Laurila: Players’ view: Role-model advice for Angels prospect Jo Adell
From SABR member David Laurila at FanGraphs on September 20, 2017:
As this year’s June amateur draft was about to get underway, The Sporting News published an article called Jo Adell Embraces Opportunity to Be Role Model for African-American Youth. The title was soon amended to include the word “Angels”: Anaheim selected the 18-year-old outfielder from Louisville, Kentucky, with the 10th-overall pick.
Adell’s intentions are admirable. Good role models are an asset to society, and as the son of an educator, the Ballard High School product understands that as well as anyone. He also knows that professional athletes — like it or not — serve as role models. Their words and actions influence others. With that influence comes responsibility.
Adell has a bright future in the game. Touted as a five-tool player — Byron Buxton has been a common comp — he slashed .325/.376/.532 over his first 222 professional plate appearances. That fact that those numbers came in Rookie ball stands out as meaningful. While Adell is talented, he’s also a few months removed from having received a high-school diploma. There’s still a lot for him to learn, and that includes how to go about being a role model as a professional athlete.
I asked a number of MLB players what advice they would give Adell with respect to his goal of becoming a role model, particularly for African-American youth.
Read the full article here: https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/players-view-role-model-advice-for-angels-prospect-jo-adell/
Originally published: September 25, 2017. Last Updated: September 25, 2017.