It’s the end of an era in the MLB. Mike Trout—the face of the Los Angeles Angels, the guy who made center field his kingdom—is officially moving to right field.
Yeah, you read that right.
After more than a decade of patrolling center, Trout and the Angels have decided it’s time to make a change, and it all comes down to keeping him on the field.
Injuries Have Forced the Angels’ Hand
Trout himself admitted the move was inevitable. “I knew it was coming,” he told reporters. “Just gotta get used to it.”
And honestly, if it means he plays more than 41% of the games over the next few seasons, it’s probably the right call.
The past few years have been a frustrating cycle of injuries for Trout—a calf strain, back issues, a broken hamate, and most recently, a torn meniscus. It’s not one nagging injury that keeps coming back; it’s been something new every year.
So instead of risking further wear and tear chasing down every fly ball in the center, he’s shifting to right field. The workload is lighter, and the risk of injury should, in theory, go down.
Center Field is a Young Man’s Game
If you’re wondering why center field is such a grind, just think about it for a second. The center fielder doesn’t just have to cover a massive amount of ground—he’s also the guy backing up plays all over the outfield.
The center fielder moves whenever a ball is hit to the left or right. That kind of workload wears guys down, and history shows that playing center past the age of 33 is no easy feat.
Over the last four years, only a handful of MLB players—Lorenzo Cain, Adam Duvall, Brett Gardner, Kevin Kiermaier, and Michael A. Taylor—have even started 50 games in center at age 33 or older.
Only three of them have made more than 100 starts in total in that span. The bottom line? Center field is a young man’s game.
What This Means for the Angels
So what does this mean for the Angels? For starters, it likely means Mickey Moniak is stepping in as the new everyday center fielder.
Jo Adell has some experience there, too, but let’s be real—his defense has never been his strong suit.
Taylor Ward is holding down left field, Jorge Soler is locked in as the designated hitter, and Luis Rengifo could provide some versatility if needed.
Let’s not forget the big question: What does this mean for Trout at the plate? When he played last year, he still put up solid numbers—.220/.325/.541 with 10 home runs in just 29 games.
The problem wasn’t production; it was availability. The Angels need him in the lineup, and if moving to right field helps make that happen, it’s a move worth making.
Final Thought On the Angels
The reality is that the Angels are coming off a brutal 99-loss season—their worst in franchise history.
They haven’t had a winning season since 2015, and with Shohei Ohtani now wearing Dodger blue, the pressure is on to find a new way forward. Trout staying healthy is a huge part of that equation.
So here’s to hoping this position change is the fresh start he needs. Because let’s be honest—the MLB is just better when Mike Trout is playing.
