The Baltimore Orioles have agreed to a minor league deal with outfielder Jordyn Adams, which will help them build depth for spring training and possibly the regular season.
Adams has been invited to Major League spring training, where he will compete for one of the backup outfield spots on Opening Day.
At the November deadline, the Angels designated Adams for assignment and did not tender him, making him a free agent.
The Orioles want to see what they can get out of Adams, who is only 25 years old and was a first-round pick by the Los Angeles Angels in 2018. However, despite his raw potential, he has only made a few Major League outings.
He made his Major League debut in 2023 and appeared in 17 games with the Angels, batting.128/.125/.128/.253 and driving in one run. He struck out 16 times and did not get a walk.
He only appeared in 11 games last season, but his performance improved. He blasted his first Major League home run, drove in four RBI, and struck out just 12 times. He also sketched three walks. He scored.229/.289/.314/.603.
Adams does have an abundance of quickness. As MLB.com’s Jake Rill pointed out, Adams was rated 80 on speed as a prospect. This is the highest rating a prospect may obtain during the scouting process.
Adams comes by his speed naturally. He was a football and baseball standout at Green Hope High School in Cary, North Carolina, where he competed in the Under Armour All-American Baseball Game and the United States Army All-America Bowl.
He planned to play both baseball and football at the University of North Carolina, but the Angels chose him 17th overall and offered him a $3.4 million signing bonus.
Adams fought his way up the minor league system, eventually earning a promotion in 2023 after one of his greatest minor league seasons. He used AAA Salt Lake to slash.Prior to his call-up on August 1, he had a 265/.351/.466 batting line with 13 home runs, 60 RBI and 37 stolen bases.
The Orioles have five outfielders on their 40-man roster, including Colton Cowser, who placed second in the American League rookie of the year vote.
The Orioles also have recent free agency signee Tyler O’Neill, holdover center fielder Cedric Mullins, and highly regarded young outfielder Heston Kjerstad, who began to show promise at the plate late last season.
The Orioles acquired Daz Cameron in late October, and he now projects as the fifth outfielder.
