HOUSTON — Mike Trout did something on Friday night that has long been the bane of his baseball existence: He turned on a four-seam fastball that clipped the top of the zone — a pitch he typically struggles to hit — sending it over the Crawford Boxes in left field for a long home run.
It was a small sign, but a good one for Trout. The narrative of his last four seasons has been of the premature end to his once-elite prime. The narrative for this season, he hopes, is one of redemption.
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Much has been made of all the people who doubt Trout. Be it MLB Network ranking him as the game’s 39th best player, to his chagrin. Or the parent company of the Angels’ in-house television network, FanDuel Sports, pondering in a since-deleted post on X that Trout might be “cooked.”
But what gets lost in it all is how much of the baseball world is rooting for Trout — once the game’s greatest player, now having to re-prove his ability to play at a high level.
“I know that. There are a lot of people that are rooting for me,” Trout said. “The things you hear are people rooting against you, and saying different things. But I’ve got a lot of support. I’m enjoying myself, having fun. I think it’s been (two weeks) to start the season.”
big fan of this pic.twitter.com/dAZYFmHL7n
— Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) April 12, 2025
Trout’s six home runs this season are tied for the MLB lead. He’s struck out in just 15.5 percent of his at-bats, well down from the 29 percent in 2023 or the 28 percent the year before that. His .208 average isn’t great, but there are some encouraging signs for the 33-year-old.
Manager Ron Washington said Trout’s offense is “coming” and is encouraged by his consistency barreling the ball. But it came with the notable caveat that “he’s not there yet.”
It’s an assessment Trout seems to share, and he was clear he doesn’t view himself as a more prototypical home run hitter.
“The process has been good so far. Some of the at-bats just a little off. Just under,” Trout said. “When I get in a good position to hit, I feel right. I feel like my old self. I’m just trusting the process, working on cage work. The biggest thing right now is just being under. When I’m under, my swing is long.”
Even on a team with more veteran leadership this year, Trout seems to have taken on more responsibility — a role that hasn’t always jived with his personality. He helped establish the no phones in the clubhouse policy, though the rule has been notably relaxed at the outset of the season.
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He also came up with the team’s home run celebration, donning a Los Angeles Fire Department Captain’s helmet to honor those who battled devastating wildfires just three months ago.
Trout’s career has been a Shakespearean tragedy the last four years — different injuries amid losing seasons. His relevance waned. His contract, which lasts another six years, had the makings of a dangerous albatross for the Angels.
For the longest time, Trout’s fate has been tied to the Angels. An abyss of injuries, losing and the oft-discussed fear that he was destined to never reach the postseason again. Still, he said it was important for him to stick with this organization because when everything came together, he wanted it to be while he was an Angel. It’s early, but the signs in 2025 are almost all positive.
“Everybody is coming in working,” Trout said. “Everybody is expecting to win when they come in here. The at-bats have been incredible. The energy has been incredible. It’s a tight group in there.”
The Angels know, and Trout knows, that there is little chance of success for this team without him performing at a high level.
And for Trout to be at that high level, he needs to be healthy and hitting. And he feels like he’s quite close.
“That’s who I was, and that’s who I’m trying to get back to be,” Trout said. “Home runs are great, put good swings on balls. But getting back to hitting the ball hard on the ground or in the gap, line drives, that’s where I want to be.”
Angels extras
- Washington said last week he believed that Anthony Rendon (hip) would be around the Angels for this series in Houston. After all, he lives in the area and hasn’t been with the team at all in spring or at the outset of the season. He hasn’t come to the park yet, however, and there is no locker for him in the clubhouse.
- Shortstop Zach Neto (shoulder) will play nine innings at shortstop on Tuesday and Wednesday as he ramps up for his season debut. He’s expected to utilize his entire 20-day rehab, meaning he won’t be back before April 20.
(Photo: Kiyoshi Mio / Imagn Images)
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