446-FOOT BLAST<\/p>\n
Mike Trout homers in a FOURTH straight game \ud83d\ude24 pic.twitter.com\/Fcu8eLLvav<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 MLB (@MLB) April 16, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n After the first, electrifying decade of his career, in which it sometimes felt as if he made history every day, the past few years have offered a meditation on mortality. He missed 382 of a possible 648 games from 2021 through \u201924 amid injuries to his right calf, his back, his left hamate bone and his left meniscus. He went from an automatic All-Star to a frequent flyer on the injured list. His story became one of unfulfilled potential.\u00a0<\/p>\n But somehow, at 34, he is playing like he hasn\u2019t in years. He has tweaked his swing, stepping back just before his forward move. He has slimmed down. But his favorite change is that he is back to playing center field.\u00a0<\/p>\n Trout\u2019s move back to center field has coincided with a vintage start at the plate. | Brad Penner-Imagn Images<\/p>\n The Angels had increased his days at designated hitter in recent years, and after years of discussing the change internally\u2014sometimes to Trout\u2019s consternation<\/a>\u2014they moved him to right field last season in an attempt to keep him healthy. But Trout hates DHing\u2014he stews over his at-bats without anything to distract him\u2014and he felt that playing right was actually harder on him than playing center. Center field is more physically taxing, but he found right more mentally exhausting, because nothing was automatic.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cBeing new to the position, it takes time to get to that comfort zone,\u201d Trout says. He always felt like he was thinking instead of just reacting. He prefers center, he says, because, \u201cIf I\u2019m not getting any hits, I try to take some hits away from other guys.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Besides, as Suzuki says, he\u2019s frickin\u2019 Mike Trout. He\u2019s a center fielder. He made 11 All-Star Games in center field. He won three MVP awards in center field. He became the best player in the sport in center field. Did he lose some of his identity in right? He thinks for a minute. \u201cThere\u2019s something there,\u201d he acknowledges.\u00a0<\/p>\n And as for the injury risk of roaming those big center fields, the Angels hope it\u2019s overstated. \u201cIf you\u2019re mentally relaxed, maybe your body stays healthy?\u201d Suzuki muses. \u201cI don\u2019t know, but it might have something to do with the stress, right?\u201d<\/p>\n Trout and Suzuki have agreed that Trout will be honest with himself and with the staff about how his body feels. \u201cI told him, \u2018Mike, you need a day, you come tell me,\u2019\u201d says the manager. \u201cIf not, you\u2019re gonna be in center field, hitting second for the Halos.\u201d<\/p>\n So far, Trout and the Angels are thrilled with the arrangement.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s really good for the sport,\u201d Suzuki says. \u201cIt\u2019s Mike Trout. If he\u2019s on the field performing, it\u2019s really good for everybody.\u201d He grins. \u201cExcept the other team.\u201d<\/p>\n More MLB from Sports Illustrated![\"Los](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/01kpc2qwxsc777y83mcr.jpg\" "\\"Los")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/assets.minutemediacdn.com\/platform\/google_discover_icon.svg\"){kind=icon}
Add us as a preferred source on GoogleFollow<\/a>