Mike Trout set for spring debut with Angels

By Lance Pugmire

March 13, 2012 12 AM PT

Tempe, Ariz. — Mike Trout, the Angels’ top minor league prospect, is scheduled to make his spring debut Tuesday against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Trout, 20, was beset by a mysterious flu-like illness earlier in camp that caused him to lose 10 pounds. With a clean bill of health and the weight coming back, Trout was expected to enter Tuesday’s game as an outfield substitute.

“I look at it this way: Go out and play hard, put up some numbers and see what happens,” Trout said. “I’m going to do everything I can so they should know where to put me.”

Trout, a first-round pick in 2009 who batted .326 with 13 triples, 11 home runs and 33 stolen bases last season at Double-A Arkansas, hit .220 in 123 at-bats with the Angels.

Angels Manager Mike Scioscia said determining whether Trout sticks with the Angels or goes to Triple-A is based on him “getting on the field first.”

“There’s a lot of spring training to go. He’s definitely on our depth chart,” Scioscia said.

With center field manned by Peter Bourjos, Trout said his plan was to work diligently on strengthening his defense in corner outfield spots and “to put up some numbers.”

“They’ve always put me where I should be. It’s always been the right decision.”

Van Mil reassigned -- The Angels sent 7-foot-1 pitcher Loek Van Mil back to minor-league camp Tuesday after a self-described “sub-par at best” two-appearance turn in spring.

Van Mil, 27, from the Netherlands, gave up five hits, including a home run, in his 3¿ innings.

“It was expected, I knew I wasn’t going to make the team,” he said. “It was a dream.”

Van Mil said that, after walking 23 batters in 66 innings last year at Double-A Arkansas, he took it upon himself to decrease his velocity to have better control of pitches, which can reach 93 mph.

“Apparently, I’m not that guy,” Van Mil said.

He said he didn’t want to ruin his family’s Tuesday visit to the Grand Canyon by breaking the news of his demotion when informed Tuesday morning.

In minor-league camp, Van Mil said he’ll focus on “throwing harder, being aggressive, and not as perfect.”

Morales update: After running bases two consecutive days, Kendrys Morales experienced some right calf tightness Tuesday and was rested.

Morales, who’s undergone two surgeries to correct an ankle fractured in May 2010, was aiming for a Thursday game debut, either with the Angels or on a minor-league field.

“We’ll give him a day, have him run [Wednesday] and see where he’s at for possibly playing later this week,” Scioscia said. “The ankle’s fine, he just has to get his legs in shape.”

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