BALTIMORE — Mike Trout isn’t ready to be Edgar Martinez just yet.
Martinez finished his Hall of Fame career exclusively as a designated hitter. Since Trout came back from the injured list two weeks ago, he’s only started at DH, because the Angels aren’t taking any chances that playing the outfield will cause problems with his knee.
Asked Friday if this could be the start of him becoming a primary DH, Trout was unequivocal.
“No, no, no,” he said. “Just waiting for it to go away, because if it’s not, we’re going to be chasing the rest of the year. I don’t want to be in that situation where it’s like I go play the outfield, play a few games and then have to take days off because it’s sore and achy.”
Trout said he can’t manage his running as well in the outfield as he can when he’s just hitting.
“When I’m in the outfield, if a ball is in the gap, I’m going to get it,” Trout said.
He contrasted that with his ability to go to a lower gear on the bases. On Friday night, for example, he hit a ball that dropped in right-center field, and he stopped with a single.
“I usually go for two right there,” Trout said. “It’s hard for me because out of the box I want to go, but I’ve got to be smart about it and see where it goes. I’ve heard these things things can linger for a little bit. I’ve just got to stay on top of it. And hopefully it calms down.”
Trout suffered a bone bruise in his twice-surgically repaired left knee April 30. As he got into his rehab, the Angels privately planned for him to return as an outfielder June 2 in Boston.
Trout actually came back three days earlier, but as a DH. The plan for him to build up to playing the outfield has been slowed and now it’s on hold indefinitely.
“The more volume we did, it got more sore,” Trout said. “We’re just trying to make sure that it didn’t get to a point where it got worse every single day. We’re trying to build on it. They pulled me back a little bit. When I get to a point where I have a few days and it feels good, not getting real sore, we’ll go out there and start practicing in the outfield.”
Manager Ron Washington said Friday that the Angels would have Trout DH as much as he needs, even to the point of doing it for the rest of the season.
“Obviously, I want to be in the outfield, but I’ve got to listen to my body,” Trout said. “Right now, it’s being in the lineup as the DH. As much as I want to be in the outfield, I’m just excited I’m in the lineup.”
Since Trout has been back, he’s hitting .326 with an .809 OPS. Much of that damage was done in his first few games back, though. Trout is currently in a 5-for-25 slump, with 10 strikeouts and no extra-base hits.
“Obviously, when I first came back, felt really good,” Trout said. “Just last few games, been hitting the balls hard, just right at people. A couple of at-bats, feeling a little bit disconnected, but overall, it’s been good.”
Trout said he’s also developing a routine as the DH. In the first part of his career, Trout said he didn’t like to DH. The numbers reflected that. Trout has a career .793 OPS in 100 games as a DH, compared with a 1.012 mark as a center fielder.
When the Angels were planning how to use Trout over the winter, the organization had some concern that he’d wear himself out taking too many swings in the cage between at-bats. Trout said he has managed to limit the swings, while still keeping himself moving in the gym.
“Just trying to not sit around in one spot for a while,” Trout said. “You’ve got keep moving. Not taking a lot of swings. Just in the weight room, band work, a few exercises between at-bats to stay loose.”
NOTES
Jorge Soler was out of the lineup Saturday. Soler has been playing right field while Trout is holding down the DH spot. Soler has also been in a slump, hitting .188 with a .540 OPS over his last 34 games. “We don’t see what we want to see,” Washington said of Soler’s at-bats, “but we do see him up there grinding. I still believe before this year is shut down, he’s going to come through for us big time.” …
Left-hander Garrett McDaniels was returned to the Dodgers. The Angels took McDaniels in the Rule 5 draft in December. He had a 5.91 ERA in 10 games and then went on the injured list. When McDaniels was healthy, the Angels had to put him back on the active roster or put him through waivers. He cleared waivers, and then the Dodgers took him back. …
Right-hander Michael Darrell-Hicks was claimed on waivers by the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Angels designated Darrell-Hicks for assignment when they acquired LaMonte Wade Jr. …
Right-hander Shaun Anderson cleared waivers and elected free agency. Anderson was designated for assignment Friday.
UP NEXT
Angels (LHP Yusei Kikuchi, 2-5, 2.92) at Orioles (LHP Cade Povich, 1-5, 5.46), 10:35 a.m. PT Sunday, FanDuel Sports Network West, 830 AM