After fastest sprint in nearly two years, Angels’ Mike Trout says he can do better
TEMPE, Ariz. — A day after Mike Trout had his fastest sprint speed in nearly two years, it was still a topic of discussion around the clubhouse.
Trout ran 29.9 feet per second in trying to beat out an infield hit on Saturday. He acknowledged on Sunday that it’s a sign of him feeling “great,” and said he can do better.
“I’m gonna get 30,” Trout said. “I’ve got more in the tank.”
Trout, 34, tore his meniscus in April 2024, which was the last time that he was timed going faster than 29.9 feet per second. He never got there last season. His fastest time came on a play in which he aggravated the knee injury in late April. That cost him a month, and when he returned he was limited to DH and not running at top speed.
Prior to his knee problems, he routinely cracked the 30 feet per second threshold, which is the sign of an elite runner.
“We were all joking around in the clubhouse about it,” manager Kurt Suzuki said of Trout’s eye-opening speed. “That’s amazing to see. I think he feels good. He’s moving around good. I think mentally he’s in a good place, so everything’s trending in the right direction, for sure.”
Trout’s health is a key question this spring, as the Angels explore whether he can return to center field, which is his preference. So far this spring they’ve tried him in center and left. He hadn’t played left since 2013.
Trout lost a ball in the sun during his game in left field. He said he’ll be back in center field on Monday.
KOCHANOWICZ UPDATE
Right-hander Jack Kochanowicz endured a nightmare last season, culminating with an Aug. 27 start in which he allowed 11 runs.
Kochanowicz finished the year with a 6.81 ERA in 23 big league starts, which was a surprising decline from his encouraging 3.99 ERA as a rookie in 2024.
Now, Kochanowicz, 25, is in camp fighting for a spot in the big league rotation. If he doesn’t make it, he’d be on the list of pitchers they could consider the next time there’s an opening.
“Obviously last year wasn’t what I wanted,” Kochanowicz said. “It was tough. Honestly, my whole career in professional baseball I’ve learned from failure, and it’s been a lot of that. And if you go look at my minor league stats, it’s all a lot of that. And I’ve just had to adjust. Simple as that. I just tried to adjust this offseason and just hone in on what I can do best.”
Kochanowicz flipped his minor league career when he began throwing a sinker instead of his four-seam fastball. He threw the sinker 73% of the time as a rookie, with just 6% four-seamers. Last season, he made an effort to be more balanced, with 47% sinkers and 19% four-seamers.
It didn’t work. Neither pitch was effective.
Kochanowicz still insists that he needs to use both, and will be able to use both.
“I don’t want to limit myself to just being a sinker pitcher,” Kochanowicz said. “I think it’s a challenge to be able to throw two fastballs at high velocity with different movements. It’s tough. But I’ve been doing it this offseason. It’s been feeling really good. I definitely don’t think I should limit myself to just the sinker.”
Kochanowicz said having more conviction in the sinker will also help. At times last year, his confidence in the pitch wavered.
“It was tough in the moment,” Kochanowicz said. “It always is. It’s a lot going on. But I do feel like I was able to process it pretty well and come out with the right perspective. And like I said, I feel great with where I’m at right now. You live and you learn. It was a tough season, but I feel like I have all the tools to be very successful.”
Kochanowicz pitched in one game so far this spring. He gave up one run in 1⅔ innings of a start against the Colorado Rockies. He gave up three hits, but the only one that was hit hard was a ground ball that got through a hole.
“It was fun to be out there trusting myself again,” Kochanowicz said. “Had some weak contact. Gave up a run, but nothing was hit hard. I was happy with it.”
NOTES
Outfielder Josh Lowe (left oblique) is still not ready to return to game action, but he’s been running and “doing some light stuff,” Suzuki said. …
Suzuki was impressed with Christian Moore’s play at third base on Saturday. He made a sliding play on a sharp grounder. Although Moore has been a second baseman throughout his brief pro career, the Angels are exploring his versatility this spring. “I thought his reaction time was really good on that and he actually looked comfortable there yesterday,” Suzuki said. “I think the ability for him to keep working there and keeping his options open, giving us options would be good.” Suzuki said Moore could get a start at third while Yoán Moncada is away at the World Baseball Classic. …
Right-hander George Klassen is scheduled to make a start on Tuesday against the Seattle Mariners instead of José Soriano, who is sick. Klassen pitched two scoreless innings last week against the Padres in his first Cactus League start. Left-hander Mitch Farris is scheduled to start on Wednesday against Team Italy, which is prepping for the World Baseball Classic. Farris has opened eyes this spring by increasing his velocity by 3 mph.