Los Angeles Angels star Mike Trout has expressed a preference to return to center field for the 2026 season after playing right field last year. The three-time AL MVP discussed his comfort in center with manager Kurt Suzuki and general manager Perry Minasian. Trout's move would help optimize the Angels' outfield alignment.
In Tempe, Arizona, during spring training, Mike Trout, a 34-year-old three-time American League MVP and 11-time All-Star, informed Angels general manager Perry Minasian and manager Kurt Suzuki of his desire to shift back to center field. Last season, Trout played only 22 games in right field before sustaining a bone bruise in his surgically repaired left knee on April 30 in Seattle, missing one month and then serving as the designated hitter for the remainder. His performance was .232/.359/.439 with 26 homers, 14 doubles, and 64 RBIs in 130 games.
Trout stated, “I talked to ‘Zuk; I definitely want to play center. I told him I'll play anywhere, but obviously prefer center. It was good communication with him and Perry, and they’re on board with it.” He added, “I feel like I'm at my best when I’m in center. But if I had to go to the corner, I would go to the corner. Honestly, I felt like when I was in center, it was less on my body than the corners. In right, it felt like I was running a lot, but it's just like a preference thing. I just feel confident in center.”
The Angels lack a dedicated everyday center fielder, so Trout's return would enable Jo Adell to play right field—where he was a 2024 Gold Glove finalist after 69 games there compared to 89 in center—and Josh Lowe to take left field, with Jorge Soler occasionally in corners. Bryce Teodosio is vying with non-roster invitee Jose Siri for the backup center role.
Suzuki noted, “We had a conversation and his preference is center field. But at the same time, he came up to me and he said, ‘Hey, Zuk, I'll play wherever you need me. I’m comfortable left, right, center—wherever you need me to play.’ And he kind of left it as that. So we’ll keep our options open, but he does prefer center, so we’ll take a look.” Plans include Trout, Adell, and Lowe rotating through center this spring, with Trout also playing some corners.
Adell welcomed the news: “I'm glad that he's healthy and that he's back and ready to roll. My thought process has been any way that I can help, wherever I need to be, that's where I’ll be. And I'm glad he's feeling right. He’s ready to go and we're excited about it. So, hopefully, that will work for us.”
Trout reports no physical limitations, with his injury fully healed, and he improved late last season, hitting .333 with five homers in his final seven games after mechanical adjustments. Under contract for $37.1 million annually through 2030, he couldn't secure insurance for the World Baseball Classic, opting instead for extra camp time. Trout highlighted the team's bounce-back potential, including players like Lowe, Vaughn Grissom, Grayson Rodriguez, Alek Manoah, Kirby Yates, Jordan Romano, and Brent Suter, and affirmed his own readiness: “Always. I know what I’m capable of doing and I feel great.”
