DETROIT — After a short, focused trip to the batting cage this week — 30 minutes with headphones and a tee — Jo Adell appears to have found a reset that has reinvigorated his swing.
Adell said the extra work helped him “get back in my groove” and “get comfortable in the box again.” The results have followed: he had a scorching June (.293, 11 homers, 1.038 OPS) that put him in All-Star conversation, cooled off in July (.212, .659 OPS), then rebounded this week. In the first five games after the tee session he was 6 for 18 (.333) with four homers; his Saturday long ball was his 25th of the season, a new career high. For the year Adell is hitting .232 with a .776 OPS — a meaningful jump from his pre-2025 career OPS of .649.
Adell, 26, credits mechanical changes, too. About a year ago he moved away from an exaggerated leg kick to a toe-tap; in late May he refined that into a smaller leg lift. “I’m in a spot now where I’m pretty confident in what I’m going to be able to do,” he said, calling the lift “more natural” and less forced.
Why the tee work and tweaks matter
– Hitting off a tee helps players groove consistent setup, hand path and contact point without worrying about pitch speed or movement.
– Small, repeatable timing cues (like Adell’s toe-tap/leg lift) often stabilize timing and plate coverage, which can unlock more consistent power and contact.
– The mental reset — focusing on fundamentals in a low-pressure environment — can restore confidence after a slump.
Teodosio day-to-day after fence collision
Center fielder Bryce Teodosio missed a game after hitting his head on the outfield fence while making a catch. Interim manager Ray Montgomery said Teodosio was cleared of a concussion but remained out as a precaution because of general soreness; Montgomery expected him to be available the following day.
Other roster and rehab notes
– Second baseman Christian Moore sat out Saturday. Since Moore was activated from the injured list, the Angels have shuffled infield reps; Yoán Moncada started at third and Luis Rengifo at second on Saturday. Montgomery said the club will continue rotating players to keep everyone fresh and get playing time across a 26-man roster.
– Right-hander Robert Stephenson has progressed through live batting practice at Inland Empire and will next throw in a simulated game. Stephenson has been sidelined more than two months with biceps inflammation; a rehab assignment could follow the simulated session if needed.
Up next
The Angels (RHP Jack Kochanowicz, 3-9, 5.85 ERA) travel to face the Detroit Tigers (RHP Casey Mize, 10-4, 3.50 ERA) Sunday at 10:40 a.m. PT. The game will be on FSDN West and 830 AM.
Short summary
Jo Adell’s brief tee session and adjustments to his timing mechanics have produced a timely offensive surge, including a career-high home run pace. The Angels continue to manage lineup flexibility while monitor Bryce Teodosio’s recovery and Robert Stephenson’s rehab progress.
Additional comments
Adell’s turnaround underscores how relatively small, low-tech adjustments — tee work, simplified timing — can produce outsized results at the big-league level. If he maintains the current approach, the Angels could count on more consistent middle-of-the-order production down the stretch. Teodosio’s concussion clearance is encouraging, and Stephenson’s steady rehab steps are positive signs for bullpen depth.