Angels’ Mike Trout is shifting from center field to right field.
Los Angeles Angels’ oft-injured star Mike Trout is moving from center field to right field in hopes of better preserving his health. The three-time AL MVP has faced a series of injuries over the past few seasons, playing in 82 or fewer games in three of the last four years.
Trout approached the club about the position switch, explaining, “I kind of threw everything on the table as in what’s best for me bodywise to keep me on the field.” While he may still play center field in some situations, his main focus will be on learning right field.
He also acknowledged that he might get more off days and could play designated hitter on occasion. Despite this, Trout emphasized his desire to remain on the field, stating, “I want to be out there.”
Trout’s decision follows multiple injury setbacks in recent seasons, including a career-low 29 games played in 2023 due to knee surgery, a strained calf in 2021, and a back injury in 2022. The shift to right field could help preserve his legs and improve his durability, with the hope that this change will allow the Angels to get more out of the former MVP, who earned over $37 million last season.
In 2019, Trout’s MVP season, he batted .291 with 45 home runs and 104 RBIs.
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