"Mark Trumbo is willing to get an early start on learning how to play third base. Very early.

"If I'm physically able, I'll be out there at 4:15 in the morning if that's what it takes," the Angels young slugger said Saturday while attending a charity event at El Dorado High School for the Cory Hahn Fund. "In all honesty – I'll field thousands of ground balls a day if that's going to give me a better chance to make the transition and help the team."

The truth of the matter, though, is that Trumbo will actually be getting a late start on trying to make third base a viable option for his playing time in 2012.

Even before signing first baseman Albert Pujols as a free agent this winter, the Angels had hoped Trumbo would be able to start working out at third base with coach Rob Picciolo during the off-season. But the stress fracture in Trumbo's foot that hobbled him in September has been slow to heal and Trumbo only recently was cleared to begin 'baseball activities' as part of his workouts. Though not on the field, he has been fielding ground balls with a third baseman's glove, "getting my hands working, my feet.""