ANAHEIM ― Ten weeks have passed since Mike Trout strained his right calf running the bases on May 17. At the time, the Angels’ center fielder was projected to miss six to eight weeks. Yet as of Tuesday, Manager Joe Maddon said Trout “still doesn’t feel like he could push it right now.”
As long as Shohei Ohtani is healthy, the Angels can’t offer Trout the opportunity to ease back into the lineup as a designated hitter. They can, however, offer Trout a different position in the field in hopes of hastening his return.
The three-time American League MVP has previously said that he would aim to play center field upon his return from the injured list. Now that his rehab is dragging, Trout and the Angels have discussed moving him to a corner position.
“You would think giving him less ground to cover might be wise,” Maddon said. “So we’ll see how that plays out. I’ve already broached the subject with him. His thought was originally that he was going to be OK once his leg feels fine but we’ll wait and see.”
The conversation coincides with the emergence of rookie Brandon Marsh, who debuted on July 18. Since then, Marsh had started nine consecutive games in center field until Juan Lagares spelled him Wednesday. Marsh has not made an error through his first 78 innings in the field. He is hitting .219 (7 for 32) with three doubles, four walks and 10 strikeouts.
Marsh’s expected batting average – calculated by Statcast to reflect a hitter’s quality of contact – is a more comely .266. Forty percent of his batted balls have been recorded as line drives, but several have been hit directly into defensive shifts. Maddon believes Marsh has been the victim of some bad luck at the plate.
“That’s the part of coming from Triple-A to the big leagues – you still are able to have a scouting report on the guy you’ve never seen before,” the manager said.
The Angels acquired veteran Adam Eaton to plug a hole in right field. Justin Upton, when healthy, has been a mainstay in left. But it could be the rookie Marsh who keeps his position when Trout is cleared to return.
THAISS RETURNS, WALSH TO IL
Jared Walsh was placed on the 10-day injured list with a right intercostal strain, leaving the Angels without their starting first baseman for at least the next nine days. The transaction is retroactive to Tuesday.
Matt Thaiss was recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake, where he was batting .287 with a .932 on-base plus slugging percentage. Thaiss had primarily played catcher for the Bees, starting 30 of 43 games behind the plate.
With the Angels, Thaiss will primarily split time at first base with Phil Gosselin until Walsh returns, Maddon said.
“The biggest thing to me would be that you keep him solvent catching somehow,” Maddon said of Thaiss. “I’m not saying in a game but maybe catch some bullpens if you’re not going to give him a lot of opportunities there right now. You have to let him get the squat. (Catching instructor Jose Molina) is probably going to have to block with him a little bit, have him throw to the bags a little bit, and he’s got to go out and catch a pitcher now and then. In the meantime, get his ground balls, get him up to speed at first base.”
Walsh’s 22 home runs rank 10th in the American League, and his .995 fielding percentage at the position ranks first. He was chosen to his first All-Star team earlier this month. Maddon is hopeful that Walsh can miss the minimum of 10 days.
The Angels made one other transaction Wednesday, selecting right-handed pitcher Austin Warren to the major league roster and optioning right-hander Andrew Wantz to Triple-A.
Warren, the Angels’ sixth-round draft pick in 2018, was 2-3 with a 6.19 ERA in 22 games at Salt Lake.
In four appearances, Wantz allowed three runs in 5-1/3 innings following his July 4 debut.
ALSO
Right-hander Alex Cobb played catch for the third consecutive day, testing a blister on his right middle finger. If he cannot start Thursday’s game against the Oakland A’s, Maddon said Dylan Bundy would. … Outfielder Starling Marte, whom the A’s acquired from the Marlins earlier in the day Wednesday, is expected to be in Oakland’s starting lineup. … Ohtani’s next appearance as a pitcher will come Sunday afternoon against the A’s, Maddon said.
UP NEXT
Angels (RHP Dylan Bundy or RHP Alex Cobb) vs. Oakland (RHP Frankie Montas, 8-8, 4.34 ERA), Thursday, 6:38 p.m., Bally Sports West, 830 AM
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