Angels preseason capsule: Mike Trout's move to RF in focus

Los Angeles Angels

2024 record: 63-99 (5th place, AL West)

He gone: RHP Griffin Canning, INF Brandon Drury, LHP Matt Moore, OF Kevin Pillar, LHP Patrick Sandoval, RHP Hunter Strickland, C Matt Thaiss.

New faces: INF Tim Anderson, C Travis d'Arnaud, INF J.D. Davis, RHP Kyle Hendricks, RHP Kenley Jansen, LHP Yusei Kikuchi, 3B Yoan Moncada, INF Kevin Newman, 1B Ryan Noda, DH Jorge Soler.

Biggest question entering Opening Day: Pretty much the same topic as every spring -- how long will Mike Trout go before sustaining an injury? Trout has averaged 66.5 games over the past four seasons and played in just 29 last season due to a knee injury. The Angels have moved him to right field to save wear and tear on his body, but Trout still has to run and slide and leap just as he would as a center fielder. His 2023 hand injury wasn't due to the position he plays; he was swinging the bat. The Angels yearn for the Trout who won three MVP awards and finished second on four other occasions between 2012-19.

Top prospect: 2B Christian Moore could be on the fast track to the majors, similar to how quickly SS Zach Neto arrived after 48 minor league games. Moore was a college star at powerhouse Tennessee before the Angels took him eighth in last June's draft. Though a small sampling, Moore was dominant in a combined 25 games at Single-A and Double-A last season, batting .347 with six homers and 20 RBIs.

Breakout player: Right-handed reliever Ben Joyce figures to become the closer at some point, and possibly this season, despite the offseason signing of Jansen. Joyce regularly hits 103-104 mph and can outright intimidate some hitters. He has struck out 43 in 44 2/3 major league innings but needs to harness his control (23 walks, five hit batters).

2025 outlook: The Angels haven't made the postseason since 2014, and it stands as one of the more embarrassing failures in club history since Trout and Shohei Ohtani were teammates from 2018-23. The drought doesn't figure to end this season, either. One plus is that 3B Anthony Rendon (hip surgery) already got his annual injury out of the way, and that equals less drama. Neto (23 homers) might have been the team's top player last season. OF Taylor Ward led the team with 25 homers after his 2023 season ended early when he was hit in the face by a pitach. RHP Jose Soriano has been a revelation in his return to a starting role under manager Ron Washington.

--Field Level Media