Lane

Adams

Adams, 31, has bounced around to a few different clubs the last couple seasons but hasn’t seen any action in the majors. He last played in the big leagues in 2018 with the Braves.

Adams apparently isn’t getting a camp invite. The 30-year-old outfielder has hit .263/.333/.467 in 154 major league plate appearances, but he’s had a really difficult time finding opportunities.

Adams was released by the Phillies at the end of June despite posting an .805 OPS and 12 homers over 72 games with Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He’ll assuredly head to Gwinnett and offer some security in the outfield; with a chance to see time with Atlanta in September as a pinch-runner.

Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports that Adams would make $570,000 in the majors. The 29-year-old has hit .269/.340/.478 over 151 plate appearances with the Braves between 2017-2018. He could surface with the Phillies as a bench player this year.

Adams has hit .269/.340/.478 in 134 at-bats for the Braves the last two years, but it didn’t convince the team that it was worth giving him any real playing time or keeping him on the 40-man roster this winter. He’s not a bad option as a fifth outfielder.

Adams doubled in the first run of the game on a ground-rule two-bagger in the second, and he took Aaron Nola deep for his secone homer of the season. In (very) limited time, he’s hitting .273/.395/.581 and driven in six runs in 22 at-bats. This is a strong audition to be on someone’s roster in 2019.

The move makes Adams an official member of the Royals’ 40-man roster and saves him from the Rule 5 Draft. Adams, 24, hit .265/.353/.415 with 12 homers and 38 steals in 131 games this summer between High-A and Double-A.

The 27-year-old speedster hit .266/.342/.388 with 10 homers, 56 RBI and 44 stolen bases in 121 minor league games between the Cubs and Yankees in 2016. He makes for a nice depth signing for the Braves.

Adams, 27, was batting .333 (17-for-51) with four homers and a .940 OPS through his first 13 games at Triple-A this season. He has experience at all three outfield spots. Adams had a brief stint with the Royals back in 2014, but he’s hoping his stay in the majors will be longer this time around.

What appeared to be insurance runs in the fifth inning turned out to be an important jack as the Braves needed every one of their 12 runs to hold on for the win. Adams was never really a power hitter in the minors but did run into 73 in his nine seasons in the minors, so there could be some more power there now that he’s got the first one out of the way. Even if he does, the 27-year-old is a situational journeyman who will stay that way on a team full of better offensive options.