feels like tightness to me so we¡¯ll have to work it out.¡±
Paris played exclusively as an infielder during his five years in the Minors and entered with just two games at center in his Major League career. He didn't have any balls hit his way after Adell departed.
The Angels released fellow center fielder Mickey Moniak on Tuesday and don¡¯t have a true backup in center for Adell, as superstar Mike Trout made the move from center to right field this season.
Adell went 1-for-3 on Opening Day and was 1-for-1 with a walk on Saturday before leaving with his injury. Losing him for any amount of time would be a blow for the Angels, as they don¡¯t have much center field depth after releasing Moniak. If Adell has to be placed on the injured list, options include Gustavo Campero, Matthew Lugo or Bryce Teodosio. Campero and Lugo are both on the 40-man roster, while Lugo, ranked as their No. 13 prospect by MLB Pipeline, had a big spring (.794 OPS) and nearly made the Opening Day roster. But the Angels sound confident that Adell won¡¯t be out long and should be able to avoid going on the IL.
¡°He¡¯s day to day,¡± manager Ron Washington said. ¡°So it's nothing that we have to be too concerned about.¡±
Adell, 25, hit .207/.280/.402 with 20 homers, 15 doubles, 15 stolen bases and 62 RBIs in 130 games last year while also being a Gold Glove finalist in right field. He finished his season strong after making mechanical changes at the plate, hitting .248/.320/.451 with five homers, six doubles and 16 RBIs over his last 34 games.