Angels’ Mike Trout plans on moving back to center field this season

TEMPE, Ariz. — A year after Mike Trout announced that he was moving to right field in an effort to preserve his health, he said he’s planning to go back to center.

“I just feel more comfortable out there,” Trout said before the Angels’ first full-squad workout of the spring on Monday. “I feel like I’m at my best when I’m in center. But if I have to go to the corner, I’ll go to the corner.”

Manager Kurt Suzuki said Trout approached him with the idea of returning to center. The Angels are open to giving it a try, although Trout will work at all three spots in the spring.

“It’s always nice to have some flexibility, but he does prefer center field and we’re going to take a look,” Suzuki said. “We’ve got spring training to see how he feels out there in center, but that’s the plan right now.”

Trout has been hurt for much of the previous four years before last year’s decision to see if a move to right would take some stress off his body. Trout played 22 games in right and then hurt his knee while running the bases. He missed a month, and then spent the rest of the season at DH.

Trout said his knee feels better now. He said he’s lost five or six pounds over the winter, which should reduce some of the strain on his body.

Also, he said he didn’t think right was any easier.

“Honestly, I felt like when I was in center, it was less on my body,” Trout said. “To be honest, right field felt like I was running a lot. It’s just a preference thing. Talking to some other outfielders, they feel the same way sometimes, that center is less on your legs. I just feel more confident in center.”

Although the center fielder has to cover more ground than the corner outfielders, the corner outfielders have to chase more foul balls. The right fielder also has to go back up first on any ground ball hit to the left side of the infield.

Trout, 34, said he’s not sure how many games he can play in center.

“I want to be out there as much as I can,” he said. “We’ve got a good game plan. If I need a day or if I feel something and need to get off my feet a little, I’ll talk to Zuk. We have a good open conversation.”

If Trout can play center regularly, the Angels’ roster works much better.

Jo Adell is much better in right field. Newly acquired Josh Lowe has played most of his big league career in a corner also. He’s played mostly right, so it remains to be seen if he or Adell would move to left.

Jorge Soler is best suited to DH. Last season he was forced to play outfield 40 times when Trout was at DH, and he ended up suffering multiple injuries.

The Angels also could have either Bryce Teodosio or non-roster invitee José Siri on the roster as a backup outfielder. Either could play elite defense in center late in games, with Trout moving to a corner.

Trout’s defensive position is not as important as what he does at the plate, though.

An Angels lineup that lost some power with the trade of Taylor Ward needs Trout to recapture at least some of his form at the plate. A three-time MVP, Trout has a career .976 OPS. In 2025, he hit 26 homers with a .797 OPS.

Trout slumped through much of the middle of the season before finishing on a hot streak, with five homers in his last seven games.

Trout credited a mechanical adjustment for the improvement, and he said he kept his swing where he wants it over the winter.

“Just keeping the same routine,” Trout said. “Been working on it these last few weeks. Had some good calls with the hitting coaches in the offseason. They’re on the same page and we’re just going to build off what I had at the end of last year.”

Trout also said he was disappointed that he couldn’t play this year in the World Baseball Classic. Trout, who was captain of Team USA in 2023, said there were discussions about him playing again, but he was unable to get insurance. It’s an issue that’s kept several other of the game’s stars from playing in the WBC.

“It’s disappointing,” Trout said. “I definitely wanted to run it back.”