Superstar Left Ohtani, Forgotten, Club to Change Position, Including Offseason Health Monitoring DH

Feb 18, 2025

Superstar Left Ohtani, Forgotten, Club to Change Position, Including Offseason Health Monitoring DH
LA Angels Mike Trout is considering changing his position to prevent injury this season. AP Yonhap News



Superstar Left Ohtani, Forgotten, Club to Change Position, Including Offseason Health Monitoring DH
LA Angels Mike Trout hits against the Cincinnati Reds on August 23, 2023 (Korea Standard Time). Shohei Ohtani is watching at the back waiting at-bat. It is the last game that Trout and Ohtani played together. AP Yonhap News
LA Angels Mike Trout, who has been suffering from various injuries over the past four years and is in his mid-30s, is reportedly considering changing his position to have a healthy season.

MLB.com reported on the Angels on the 15th (Korea time), and Washington coach Ron and general manager Perry Minasian will meet as soon as Mike Trout arrives at the camp to discuss how he can play healthy this year. They contacted them during the offseason to check their physical condition, and in particular, came up with a plan to play more as a corner outfielder and designated hitter."

Trout said in September last year that he was "well aware of my injury history and could also consider a position change for his health."Ultimately, my goal is to go out to the field every day and go to the plate. Whether it's a corner outfielder or designated hitter, we'll leave it to the club to make a plan. Looking at my current state and what's happened in recent years, I have to look at all the ways I can go to the ground and play."




The Angels are in spring training at Tempidia Blo Stadium in Temp. Fielders, including Trout, will start official training from the 18th. Washington coach and Minasian plan to meet Trout soon.

Superstar Left Ohtani, Forgotten, Club to Change Position, Including Offseason Health Monitoring DH
LA Angels Mike Trout has played only 35% in the last four years. AP Yonhap News
Trout, who had been filling the regular at-bats until 2020, has played only 226 of the 648 games his team has played in the last four years with consecutive injuries to his thigh, waist, left foot bone and left knee since 2021. The participation rate was only 35%.

In particular, he suffered a cartilage plate injury in his left knee against the Philadelphia Phillies on April 30 and had sutures on May 4 to end the season. He marked a batting average of 0.220, 10 homers, 14 RBIs, 17 runs scored, and 0.867 OPS in 29 games. He sought to return after the summer, but decided not to overdo it and continued his rehabilitation as the Angels virtually gave up the postseason.




This year, Trout and the Angels' top priority is to play the full-time season. Trout last played fall baseball in 2014. Since then, he has failed to make the postseason stage for 10 consecutive years. The Angels have the longest postseason 'thirsty' among the 30 clubs. Trout failed to change his team's fate even though he and Shohei Ohtani (LA Angels) have been in a 'Close' for six years.

Superstar Left Ohtani, Forgotten, Club to Change Position, Including Offseason Health Monitoring DH
Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani reunite as different team players at an exhibition game in March last year. AP Yonhap News
The Angels have been without Ohtani since last year. It seems that the club's firm idea is that Trout should take a position with a low risk of injury regardless of how it works.

However, opposition to this is also strong. If Trout turns into a designated hitter or makes a designated hitter while watching left field or right field, the risk of injury may be higher.




The Orange County Register (OCR) recently said changing the position of 'Trout in the corner of checking the Angels' outfield would be more counterproductive. If he plays full-time designated hitter, he will swing more in the batting cage, which could increase the risk of injury than playing outfield. He wrote that the Angels should take over the starting center fielder again this year because they did not have the resources to see center field every day.

Trout was born in August 1991. This year is the 34th season. The 12-year $426.5 million contract will end in 2030. There are still six seasons left. For Angels fans, he shouldn't be sick. However, he is a player who cannot be traded.

Trout showed off his peak slugging power by hitting 40 home runs while playing 119 games in 2022. It was only three years ago. It remains to be seen whether he will recover his batting sense this season.



This article was translated by Naver AI translator.