Mike Trout makes first spring start in right field

TEMPE, Ariz. — For the first time since September 1, 2013, Mike Trout played in a different position than center field. 

The three-time MVP winner has been the Angels center fielder for over a decade, but constant injury problems the last few seasons have forced him to move to right field to try and ease his workload. 

It was a quiet day for Trout in the field. He only played three innings and didn't get a single ball hit to him. At practice though, Trout says things are going smoothly. 

"It's been good," Trout said. "Obviously, different balls in the gap are going to come back to me for a righty. We've been working on that and I think once I get comfortable with all that, it'll be fine."

Another aspect of playing rightfield that will be an adjustment for Trout is communication. 

"When we're doing communication drills, I feel like I'm still playing center," Trout said. "I got to be aggressive, but I know that the center fielder gets the ball. So when I'm talking to Mickey (Moniak) and talking to Jo (Adell), it's got to be loud, because I've still got the center field instinct and I'm trying to catch everything." 

At the plate, he was 0-for-1 with a walk and a strikeout. Trout said he felt like he took and couple of good swings but he was just "a tick late" today. 

KYLE HENDRICKS' SPRING DEBUT

Right-hander Kyle Hendricks made his first start of the spring and threw two innings without allowing a baserunner and struck out three. 

Hendricks said his main goal was to execute at the bottom of the strike zone and then work his pitches. For his pitches, Hendricks wanted to use his curveball often as well as both of his fastballs to both right-handed and left-handed hitters in all locations to be unpredictable. 

"Changeups' my pitch, we know that," Hendricks said. "It's going to be the go-to, but by throwing the curveball more, by letting that fastball play, especially establishing the fastball at the bottom of the zone, that's how my changeups' going to work and going to play."

Hendricks gave heavy praise to Travis d'Arnaud behind the plate for his help in executing Hendricks' game plan. 

"Just trying to be me," Hendricks said. "Executing, playing my fastball a lot, seeing what we got on the action, and just following him (Travis d'Arnaud), basically. Travis was so good, just making my room for error so big, using both my fastballs really well, and establishing the curveball. It needs to be part of my game, so just forcing me to throw it, he was spot on."

THE REST OF THE GAME

Jorge Soler went 2-for-3 at the plate with a long three-run home run in the first inning that cleared the grass area beyond the left field wall. 

Taylor Ward and Nolan Schanuel each went 1-for-2 with a double. Ward one-hopped the wall in the opposite-field gap and Schanuel pulled a ball that also one-hopped the wall in right field. 

José Suarez pitched two innings and allowed two hits, an earned run and struck out a pair of Giants hitters. His only run surrendered was a solo home run by Marco Luciano.

Hans Crouse threw a one-two-three inning where he struck out all three batters.

The Angels won 7-4 and will resume Cactus League action in Peoria, Arizona tomorrow against the San Diego Padres at 12:10 PST.