Torii Hunter reveals BTS details about mentoring Mike Trout on changing position

When it came to making a transformative decision like changing position, Mike Trout needed solid mentoring and who could be better than Torii Hunter for the job? The veteran, a 19-season specialist, Hunter spoke about his experience of mentoring Mike Trout to help him transition smoothly. He also shared his plans to become a full-time manager in the future.

Mike Trout sent a shocker across fans when he announced changing positions to the right field after a 13-year break. The decision might be tough for the three-time AL MVP but he had the least to worry about with legendary Torii Hunter on his side. Recently, Torii Hunter opened up about what it is like to mentor Mike Trout. Commenting on Trout’s zeal and dedication to upskilling, he said:
“Man, we chat all the time, and Trout always asks questions, he said. “He asked so many questions [as a youngster], and still, to this day, a guy who's a superstar Hall of Famer in the future and this guy still asks questions. That ought to let you know who he is.”

Earlier in February 2025, while confirming the move, Trout spoke about how he planned to prepare for the move and gave the example of Hunter having done it in the past.
"I talked to talk to a few guys, and I'll talk to Torii when he gets here because he did it," Trout said while discussing his strategy to ensure a seamless position change.
Continuing further, he said, "There's a lot of guys that move to right field that I'm gonna talk to. Just see the difference and just go out there and get comfortable in spring."
Hunter and Trout’s association dates back to 2012 when they worked together to sharpen their technical prowess. Their association continues to date and is making things easier for Trout who is rethinking his game plan.

Torii Hunter recently joined the LA Angels in March 2025 as an instructor at Angels camp and took up the charge of mentoring Mike Trout. His valuable experience as a center fielder and changing position later to right field helps him add more value to the mentoring responsibilities he currently holds.
Aside from his mentoring schedule, he has front-office responsibilities in his kitty. He is working as a special assistant to the LA Angels’ General Manager Perry Minasian. Calling it a means to ‘give wisdom back’, Torii Hunter took the position in April 2024.

Torii Hunter also plans to be a Major League team’s manager one day. Sharing his plans with MLB.com, he said:
“I definitely would be interested in doing that. I saw Albert Pujols is [managing] the Dominican [team] in 2026 [in the World Baseball Classic], and that's the start of something that you try to get that exercise to see if you really want to do it.”
Torii Hunter is a five-time All-Star, a two-time Silver Slugger Award winner, and also won nine consecutive Gold Glove Awards as a center fielder.
Also Read: “I can just be myself”: Mike Trout embraces new role in Right Field after 13-year hiatus