Locked On Angels - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Angels · Locked On Podcast Network, Mike Frisch, Jon Frisch

MIKE'S WAY: Mike Trout SET on Playing Center Field | Do the Angels OWE Trout This RISKY Decision?

·35 min·3 clips

Mike Trout insists he's playing center field in 2026, defying Angels' health concerns and setting up a risky showdown.

Mike Trout has stated his clear preference to play center field for the Los Angeles Angels in the 2026 season. Hosts John and Mike Frisch, the "Super Halo Bros," analyze this decision and other team issues on their daily Angels podcast. The brothers are entering their fifth season covering the team and aim to inform their audience. Trout told manager Kurt Suzuki and General Manager Perry Minasian he feels more comfortable and believes it's less taxing on his body to play center field. He argued that playing a corner outfield position involved more running and did not prevent his past injuries. Jeff Fletcher of the OC Register noted that while center fielders cover more ground, corner outfielders often chase more foul balls and frequently run to back up first base. Manager Kurt Suzuki said Trout expressed willingness to play anywhere but has a preference, and the plan is to evaluate Trout, Jo Adell, and Josh Lowe in center field during spring training. A central insight compares Trout's situation to when the Angels let Shohei Ohtani dictate his own pitching and hitting routine, which preceded his breakout success. The hosts suggest that to get the best version of Trout at the plate, the team might need to grant his preference, even if it seems risky. They acknowledge the Angels' organizational tendency toward what they describe as "reckless" decisions, often born from a lack of sure bets, like the Anthony Rendon signing. Defensively, metrics showed Trout was a net positive in center field during the 2023 and 2024 seasons. The discussion contends the Angels may "owe" Trout this accommodation because the franchise has not built a competitive team around him since his 2019 contract extension. The tone is conversational and opinionated, blending fan frustration with analytical commentary. This episode will appeal to Angels fans seeking deep discussion on roster strategy and Trout's career, but listeners looking for pure game analysis or opposing viewpoints might find it less engaging.

As heard by us

Trout's center-field plan is the hook, but the sharper story is the roster pressure it creates for Kurt Suzuki's first year.

Mike Trout's move to center field in 2026 gives Locked On Angels its clearest angle, and the hosts handle the skepticism around it without pushing past what the moment can support.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

You want the Mike Trout center-field call before the spring-training chatter hardens.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from Locked On Angels - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Angels