Angels veteran Mike Trout has a new position for 2026. It\u2019s the position he\u2019s most familiar with in a career that includes three MVP awards and 11 All-Star appearances.<\/p>\n
Trout will return to center field after spending the 2025 season at right field and designated hitter.<\/p>\n
MORE: Cubs to sign 35-year-old All-Star free agent with torn UCL: report<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cI just feel more comfortable out there,\u201d Trout told reporters, including Jeff Fletcher of the Southern California News Group, in the team\u2019s spring training camp Monday<\/a>. \u201cI feel like I\u2019m at my best when I\u2019m in center. But if I have to go to the corner, I\u2019ll go to the corner.\u201d<\/p>\n Trout, 34, was a highly regarded defensive center field during his peak. But as injuries limited him to 266 games from 2021-24, Trout conceded to the wear and tear by shifting to the less demanding right field position in 2025. He started the majority of his games at DH.<\/p>\n The result: Trout appeared in 130 games last season, his most since 2019. But it came at a cost. His 121 OPS+ was the lowest ever for a full season in his career. Jo Adell, who\u2019s a better right fielder than center fielder, took over for Trout and was not as consistent as hoped.<\/p>\n According to Fletcher<\/a>, new Angels manager Kurt Suzuki said Trout approached him with the idea of returning to center, and Trout will work at all three spots in spring training.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s always nice to have some flexibility, but he does prefer center field and we\u2019re going to take a look,\u201d Suzuki told reporters<\/a>. \u201cWe\u2019ve got spring training to see how he feels out there in center, but that\u2019s the plan right now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2014 Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories on The Big Lead <\/a>\u2014<\/p>\n OLYMPICS: 2026 Winter Olympics medal count, standings entering February 16<\/a><\/p>\n NFL Draft: 3 shocking 2026 NFL Combine snubs, full list of prospects attending<\/a><\/p>\n NFL: Tennessee Titans\u2019 new logo leaked in Fanatics mishap?<\/a><\/p>\n ENTERTAINMENT: Logan Paul\u2019s Pikachu Illustrator sale price sets Guinness World Record<\/a><\/p>\n NEWS: Nancy Guthrie kidnapping case reportedly gets DNA breakthrough<\/a><\/p>\n