Mike Trout is heading back to center field - and that’s a big deal for the Angels.
After spending the 2025 season splitting time between right field and designated hitter, Trout told reporters he plans to reclaim his old spot in center for 2026. It’s not official just yet, but Trout said he’s already had a positive conversation with manager Kurt Suzuki about making the move, and all signs point to it happening.
Let’s be clear: this isn’t just a positional tweak. This is a statement. Trout returning to center field signals two things - he’s healthy enough to handle the physical demands, and he’s motivated to get back to being the player who once owned that patch of grass like few others in the game.
In 2025, Trout didn’t log a single inning in center. He started 22 games in right field and 106 as the designated hitter.
It was a year of managing his workload and protecting his body, especially as he entered his mid-thirties. But now, entering his 16th season, the three-time MVP is ready to take on the challenge again.
Interestingly, Trout believes that playing center field may actually be easier on his body than right field - a sentiment echoed in reporting from ESPN's Alden Gonzalez. That might sound counterintuitive at first, but when you think about it, it tracks.
Center fielders control the tempo, dictate positioning, and often have more consistent routes to the ball. Right field, especially in certain ballparks, can be more physically demanding in terms of awkward angles and wall crashes.
And for a player who’s always thrived on rhythm and feel, being back in the middle of the outfield might help Trout find his groove again.
Let’s not sugarcoat it - 2025 wasn’t Trout’s best season. He hit just .232 with a .797 OPS, numbers that fall well below his career standards.
But even in a down year, Trout remained a threat at the plate and a presence in the lineup. Now, with a return to center field on deck, there’s a renewed sense of purpose.
The Angels’ outfield mix is already intriguing. Jo Adell, Jorge Soler, and Josh Lowe bring a blend of power and athleticism, and Trout’s return to center could help balance things out defensively. With Taylor Ward now gone, there’s a real opportunity for this group to gel - and for Trout to lead by example, not just with his bat, but with his glove and presence in the field.
For a future Hall of Famer who’s spent the majority of his career patrolling center with Gold Glove-caliber instincts, this move feels right. It’s a nod to the past, sure, but it’s also a bet on the present - that Trout still has the legs, the reads, and the fire to anchor the outfield like he used to.
And if he’s anywhere close to the Trout we’ve seen before? The Angels just got a whole lot more interesting heading into 2026.