For the first time in his iconic career, Mike Trout is not expected to primarily play center field. The three-time MVP has transitioned to right field, a change he thinks will help him stay healthy throughout the entire season.
Is this adjustment the answer to dodging another year of injury troubles?
Right Field Means Less Running, Hopefully Fewer Injuries for Mike Trout
Trout has embraced the transition from center to right field for the Los Angeles Angels, saying it’s been good for his body. He has only played 85+ games once since his MVP season in 2019. Playing right field should put less strain on him, which is exactly why he made the switch.
“I’m actually enjoying it a lot,” Trout said of the move via Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com.
“I think playoffs, obviously, that’s what we want to do,” Trout said about his goals for the season. “We want to win. There’s gonna be some ups and downs, but we’ve got to stick together. We’ve got to build that family chemistry and anything can happen.”
In February 2025, he discussed the process behind the change as both Trout and the team look to keep him around as long as possible.
“It [the meeting with the Angels’ GM and manager] went great. Kind of just threw everything on the table, as in what’s best for me body-wise, keep me on the field,” Trout said during a media availability session. “Came to the conclusion that I’m gonna go to right field. Like it, try it out, and see where it goes. … I knew it was coming but just gotta get used to it, but I just want to be on the field.”
“I’m gonna go out there and just try to be as comfortable as I can,” he said.
His injuries have been well-documented. In 2017, he tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his left thumb, missing 47 days. A right calf strain in 2021 limited him to just 36 games.
He missed five weeks the following year with a back injury. Trout suffered a hamate fracture in his left hand in July 2023 which shortened his season. In April 2024, he tore the meniscus in his left knee, had surgery, and though there were hopes he might come back, he re-injured the meniscus in August and his season was over.
“Before Mike got hurt the first time — I mean, he was on his way to being the Mike Trout that people envision him as being, but I still see him do things that 80% of the players that are in the major leagues still can’t do,” said Angels manager Ron Washington on MLB Network in December 2024.
Teammates have also recognized Trout’s resilience. Outfielder Jo Adell praised his toughness.
“This injury happened at the beginning of the game that he finished playing, so people don’t even understand that this guy was — something was off when the game started and he proceeded to go out and help the team win that night, and he woke up in the morning and he couldn’t move,” Adell said about Trout on “Foul Territory” in May 2024.
After analyzing his previous performances, he’s tweaked his swing mechanics to try and get back to his MVP-level play, according to Bollinger.
Trout has been looking good in spring training, boasting a .299 batting average, a .410 on-base percentage, and a .581 slugging percentage. He’s hit two home runs and driven in four runs across 13 games.