Trout, 32, has stolen only six bases in the previous four years and the team has mostly had him stop running in order to prevent injuries, but he says he’s ready to go again and Manager Ron Washington says he won’t stand in his way
Angels star Mike Trout, left, has stolen only six bases in the previous four seasons and the team has mostly had him stop running in order to prevent injuries, but he says he’s ready to go again and new Manager Ron Washington, right, says he won’t stand in his way. (AP Photo/Steve Ruark)
Six games into the season, Mike Trout has one stolen base.
That’s one shy of the most he’s had in a season since 2019.
One of the narratives that has followed Trout throughout the last five years is a frustration among fans that he is not the same stolen base threat he was at the start of his career. Trout stole 49 bases as a rookie in 2012 and 30 as recently as 2016.
As injuries have taken their toll on him, though, Trout, 32, has been anchored to first base. He has stolen a total of six bases over the previous four seasons.
“In the past I’ve been kind of holding back a little bit, because obviously the injury history,” Trout said. “But I just want to go out and play and have fun, play baseball. I won’t steal every night, but stealing bags and doing what I can to get on second.”
Asked how many steals he’d like this season, Trout said: “I think 20-plus would be cool. Thirty would be really cool.”
Manager Ron Washington said he won’t stand in Trout’s way for the sake of injury prevention.
“I don’t want Mike stealing 50 bags because I don’t want him hitting the ground that much, but if Mike decides he wants to get 50 bags and he can get 50, I’m not going to stop him.”
WEAVER’S FUTURE
Longtime Angels pitcher Jered Weaver returned to Angel Stadium to throw out the ceremonial first pitch on Friday.
Before the game, Weaver said that he’s ready to get back into the game in a more active role.
“I said after I got done, I wouldn’t, but I’m kind of itching to get back,” said Weaver, who last played in 2017. “I’ve had my time away, spent it with family. I would like to get back in at some point. I miss the game now. I find myself watching a little bit more than I used to. At some point it would be great to get back in, but I’m not going to force myself back in. If somebody reaches out, we’ll see what happens.”
Weaver, who has three children, said he’s not ready to be away for a full-time job, but he’d be interested in “something where I can pop in for five or 10 days and show my face and help out the youngsters.”
Weaver made some headlines in spring 2023 when he made a comment on Twitter about the fact that the Angels hadn’t invited him back as a guest instructor, as they had done with many other former Angels players.
Weaver said there were never any hard feelings behind that Tweet.
“I was out at a bar with my buddies that night,” Weaver said with a smile. “That’s how that Tweet came about. Since then I backed off Twitter a little bit.”
NOTES
Right-handed reliever Robert Stephenson (shoulder inflammation) is scheduled for another bullpen session on Saturday, and then live batting practice on Monday. Stephenson will need a rehab assignment before he’s activated. …
Nolan Schanuel was back in the No. 2 spot in the lineup on Friday night. Washington said his current plan is for Schanuel to hit second against righties, and down in the lineup against lefties. …
Washington reiterated his confidence in Anthony Rendon as his leadoff hitter, despite his 0-for-19 start. “I’m not worried about Rendon getting hits,” Washington said. “Rendon will get a lot of hits. The quality has been there. He’s put the barrel on the ball. He just doesn’t have anything to show for it. I know that you guys judge him on getting base hits, but I judge on how he goes about his business and what his at-bats mean to us as a team. He’s gonna get his hits and when he starts getting them, you’re all going to say ‘When’s he going to stop?’”
