TEMPE, Ariz. -- After just more than a month into his move from center field to right field, Angels superstar Mike Trout said he¡¯s already noticed a difference in the way his body feels and has enjoyed the transition.
Trout, a three-time AL MVP and 11-time All-Star, is aiming for his first full healthy season since 2019 and believes the move to right field will cause less wear and tear on his body going forward. The 14-year veteran said there¡¯s less running involved in right and he¡¯s been learning a lot about the position after working with coaches Bo Porter and Eric Young Sr. and former right fielders Torii Hunter and Tim Salmon.
"I'm actually enjoying it a lot,¡± Trout said. ¡°During pitching changes, when I go to center field, it¡¯s like ¡®Man, this is bigger than I thought it was.¡¯ There¡¯s a lot of room out there. But I think just getting the reps and just getting more comfortable, with angles and stuff, and working with the coaches, I think it's been great.¡±
After a few hiccups early in spring on shallow fly balls, Trout has already made several nice plays in right, including making a running over-the-shoulder catch against the Royals on March 14 and throwing out Guardians first baseman Kyle Manzardo at home plate on Wednesday. Trout deked Manzardo by putting his glove up to make it look like he was going to make the catch. Manzardo fell for it, but still unsuccessfully tried to score.
"He's got all the tools, man,¡± said Jo Adell, who moved to center field along with Mickey Moniak. ¡°Just a really smart play. He's got him thinking that he's gonna make a play, and then once it was out of the reach, he fired home. It was vintage Mike.¡±
Hunter, a special assistant to general manager Perry Minasian, spent a week working with Trout in right field and said he¡¯s been in frequent contact with him since they played together when Trout first came up to the big leagues. Hunter made that same transition from center field to right field late in his career and said playing center takes more of a toll on your body.
And just like everyone around baseball, he just wants to see Trout healthy again.
"We all are hoping and praying that this guy can stay on the field because I think his athletic ability, his gift should be seen by the world,¡± Hunter said. ¡°Not even just Angels fans, but everybody wants to see Mike Trout on the field and is rooting for him to stay on the field because it's somebody you just don't see every day. I'm excited that he has a possibility to stay on the field by playing right field.¡±
Trout, 33, has also had a solid spring offensively, hitting .250/.462/.500 with two homers, a double and four RBIs in 13 games. It's a bit more in line with his career slash line of .299/.410/.581 and he said he's seeing the ball better than in recent years and made some changes to his mechanics.
He watched video of his swing from his MVP-type seasons compared to recent years and realized he was wrapping his bat. It essentially means his bat barrel was staying behind his head when he was loading up to swing, but he¡¯s now fixed it.
"I¡¯ve been feeling good,¡± Trout said. ¡°There have been a few at-bats where I didn¡¯t feel as good, but the last few days, I¡¯ve been feeling really good.¡±
Trout is also expected to see a bit more time at designated hitter this season and Albert Pujols was in camp to offer tips on how to find a routine. Trout has said in the past he much prefers being in the field, but will have to adjust.
"As a DH, you just need to find a way to stay loose and not just be in the cage and hacking,¡± Pujols said. ¡°Because that can wear you out. I think that's one of the worst things that you can do. I learned that from David Ortiz.¡±
Trout said that beyond staying healthy, his goal is to help the Angels surprise this year with their young core and mix of veterans.
"I think playoffs, obviously, that's what we want to do,¡± Trout said. ¡°We want to win. There's gonna be some ups and downs, but we¡¯ve got to stick together. We¡¯ve got to build that family chemistry and anything can happen.¡±