Return of Angels’ Peter Bourjos pushes Mike Trout to left field

BALTIMORE — Peter Bourjos didn’t get caught up in the controversy surrounding Manager Mike Scioscia’s decision to move Mike Trout from center field back to left field when Bourjos, out since April 30 because of a left hamstring strain, was activated off the disabled list.

“You hear it, but there’s nothing you can do about it,” Bourjos said. “At the time all that was going on, I could barely walk, so it wasn’t my first concern at all. My concern was getting healthy. Then, I could deal with it.”

Bourjos, Trout and Scioscia dealt with it Monday night in Camden Yards. Bourjos, after a week-long minor league rehabilitation stint, was back in center field for the series opener against the Orioles, and Trout was in left.

Despite the fact that Trout is more comfortable in center, a position he exceled in last season, and hit .342 with eight home runs, 12 doubles, five triples and 28 runs batted in in 38 games there since Bourjos’ injury, Scioscia called Trout into his office a few days ago to inform him he’d be moving back to left.

“I knew it was coming,” Trout said. “Petey was playing well there before he went on the DL.”

Bourjos is a superb center fielder, but in his entire professional career, he has played only five games in left field, all in the minor leagues.

“I don’t know if Peter’s lack of experience in left field really factors in,” Scioscia said. “It’s a whole picture. Peter is a Gold Glove-caliber center fielder, he gives you a unique dimension there, and it allows you to be stronger on the wings. It makes more sense to have him in center.”