ANAHEIM — In yet another subtle move with preservation in mind, Mike Trout was moved into the designated hitter spot with a late lineup change Saturday, while Jorge Soler was given a chance to play in the field.
Manager Ron Washington insisted Trout’s move out of right field for the day wasn’t because of injury. Call it a nod to injury prevention.
“It’s just to get Mike off his feet,” Washington said a little more than three hours before first pitch, immediately after the change was made. “He’s been running around out there. He hasn’t been out there for a long time, and I thought this was the right opportunity to get him off his feet. So I made the switch.”
Trout has played in seven games this season, all in right, after missing the final five months last season because of a knee injury.
Never a fan of operating out of the DH spot, it was just the 82nd time Trout has been used in there during his 15 MLB seasons and 1,526 career games. It is his 16th turn as the DH since the 2020 season.
The Angels already have shown their desire to reduce the wear and tear on their star player by making him the full-time right fielder this season. The primary goal is to have Trout on the field as much as possible moving forward.
Offensively, Trout is still trying to find his way. He entered Saturday’s game against the Cleveland Guardians with just four hits in seven games, but three of them were for extra bases, and two were home runs. He hit 10 home runs in 29 games last season.
“Getting better,” Washington said. “It’s Mike Trout. It will get better. The more he sees pitches, the better it’s going to get. I’m not worried about Mike. As long as we can keep him on the field and keep his presence around here, he’s going to be Mike.”
Trout has averaged just 67 games per season over the past four campaigns with various injuries, including knee, hand, back and calf issues.
Soler, who is not known for his abilities on defense, played 43 games in right field for the Atlanta Braves last season and 32 for the Miami Marlins in 2023. He has been at DH for 194 games over the past two seasons combined.
FEELING BETTER
All three players who departed Friday’s game against the Guardians were improved Saturday, although only Luis Rengifo was expected to play.
Rengifo was in the starting lineup at third base, one day after he departed in the fourth inning with hamstring tightness as the second baseman. It was his second start at third base after seven at second.
Right-handed reliever Ryan Zeferjahn also came out of Friday’s game, while also dealing with hamstring tightness. Washington did not plan on using Zeferjahn on Saturday.
Friday’s third baseman, Yoan Moncada, left in the seventh inning with a sore hand near his right thumb. He was not in the starting lineup Saturday and could end up with another off day Sunday, but a trip to the injured list is not being considered at the present time.
Moncada was injured on an inside pitch that jammed the bat into the pad of his right hand.
“That thing lasts a long time,” Washington said. “You think it’s well, and you take a freak swing, and it’s right back. And that’s what happened to him. That’s all. But we don’t have to worry about him going on the IL.”
WELCOME BACK
The Angels’ goal was to turn Kyren Paris into an outfielder, but he was back on the infield Saturday with a start at second base. The need to come back on the dirt arose with Moncada out and Rengifo moving from second base to third.
Paris’ only action on the infield this season came Friday. Rengifo departed early in the game, and Paris finished the night at second base with two hits and a run scored in two at-bats.
“Every opportunity we get for him to stand in the outfield, we’re going to do it,” Washington said. “But it’s funny how this game works. Things change. … He’s a different character right now. He’s still young. I think he’s ready for this challenge and we’ll see how far it goes.”
UP NEXT
Angels (LHP Tyler Anderson, 0-0, 5.40 ERA) vs. Guardians (RHP Luis Ortiz, 0-1, 13.50 ERA), Sunday, 1:07 p.m., FanDuel Sports Network, 830 AM