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Angels Insider Shares Clear Message Amid Mike Trout’s Struggles

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jake Elman | Last updated Apr 22, 2025 4:02 PM ET

Baseball fans spent the past three years wanting a healthy Mike Trout, especially as the Los Angeles Angels great rapidly approaches his mid-30s.

The good news: Trout has played in all 21 games thus far. However, he looks nothing like his three-time MVP self, entering play Tuesday hitting .184 with a .802 OPS and 0.2 bWAR over 90 plate appearances.

Trout at least owns eight home runs, putting him well on pace for his fourth 40-home run season. However, his 25-11 K-BB ratio and inconsistent power—Trout has only one double and no triples—have fans quite concerned.

Longtime Angels reporter Jeff Fletcher has some advice for Angels fans: relax.

“The three-time American League MVP, like every player, goes through some miserable stretches during a season,” Fletcher pointed out in the Orange County Register. “In 2023, he endured a 4-for-39 slump with 17 strikeouts.”

It’s simple advice, but Fletcher has analytics on his side. According to Baseball Savant, Trout’s expected slugging percentage is .681, significantly above his actual .513 slugging. The average player entered Tuesday with a .387 slugging percentage.

Similarly, his .802 OPS is on track to be his lowest since the 40 games he played in 2011. However, the average MLB OPS is .699, and an OPS of .800 is typically considered above average, regardless of the season or context.

“Trout has … been hitting the ball hard, although some fans understandably take no solace in that,” Fletcher wrote.

This week is an excellent opportunity for Trout to begin a hot streak, with a three-game series against the lowly Pittsburgh Pirates (8-15) and Minnesota Twins (7-15) looming.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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