Mike Trout to make spring debut for Angels on Monday

TEMPE, Ariz. — Mike Trout, the American League rookie of the year, is scheduled to make his Cactus League debut Monday.

Manager Mike Scioscia said he does not expect Trout to be affected by a barrage of off-season attention from local and national media.

“It’s not like he won rookie of the year and, boom, there was a lot of attention,” Scioscia said.

Trout was not in the major leagues at the start of last season. By the end, he had joined Miguel Cabrera of the Detroit Tigers in a two-man race for AL most valuable player. Cabrera won, but Trout became the first major league player to hit 30 home runs, score 125 runs and steal 45 bases — and the first to hit .320 with 30 home runs and 45 stolen bases.

Scioscia said players caught up in the media glare sometimes chase statistics or stop paying attention to detail, neither of which he foresees happening to Trout. It was not, Scioscia said, as if Trout could not manage the spotlight last season.

“I don’t think he would have been ready for the challenge and played as well as did if he was ever wide-eyed and intimidated,” Scioscia said.

Trout is scheduled to lead off and play left field Monday, against the Seattle Mariners. The rest of the lineup: Erick Aybar, ss; Peter Bourjos, cf; Chris Iannetta, dh; Hank Conger, c; Kole Calhoun, 1b; Trent Oeltjen, rf; Luis Rodriguez, 2b; Luis Jimenez, 3b.

Garrett Richards, who could start the season in the Angels’ bullpen or in the triple-A rotation, is scheduled to be the starting pitcher.

Chad Cordero, the ex-Cal State Fullerton star and former closer for the Montreal Expos and Washington Nationals, is expected to pitch in relief for the Angels. Cordero last pitched in the majors in 2010.

The game will not be televised, but the radio broadcast can be heard on 830 AM.

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