Trout's first spring HR clears batter's eye

Trout's first spring HR clears batter's eye

March 10th, 2018

TEMPE, Ariz. -- is rounding into form.
After a 1-for-14 start to the spring, Trout delivered three hits -- including his first Cactus League home run -- in the Angels' 9-8 loss to the Giants in a split-squad game at Tempe Diablo Stadium on Saturday.
Trout collected a pair of line-drive singles in the first and third innings before crushing an 0-1 pitch from over the batter's eye in center field to extend the Angels' lead to 7-3 in the fifth. For reference, the center-field wall is located 420 feet from home plate, and the batter's eye stands 30 feet high at Tempe Diablo.
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Though Trout has cleared the batter's eye during batting practice, Saturday marked his first time accomplishing the feat in a game.
"I just put a good swing on it and barreled it," said Trout, who departed after playing five innings in center field. "We try to do it in BP all the time, so it's pretty cool to do it in a game."
• Angels Spring Training info
Heaney's day
Left-hander gave up three runs (one earned) on four hits while striking out six and walking one over 3 1/3 innings against the Giants. Heaney, who moved back to the first-base side of the rubber after experimenting with the third-base side last season, said he feels the move has already yielded positive results.
"I can already tell," Heaney said. "The swings that I'm getting are totally different, and I know that. It's something that I went back to. I tried on the third-base side. It's just not for me."
Meanwhile, in Scottsdale ...
Right-hander started the Angels' 11-7 loss to the Giants in the other split-squad game Saturday at Scottsdale Stadium, yielding four runs on five hits over three innings. Bridwell, who is vying for the final spot in the club's rotation, walked none, struck out five and surrendered home runs to and in the third inning.
and Chris Carter homered for the Angels, who have now lost six consecutive Cactus League games.
The Ohtani brief
is scheduled to serve as the Angels' designated hitter against the Rangers on Sunday. Ohtani has hit in five Cactus League games, going 1-for-11 with three walks.
Ohtani, who allowed six runs over three innings in his most recent outing in a "B" game against the Tijuana Toros, will make his next pitching appearance in a Cactus League game. The earliest Ohtani could return to the mound would be Friday, according to manager Mike Scioscia.
Scioscia added that some of the Angels' internal data suggested that Ohtani pitched better than what was reflected in his line score against the Toros.
"A lot of his internal numbers would predict a much better outcome than we saw," Scioscia said. "There are some positives there. We're going to have to keep building with him."
Camp battle
The Angels have started to give some of their bullpen candidates the chance to pitch multiple innings. Rule 5 Draft pick fired two scoreless innings in Scottsdale, while allowed one run over 1 1/3 innings in Tempe. The Angels will likely carry at least one multi-inning reliever in their bullpen this season to fill the void left by .
Injury updates
• Shortstop (left shoulder strain) was cleared to do some light jogging but has not yet resumed swinging.
• Infielder (right groin tightness) hit on the field during batting practice and fielded ground balls. Scioscia said Marte is "within a couple days of being able to play."
• Outfielder Chris Young (right calf strain) took live batting practice for the second consecutive day and performed an outfield drill.
Saturday's moves
The Angels reassigned catcher and right-hander to Minor League camp and optioned right-hander to Triple-A Salt Lake. Fifty-two players remain in big league camp.
• Barria nearly ready to help Angels
Up next
Right-hander JC Ramirez will make his third start of the spring Sunday, when the Angels face the Rangers at Tempe Diablo Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 1:10 p.m. PT, and the game can be viewed live on MLB.TV.