PHOENIX – The world moves quickly, including the World Baseball Classic.

Just three years ago, Mike Trout was the captain of the U.S. squad. The face of the team. And part of the dream scenario come true that closed the tournament as baseball superheroes clashed. That was then.

This is now. The U.S. team — before leaving for pool play in Houston — trained and played exhibition games for a few days in Arizona, so close and yet so far from Trout, who is in the baseball version of witness protection in Angels camp. Mainly out of sight and more and more out of mind. Off the central highway of the game with a body that has betrayed him and a team that has gone the longest in the majors without making the playoffs. This is Daniel Day-Lewis doing dinner theater in Des Moines.

He is again trying to recapture the best version of himself by, among other items, returning at least some of the time to center field and trying to steal bases again and keep his legs sound enough that he plays and hits like someone who used to be Mike Trout.