After one other injury-filled season, Mike Trout is hoping to contribute far more to the Los Angeles Angels transferring ahead by switching outfield positions.
Final season, Trout, a three-time American League MVP, noticed motion in simply 29 video games after struggling a torn meniscus on April 29 and present process surgical procedure to appropriate the problem. It marked the third season within the final 4 the place Trout had performed in 82 video games or much less due to accidents.
With Trout turning 34 on August 7 and the Angels desperately wanting to maintain him within the lineup, Trout will shift from his customary spot in heart subject to seeing motion primarily in proper subject transferring ahead. It is a transfer that reportedly comes after a meeting with Angels coaches to find out one of the best path to preserving Trout wholesome in 2025.
Whereas proper subject could also be his main place in 2025, Trout told reporters he would additionally see time in heart subject and designated hitter as properly.
Coming into his fifteenth MLB season, Trout has not performed proper subject in a regular-season recreation because the 2012 marketing campaign and has logged simply 17 video games in proper subject throughout his profession. As compared, he has 1,344 video games in heart subject.
Trout’s transfer to proper will open a spot in heart that can probably be stuffed by Mickey Moniak with Jo Adell and others recognizing him.
Moniak, the highest total decide within the 2016 MLB Draft, was the Angels’ main heart fielder final season, enjoying 101 video games there. That transition needs to be seamless for supervisor Ron Washington’s squad.
What occurs to Adell, nonetheless, will probably be one thing to look at in spring coaching. The first proper fielder for Los Angeles final season (enjoying there in 119 video games), the 25-year-old Adell has been an enigma for the Angels since being chosen tenth total within the 2017 MLB Draft.
He hit a career-high 20 homers final season, however slashed simply .207/.280/.402 in 451 plate appearances. That was an enormous drop-off from his first 109 plate appearances of the yr when he slashed .255/.312/.520.
Whereas Trout performed in simply 29 video games final season, his time on the sector reminded followers why he’s probably on a path to Cooperstown. His 10 house runs in 109 at-bats ended up seventh on the Angels for your entire season and his 1.1 bWAR collected throughout that brief time landed him sixth amongst all Angels place gamers.
