Feb. 17 (UPI) — The Los Angeles Angels’ Mike Trout will make a permanent move from center field to right field as part of a strategy aiming to keep him healthy and in the lineup, he announced Monday.
“We kinda just threw everything on the table, as in what’s best for me, body-wise to keep me on the field,” Trout told reporters in Mesa, Ariz.
“We came to conclusion that I’m gonna go to right field. I’ll try it out, see where it goes.”
Trout met with manager Perry Minasian and manager Ron Washington on Sunday to discuss the switch. He said he most likely will still spend some time in center field, if necessary.
Trout, 33, was amazingly durable through his first nine full seasons, playing in nearly 90% (1,212 of 1,356) of the Angels’ games. He hit .306 with 297 home runs, 197 stolen bases and 782 RBIs over that span.
Trout appeared in just 31% of the Angels’ games over the last four seasons while hampered by a myriad of injuries. The 11-time All-Star and three-time MVP hit .276 with 76 home runs, 11 stolen bases and 156 RBIs during that stretch.
Trout remains under contract through 2030, with an annual salary of $37.1 million, through the $426.5 million pact he signed in 2019.
“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.”
The Angels are expected to use Taylor Ward in left field, with Joe Adell and Mickey Moniak among those splitting duties in center. Jorge Soler is penciled in as the team’s designated hitter.
Trout started 1,344 times in center field over his first 1,518 MLB appearances. He made 124 starts in left field and 17 in right field. Trout started 80 times as a designated hitter.
The Angels will start their spring training slate against the Seattle Mariners on Saturday in Mesa. They will start their regular-season campaign against the Chicago White Sox on March 27 in Chicago.
