Returning to center field, a healthy Trout eyes a bounce-back season and a return to elite form, aiming to silence doubts.
Los Angeles Angels superstar Mike Trout is sliding back to his natural position, center field, this season after a year primarily as a designated hitter with some time in right field. He’s aiming for a healthy season in center as he hasn’t played at least 100 games in the position since the 2022 season.
Everybody in baseball knows how big of a threat Trout once was in center field as he became possibly the greatest player ever with his five-tool skillset. Heading into 2026 at 34 years old and coming off the first real down year of his career, however, there is some skepticism surrounding Trout this season.
Trout finished 2025 with a .232/.359/.439 slash line and .797 OPS. He hit 26 home runs and drove in 64 runs in 130 games, but finished with just 1.5 WAR – his lowest of any season with at least 30 games since his debut in 2011.
Though he still showed off his above league-average bat, it was clear Trout was no longer giving that superstar production in 2025. Now moving back to his natural position and heading into the year in good health, the constant concern for the star, he could be in store for a big bounce-back campaign to prove he is still the Mike Trout.
He’ll have to prove it, however, as he was ranked just the ninth-best center fielder in Bleacher Report’s recent article ranking the position. Barely making the top third of starting center fielders indicates how Trout’s value is being perceived heading into the year.
Perhaps it’s a mental thing for the former MVP. He has stated how he feels much more comfortable in center field, and despite his health issues, first year manager Kurt Suzuki is allowing his star to play where he wants after a year elsewhere.
It hasn’t been great thus far in spring for Trout. He’s logged 24 at-bats but only five hits and seven strikeouts to one walk. His slash line in the short sample size reads .208/.240/.292 with a .532 OPS. His struggles at the plate are a concern, but it’s not exactly an indication of what’s to come in the regular season.
Trout has six more years on his contract with the Halos, and the front office will be hoping that Trout can still provide positive value during this final stretch. As good as he’s been for the club, his contract could fare very badly for the Angels. A bounce-back 2026 season could make all the difference.