For Trout, health the key reason in moving to right

TEMPE, Ariz. -- The Angels will have a familiar face in a new place in 2025, as superstar Mike Trout will be moving from center field to right field.

Trout met with general manager Perry Minasian and manager Ron Washington on Sunday to discuss a plan to keep him healthy this season. They decided it would be best to have him move to right field to reduce the wear and tear that comes with playing center. He¡¯ll still see occasional time at his former position, and he will also mix in days at designated hitter.

¡°It went great and and of just threw everything on the table, as in, what's best for me, body-wise, to keep me on the field,¡± the three-time AL MVP and 11-time All-Star said. ¡°Came to conclusion that I'm gonna go to right field. I like it, I¡¯ll try it out, see where it goes.¡±

Trout, 33, was limited to just 29 games last season after having his meniscus in his left knee surgically repaired twice. It was another injury-plagued year for Trout, who played in only 36 games in 2021 because of a calf injury, 119 games in '22 due to back issues and 82 games in '23 because of a hamate fracture.

Trout, though, said he had a normal offseason and is fully healthy at the start of Spring Training. He cut down on his weight slightly and said his mentality hasn¡¯t changed.

¡°We talked about it yesterday, I'm not gonna limit myself,¡± Trout said. ¡°I can still play the game hard. That¡¯s the only way I know how to play. But just limit the overall beat down and the wear and tear. I think that's best you can do.¡±

With Trout moving to right, the Angels will use a combination of Jo Adell, Mickey Moniak and Taylor Ward in center, although Ward is the club¡¯s primary left fielder. Jorge Soler is the club¡¯s main option at DH, but he will also see time in both corner outfield spots. Trout has played 17 career games in right field and 124 in left, but he has played exclusively in center since 2014.

¡°We're trying our best to make sure that he's able to be on the field,¡± Adell said. ¡°We'll do whatever we need to do to make sure it happens. It's not the first time that I¡¯ve switched positions, so I'm up for the challenge and ready to go.¡±

Washington said the meeting went well with Trout, and that they chose right field because there's less ground to cover there than in left, where they prefer Ward to play, at Angel Stadium.

"Mike's a pro," Washington said. "I think Mike is going to be one of the best right fielders in the game."

Trout said the first player he thought of when told he was going to right field was his former teammate Torii Hunter. Hunter will be in camp as a guest instructor, and Trout said he¡¯ll lean on him for advice and has already talked to other players who have made the transition.

¡°I talked to talk to a few guys, and I¡¯ll talk to Torii when he gets here because he did it,¡± Trout said. ¡°There's a lot of guys that move to right field that I'm gonna talk to. Just see the difference and just go out there and get comfortable in spring.¡±

Trout said he also worked to alter his swing mechanics after watching video last year. Even when he's been on the field the past two years, he hasn't quite been himself, hitting a combined .252/.357/.504 with 28 homers and 58 RBIs in 111 games.

¡°It was a combination of a bunch of things,¡± Trout said. ¡°It was like a move I was doing that over time I created this bad habit. Looking at the last few years, I used to never chase and used to walk a lot. I think getting back to that and getting into that position at the plate where I can just be myself instead of just being up there defensive, I think that's the mentality.¡±

Trout said he still believes he¡¯s the best player on the field whenever he plays, but he did see that he was ranked as the game¡¯s 39th-best player by MLB Network. He said he understands how his injuries have hurt his stature, but he's using it as motivation going forward.

¡°They¡¯re going off the last few years and I haven¡¯t been out there, but I know where I stand,¡± Trout said. ¡°It fires you up a little bit, but it¡¯s all good.¡±