Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

Joe Maddon confirms Mike Trout will remain in center field in 2022

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports
By Darryn Albert | Last updated 3/14/22

Los Angeles Angels manager Joe Maddon is setting the record straight after creating a bit of a snowstorm about Mike Trout’s status for 2022.

Over the weekend, Maddon sparked some rumors about the three-time MVP Trout potentially moving from center field to a corner spot following the calf strain that cost him most of last season.

“To play center field every day in the big leagues coming off a severe injury, that’s not gonna be easy,” said Maddon, per Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times. “No conclusions have been made, but I’d be disingenuous if I didn’t tell you that this hasn’t been part of the conversation, because it has.”

Those comments created a bit of a stir. Thus, Maddon clarified the rumors Monday, saying that Trout will, in fact, be playing center field this season.

Joe Maddon now says Mike Trout is playing CF. That’s that.

— Jeff Fletcher (@JeffFletcherOCR) March 14, 2022

Trout himself also met with reporters on Monday. The 30-year-old said that he was surprised by the talk of him moving to a corner spot and added that he wants to remain in center field.

#Angels CF Mike Trout said he was “surprised” to hear team was considering moving him to LF. Talked with MGR Joe Maddon this morning and said he’s open to such a move “down the road” but wants to stay in CF now.”

— Mike DiGiovanna (@MikeDiGiovanna) March 14, 2022

Center field is a tougher position with more ground to cover than a corner outfield spot. The Angels also have an excellent defender in Brandon Marsh who can play center field full-time instead. But Trout is the Angels’ franchise player and has been in center field for his entire career. As such, they would be wise to leave any such decision on a position change to Trout alone.

It sounds like Trout is content to stay in center field, so that figures to be the end of that conversation. It also means that we can probably look forward to more moments like this from Trout in the outfield.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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