This week, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim announced they will move Mike Trout to right field. The three-time MVP has been the Angels’ starting center fielder since 2014 and has not played right field since 2012. Trout understands the move, saying “I knew it was coming” when speaking to the media following their first team meeting of the new year.
Trout has had one of the most decorated careers in MLB history, but has never earned that golden patch on his glove as a Rawlings Golden Glove winner. Trout stayed in center field because of solid play throughout the years, while routinely finding himself on SportsCenter with highlight-reel web gems and simultaneously crafting one of the best offensive careers in history.
Unlike early in his career, Trout has been bit by the injury bug lately. In the last four seasons, the 33-year-old has only played in 41 percent of games. Angels’ management is looking at the move as an opportunity to preserve their generational talent throughout the season. Angels’ manager Ron Washington believes Trout can be “one of the best right fielders in the game”, with Trout’s athleticism and him having to cover less ground in right field.
In 2025, Trout will attempt to return from another career-altering injury. In the last four seasons, Trout has strained his calf (missed 122 games), fractured his hamate bone (missed 74 games), and tore his meniscus (missed 133 games). Fangraphs projects Mike Trout to hit 31 home runs and have an OPS of .834. These statistics would put him in position to win the Comeback Player of the Year award this season.
Trout will play his first regular season game in 332 days on March 27th on the road against the Chicago White Sox. The Angels’ newest right fielder will look to get the Angels back to the playoffs for the first time since 2013.
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Elias Meredith (@EAM_55)
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