Angels' Mike Trout achieves career-first through two games

Trout, 34, did play in 130 games last season after only appearing in 29 in 2024 and 82 in 2023, but he was a shell of his former self when on the field for an Angels team going nowhere. 

Trout has been a shell of his former self in recent years

In 2025, Trout, a career .294 hitter, posted a .232 batting average, which came after hitting .220 in limited time the year prior. He recorded 106 hits, 26 home runs, 64 RBI and 87 walks in 456 at-bats. Solid numbers for some players, but Trout still wasn't himself despite playing more often. 

A player with three 10-plus bWAR seasons has only registered a 1.5, a 1.1 and a 2.9 in his most recent seasons. 

Angels need the old Trout to stick around if they hope to contend

While it's certainly too early to read into anything going on through just two games, Trout does appear to have his bat speed back and does appear to be at his healthiest in years — he's only reached 100 games played in three out of his last six seasons. 

Can Trout, now back playing center field following a switch to right field and serving as the designated hitter last year, keep showing flashes of being the player who owns 11 All-Star selections, nine Silver Sluggers and three American League MVP awards? Only time will tell, but for those rooting for him, he's providing some reason for optimism and hope so far. 

And if the Angels have any hope of having success as a team, they will need the old Trout to stick around throughout the whole summer.