Angels’ Mike Trout Blasts First Home Run of 2025, Adjusting to New Role in Right Field
Now healthy, Los Angeles Angels superstar Mike Trout is back to looking like himself again this spring.
The 33-year-old outfielder went deep for the first time during Wednesday’s Cactus League contest versus the Cincinnati Reds, blasting his first home run since last April. It was a solo shot in the third inning off right-hander Bryan Shaw, tying the score at one run apiece at the time.
Trout led off for the Angels as their designated hitter, going 1-for-2 on the afternoon with a first-inning walk and a strikeout during his final plate appearance in the fourth.
“It felt good,” Trout told reporters, including MLB.com’s
Rhett Bollinger, following Wednesday’s 9-4 defeat. “Just having some good at-bats, seeing pitches and got a good result.”
It was Trout’s second appearance of the spring, following Monday’s 0-for-1 showing that included a walk and a strikeout against the San Francisco Giants. He won’t play Thursday but will suit up Friday versus the Chicago White Sox.
Injuries have ravaged the three-time MVP in recent seasons, limiting him to fewer than 100 games played in three of the previous four campaigns. He surpassed that figure in 2021, compiling 119 games with 40 home runs, 80 RBIs, a .283/.369/.630 slash line and a 176 wRC+ (100 league average).
Last season, Trout only appeared in 29 games, hitting 10 bombs while slugging .541, before suffering a torn meniscus in his left knee in late April, which required surgery. Despite beginning a rehab assignment in July, he reinjured that same knee during his first game back and underwent an additional procedure soon after.
In his road to recovery, the 11-time All-Star focused on eliminating a few bad habits that had crept in at the plate during previous seasons.
“I noticed a few things that I was doing,” Trout said. “I was able to work on things to get back to my old self. For me, looking at the last few years, I used to never chase. Used to walk a lot. I think getting back to that and getting into that position at the plate where I can just be myself instead of just being up there and being defensive.”
The Angels announced over the winter that Trout would no longer serve as their everyday centre-fielder in 2025, transitioning to right in hopes of keeping him on the field more consistently. He’s expected to return to the outfield corner on Friday against the White Sox.
Since debuting in ‘11, the franchise icon has primarily operated in centre, logging 11,530.1 career innings. It’ll be vital to earn as many reps as possible in right this spring, considering it’s a position he hasn’t played since ‘12 and only owns 121 career innings of experience.
“It feels good,” Trout said. “Just getting reps out there. I’ll be out there Friday. Looking forward to it, just getting some reads off the bat. It’s just different visuals you’ve got to work on. And then you’ve got different angles on the line, you’ve got to work with different stadiums. It’s gonna be an adjustment but I’m enjoying it.”
Los Angeles will likely need to manage Trout’s workload throughout this season, hoping to maximize his availability moving forward, especially considering his 12-year, $426.5-million contract runs through 2030.
The Angels’ front office was unusually active this off-season, acquiring Jorge Soler, Yoán Moncada, Travis d’Arnaud, Yusei Kikuchi, Kyle Hendricks, and Kenley Jansen. All hope to return to relevance however, lies with their franchise pillar.
-Thomas Hall
Twitter: @Hall_Thomas_
Photo: Jeffrey Hayes. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.