Angels prospect Mark Trumbo returns home early from winter ball

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Mark Trumbo, one of the Angels’ top power-hitting prospects, cut short his Venezuelan winter-ball season by about three weeks, returning to Orange County in November because of ‘an illness in the family.’ The first baseman declined to elaborate.

Trumbo, a former Villa Park High School standout, hit .336 with five home runs, 21 runs batted in, 37 strikeouts and 13 walks in 28 games for Magallanes. He was supposed to play through Dec. 15 but returned home around Nov. 20.

‘I had a great time there -- it went well,’ said Trumbo, who appeared in seven games as a September callup with the Angels in 2010. ‘They want me to come back for the playoffs, but I’m not sure I’ll be able to do that.’

Trumbo, whose path to the big leagues appears to be blocked by Angels first baseman Kendry Morales, hoped to use winter ball to gain experience in the outfield. But he did not play one inning in the outfield for Magallanes ‘because they had enough outfielders,’ he said.

Trumbo, who hit .303 with 36 homers and 122 RBIs in 137 games at triple-A Salt Lake last season, played played 27 games for Magallanes at first base and made one appearance at third base, ‘which didn’t go well,’ Trumbo said. ‘I made a couple of errors, on a popup and a grounder, but it was a cameo appearance.’

-- Mike DiGiovanna