Mike Trout makes big MLB career decision after injury nightmare

Ahead of his 15th season in Major League Baseball, 33-year-old Mike Trout is finally transitioning from center field to right field in a bid to stay fresh for the entire campaign.

In the last five years, the Los Angeles Angels star has featured in 53 games in 2020, 36 in 2011, 119 in 2022, 82 in 2023, and 29 last year.

His 2024 campaign was cut short due to a torn meniscus .

"I knew it was coming...I just wanna be on the field" Trout admitted to reporters ahead of the team's full-squad MLB spring training session Monday.

While athletic and still quick - Trout ranked in the 90th percentile for sprint speed last year - he never profiled as an elite defender in centerfield despite a barrage of memorable splash plays.

"He can play everywhere," Angels general manager Perry Minasian said of Trout.

"I've said this before and I'll say it again, if we asked Mike Trout to play shortstop, he'd do it.

He's that kind of guy.

For us, it's just keeping him on the field.

That's no secret.

He's dying to play." The three-time MVP winner seemed excited for the move.

"It's gonna be fun," he admitted.

"I'll enjoy it.

Like I told them, I'm gonna go out there and just be as comfortable as I can." "If I need to get early work, just to work on some things, get more comfortable, I'll do that...I don't think it's gonna be a crazy transition.

If it can save my legs a little bit, I'll do it." Trout was still productive at the plate in his limited action last year, mashing 10 home runs while posting a .867 OPS - well above league average.

While he moves to right, former top prospect and the oft-tantalizing Jo Adell will man center field in a platoon with former first-overall pick Mickey Moniak.

"We don't need nobody running into Mike Trout," Angels manager Ron Washington said.

"Y'all better make certain that you understand when a ball is put in a certain area, somebody going behind and somebody going in front.

"And the communication has to be constant.

And that's what we're pounding, that's what we're pounding, because we don't want nobody running into Mike Trout." Trout has reached the playoffs just once in his Hall of Fame career, and Los Angeles seems unlikely to contend in 2025.

The team finished 63-99 last season and lacks Trout doesn't hit leadoff anymore and he'll like bat behind Taylor Ward and Luis Regifo in the three-hole.

He'll be protected by a combination of former American League home run leader Jorge Soler and talented youngsters Nolan Schanuel and Logan O'Hoppe..

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