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Tag: Mike Trout

  • Mike Trout Falls to No. 81 on MLB Network’s Top 100 Players List

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    Once the unquestioned face of baseball, Mike Trout’s steady slide in MLB Network’s rankings reflects age, injuries, and a career at a crossroads

    As MLB Network is rolling out their top 100 players right now, Angels former superstar centerfielder Mike Trout has fallen to No. 81, the far and away lowest he’s ranked since his debut.

    During most of the 2010’s and as recently as heading into the 2021 season, MLB Network ranked Trout as the No. 1 player in all of baseball. Even when Trout lost that spot to then-teammate DH/SP Shohei Ohtani heading into 2022, he was still No. 2.

    Since then, though, Trout has continued to fall in the rankings, as he ranked No. 3 going into 2023, No. 12 going into 2024, No. 39 going into 2025 and now No. 81.

    Despite Trout being the most healthy he’s been in years, as he played in 130 games in 2025, the most since 2019 and only the second time in the 2020s he’s played in at least 100 games, Trout had the worst year of his career.

    In his 130 games, Trout slashed .232/.359/.439 with 26 home runs, 64 RBIs, a .797 OPS, 121 OPS+ and a 1.8 fWAR. Those are all career lows for Trout in a season where he had played at least 100 games. Another career worst for Trout was in K% as he struck out 32% of the time, which was in the second percentile.

    These numbers are a far cry from what Trout used to put up, as from 2012-2019, Trout had won three MVPs, was MVP runner-up four times, and placed fourth once. During this span, he averaged 8.8 fWAR a season, 35 home runs, and 92 RBIs while slashing .308/.422/.587 with a 1.009 OPS and 178 OPS+.

    There’s likely pessimism Trout will return to his all-star form due to the fact Trout is only getting older, as he be 34 on opening day, and his injury history over the past few seasons.

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    Trout played in only 39 games in 2021 due to a calf strain, 119 games in 2022 due to a back injury, 83 games in 2023 due to a broken hamate, 29 games in 2024 due to a torn meniscus and 130 games in 2025 due to a bone bruise on his left knee. Trout announced he would move from center field to right field to help stay healthy, but he ended up as the team’s designated hitter for 106 games.

    Only spots No. 100-41 have been announced yet, with spots No. 40-21 being announced Jan. 19. The only other Angel to make the list thus far is shortstop Zach Neto, six spots behind Trout at 87.

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    Tony Gleason

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  • Ohtani is unanimous MVP for 4th time in winning NL honor as Judge edges Raleigh for 3rd AL accolade

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    Shohei Ohtani likes winning Most Valuable Player awards. He loves winning the World Series even more.

    The two-way Japanese star did both for a second season in a row for the Los Angeles Dodgers, earning his fourth career MVP on Thursday night while unanimously earning the National League honor. He’s just the second to win four MVPs after Barry Bonds with seven and the only player to win unanimously more than once.

    Considering Ohtani is 31, overtaking Bonds doesn’t seem out of the question. Especially if it leads to more Fall Classic opportunities.

    “If I’m playing well as an individual that means I’m helping the team win, so in that sense, hopefully I can end up with a couple more MVPs,” Ohtani said through an interpreter. “But at the end of the day, it’s all about winning games.”

    In the American League, Aaron Judge became the New York Yankees’ fourth three-time winner, edging Seattle’s Cal Raleigh with 17 first-place votes to 13 for the switch-hitting catcher. The vote was the closest for an MVP since the Los Angeles Angels’ Mike Trout topped Houston’s Alex Bregman by 17-13 in 2019.

    Judge, who won the AL award in 2022 and 2024, joined Joe DiMaggio, Yogi Berra and Mickey Mantle as three-time MVPs with the Yankees. The 33-year-old outfielder led the majors with a .331 batting average and 1.144 OPS while hitting 53 homers.

    When asked about his place in MLB and Yankees lore, Judge acknowledged he’s in rare company.

    “It’s tough for me to wrap my head around,” Judge said. “It’s mind blowing from my side of things, because I play this game to win, I play this game for my teammates, my family, all the fans in New York.”

    Later he added: “You’ve got to pinch yourself every single day. It’s truly an incredible honor.”

    Ohtani won a MVP for the third straight year, his second in the NL with the Dodgers after two in the AL with the Angels. He became the first to win in each league twice after getting the AL honor in 2021 and 2023. Ohtani signed with the crosstown Dodgers the following offseason and won NL MVP in 2024 during his first season in Chavez Ravine. He’s also won the World Series in both his seasons with the Dodgers.

    Philadelphia Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber finished second in the NL with 23 second-place votes and New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto was third with four.

    Ohtani hit .282 and led the NL with a 1.014 OPS. He also had 55 homers, 102 RBIs and 20 stolen bases.

    The right-hander returned to pitching in June after missing 1 1/2 seasons on the mound because of an elbow injury. He struck out 62 batters over 47 innings, slowly increasing his workload while preparing for the postseason.

    Ohtani continued to shine in October with arguably the greatest single game in MLB history. He hit three homers while striking out 10 over six dominant innings on Oct. 17, leading the Dodgers over Milwaukee to finish an NL Championship Series sweep.

    Schwarber, who earned a $50,000 bonus for finishing second, hit an NL-best 56 homers and led the big leagues with 132 RBIs for Philadelphia.

    Soto overcame a slow start to the season to have his typically stellar offensive output. The four-time All-Star — who signed a $765 million, 15-year deal last December — had 43 homers, 105 RBIs and an NL-best 38 stolen bases. He received a $150,000 bonus for finishing third in the MVP voting.

    Judge is the first AL player to win back-to-back MVPs since Detroit’s Miguel Cabrera it in 2012 and 2013.

    Raleigh, nicknamed “Big Dumper,” led the big leagues with 60 homers, the most for a player primarily a catcher. He started 119 games behind the plate and another 38 at designated hitter.

    The 28-year-old also had a career-high 125 RBIs, leading the Mariners to one of their best seasons in franchise history. Judge said he got to know Raleigh a little during the All-Star break and the catcher asked for some leadership tips.

    “Cal’s a special player,” Judge said. “I could sit here and talk all night about the player he is, but really the kind of leader and person he is really stuck out to me at the All-Star Game.”

    Cleveland’s José Ramírez finished third in the AL.

    Arizona’s Geraldo Perdomo was fourth in the NL voting, earning him $2.5 million annual salary increases in 2028 and 2029 along with the price of Arizona’s 2030 club option.

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    AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

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  • Fan gives back Mike Trout’s 400th career home run ball, but not before getting something cool

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    Many people have a fond memory of playing catch with someone special — a parent, a grandparent, a sibling, a lifelong friend.

    A fan who sat 485 feet from home plate at Coors Field on Saturday probably never dreamed he’d be doing so with a future Hall of Famer.

    But thanks to his quick thinking, the fan, whose first name reportedly is Alberto, boldly asked Mike Trout for the favor after the Angels defeated the Colorado Rockies 3-0.

    What a cool request! Trout had already agreed to give Alberto — who attended the game with his wife and two children — three signed bats and two signed baseballs in exchange for the ball he crushed.

    While Trout signed the balls and bats in the dugout long after the game had ended, Alberto politely asked him while making a throwing motion with his right arm, “You mind if we play catch with a ball on the field?” the three-time American League Most Valuable Player didn’t hesitate, saying, “Yeah, you want to do it?” Alberto grabbed his glove.

    A post on the MLB.com X account shows Alberto tossing the ball back and forth to Trout, who catches it with his bare hands while wearing his cap backward. At one point, Trout says something to Alberto’s young son, who is watching in awe.

    And no wonder. Shortly before Trout hit No. 400, Alberto told Trout he’d turned to his son and said, “He’s got a lot of power.” No kidding, enough to drive the ball deep into the left-center field stands. Alberto caught the blast with his bare hands.

    It was Trout’s third home run of at least 485 feet since Statcast began tracking long balls in 2015, the most of any player. The 34-year old outfielder in his 15th season became the 59th MLB player to reach 400 homers and the 20th to hit them all with one franchise.

    The No. 400 ball clearly had more monetary value than the signed balls and bats, but nowhere near the value of a career 500 home run ball or, say, the home run the Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman hit to win Game 1 of the 2024 World Series — which was sold at auction for $1.56 million.

    The home run was meaningful to Trout, who admitted to feeling pressure as he approached the milestone. It was only his second long ball since Aug. 7.

    He also recognized that catching the ball and returning it to the player who belted it was meaningful to Alberto, who likely has already done what dads do — play catch with his children.

    “Once they get older and realize, that’ll be an awesome memory for the dad to tell the kids, to experience that,” Trout told reporters. “I know how I felt when I went to a ballgame with my dad.”

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    Steve Henson

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  • Angels seeking the solution to Mike Trout’s slump

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    HOUSTON — The Angels continue to search for a way to get Mike Trout out of his current slump.

    Angels hitting coach Johnny Washington said he’s nonetheless optimistic they will soon find something that clicks for Trout.

    “We’ve been in the video room, watching, doing a bunch of comparison, things like that,” Washington said before Saturday’s game against the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas.

    “But honestly, we just haven’t found the success we’re looking for in the game. It’s really frustrating. At the same time, man, he’s gonna keep coming in and we’re gonna keep going to work until we find it.”

    Trout, a three-time MVP who routinely had an OPS around 1.000 in his prime and even around .850 in recent years, has seen his season OPS to drop to .786 with a miserable month.

    Going into Saturday’s game, Trout is 11 for 61 (.180) with no homers and a .539 OPS in his last 18 games. It’s the fourth-longest stretch of his career without a homer, and the longest since 2015. He’s been stuck on 398 homers during this slump.

    Trout has also struck out in 28 of his last 76 plate appearances (37%), and in the past week he’s whiffed in 13 of his last 19 trips to the plate.

    “He’s been punching out a lot more than he should,” Washington said. “But he’s been working. Can’t complain about the work. We’re trying a few different things in terms of changing the work. We’re trying to get some of the work to bleed out into the game. It’s been rough for him. I know he’s not excited about what’s been taking place, but he continues to come to the ballpark (early). He’s been a true pro throughout this time and throughout this little rough patch he’s been in.”

    Trout has gotten into two-strike counts in 74% of his plate appearances in August, which is the highest percentage for any month of his career. His overall percentage is 56%.

    “He has been in a ton of two-strike counts,” Washington said. “There’s been some pitches that he’s taken that in the past he would actually swing at. We’ve identified some of that. Some of it is just ending the at-bat, when the at-bat should be ended, and at times he’ll foul off a pitch or swing and miss. He’s frustrated, to say the least. He’s working through it. And we’ll find a way to get through it.”

    Trout addressed the slump earlier this week, saying simply that he was having trouble “recognizing the pitch, being on time.”

    When asked if his knee was bothering him, Trout acknowledged that it’s not 100%.

    “I feel it,” he said. “It is what it is.”

    Trout, 34, has been limited to DH duty since he returned from a month on the injured list with a bone bruise in his left knee, which was surgically repaired twice last season.

    Trout’s current performance has certainly given rise to the narrative that this isn’t merely a slump, but it’s just a reflection of the type of hitter he is at this point in his career.

    Washington said he believes Trout will turn it around soon.

    “I’m optimistic, with a month left, that that he’ll find some some traction,” Washington said, “and hopefully finish on a really good note.”

    NOTES

    The Angels are still undecided on their pitcher for Tuesday’s game in Kansas City. Left-hander Sam Aldegheri made his scheduled start Saturday at Double-A, eliminating him as a candidate. …

    First baseman Nolan Schanuel (wrist contusion) is expected to try to swing a bat Sunday. “I would say better, but not significantly better,” interim manager Ray Montgomery said. “But enough to at least move forward.” …

    Jorge Soler (back) took batting practice on the field Saturday. “We’re going to add a little more to it every day and kind of stack some gains on that,” Montgomery said.

    UP NEXT

    Angels (RHP José Soriano, 9-9, 3.85) at Astros (RHP Hunter Brown, 10-6, 2.37), 11:10 a.m. PT Sunday, FanDuel Sports Network West, 830 AM

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    Jeff Fletcher

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  • Los Angeles Angels Star Mike Trout Done For The Season With Meniscus Tear

    Los Angeles Angels Star Mike Trout Done For The Season With Meniscus Tear

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    Once again, Mike Trout‘s season has ended early.

    The Los Angeles Angels center fielder has suffered another meniscus tear in his surgically repaired left knee, putting him out for the remainder of the season.

    Trout has had several significant injuries in recent years.

    In an X post today, Trout wrote that an MRI a day earlier “showed a tear in my meniscus that will require surgery again — ending my hopes of returning this season.”

    “Playing and competing is a huge part of my life,” Trout added. “This is equally as heartbreaking and frustrating for me as it is for you, the fans. I understand that I may have disappointed many, but believe me, I will do everything I can to come back even stronger.”

    The almost 33-year-old Trout suffered his first meniscus tear on April 29 and had surgery four days later. He hoped to return within four to six weeks, but instead took a little more than 11 weeks for Trout to begin a rehab assignment.

    Once he did, he played just two innings in center field and one at-bat before discomfort in his left knee forced him out. Trout spoke to reporters last Friday and was optimistic about a quick return.

    But when he received another scan Wednesday, a new tear was found in a different spot of the knee.

    Trout is widely considered one of baseball’s best when he plays. He won three MVPs, claimed eight Silver Slugger Awards, and made eight trips to the All-Star Game.

    But when this season ends, he will have played in about 41% of the Angels’ games from 2021 to 2024.

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    Bruce Haring

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  • Angels GM On Ohtani Potentially Leaving: ‘We Are The Most Incompetent Franchise In The History Of Professional Sports’

    Angels GM On Ohtani Potentially Leaving: ‘We Are The Most Incompetent Franchise In The History Of Professional Sports’

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    ANAHEIM, CA—Asked for his thoughts on the potential departure of impending free agent star Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Angels general manager Perry Minasian told reporters Thursday that his team was “the most incompetent franchise in the history of professional sports.” “None of us know what the fuck we’re doing,” said Minasian, explaining why the supremely talented pitcher, designated hitter, outfielder, and 2021 American League MVP would likely become a free agent and leave the team that had failed to make the playoffs in all his years with them. “Only the most inept organization led by absolute idiots could have gotten six seasons of Ohtani’s prime, paired him with Mike Trout—another generational talent—and then, by some miracle of stupidity, failed to provide a supporting cast good enough to win at least a World Series or two. Did we even win the goddamn division? Not once. What a bunch of goddamn morons we are. Why on God’s green earth did he sign with us, anyway? I guess the poor guy didn’t know he was getting involved with a bunch of world-class fuckups. The minute the season ends, he should definitely high-tail it out of here and never look back. Christ, they ought to kick us out of the league.” At press time, the Angels front-office executives were all reportedly asking team owner Arte Moreno why the hell they still had their jobs.

    Men Explain Why Women’s Yoga Pants Should Be Banned In Public

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  • AP source: Aaron Judge, Yankees reach $360M, 9-year deal

    AP source: Aaron Judge, Yankees reach $360M, 9-year deal

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    SAN DIEGO — Aaron Judge has issued his ruling: Court remains in session in the Bronx.

    Judge is staying with the New York Yankees on a $360 million, nine-year contract, according to a person familiar with baseball’s biggest free agent deal ever.

    The person spoke to The Associated Press on Wednesday on condition of anonymity because the AL MVP’s contract had not been announced.

    Judge, who hit an American League record 62 homers last season, will earn $40 million per year, the highest average annual payout for a position player. The contract trails only Mike Trout’s $426.5 million deal with the Los Angeles Angels and Mookie Betts’ $365 million pact with the Los Angeles Dodgers for biggest in baseball history. Trout and Betts were already under contract when they signed those deals.

    The Yankees made a long-term offer to Judge before last season that was worth $213.5 million over seven years from 2023-29. But the outfielder turned it down in the hours before opening day in April.

    The 6-foot-7 Judge bet on himself — and won.

    Judge surpassed Roger Maris’ AL home run mark to power New York to an AL East title. He also tied for the major league lead with 131 RBIs and just missed a Triple Crown with a .311 batting average.

    New York was swept by Houston in the AL Championship Series, but Judge became the first AL MVP for the Yankees since Alex Rodriguez in 2007.

    By rejecting the Yankees’ preseason offer, Judge gained $146.5 million and an extra two guaranteed seasons. The Northern California native also visited with the San Francisco Giants last month, and there likely were more teams monitoring the market for the slugger who turns 31 in April.

    Judge’s decision will have a domino effect on several teams and free agents. His status held up at least some of New York’s offseason plans — given the size of the contract — but general manager Brian Cashman made it clear his team would wait patiently while Judge contemplated his options.

    In the end, that approach worked.

    “So we’ll wait, we’ll wait for this process to play out,” Cashman said Monday at baseball’s winter meetings in San Diego. “And that means staying active in the conversations and negotiations.”

    Judge, 30, was selected by New York in the first round of the 2013 amateur draft and made his big league debut in 2016, homering in his first at-bat.

    A year later, he was one of baseball’s breakout stars. He hit .284 with 52 homers and 114 RBIs in 2017, winning the AL Rookie of the Year award. The four-time All-Star has 220 homers and 497 RBIs in seven big league seasons.

    “A guy of his stature and his greatness hopefully spends his entire career into Monument Park and into the Hall of Fame as a Yankee,” New York manager Aaron Boone said Tuesday.

    The average annual value of Judge’s deal trails only New York Mets pitchers Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander, at $43.3 million. Verlander’s deal was reached Monday and hasn’t been announced, but a person familiar with it told the AP he would earn $86.7 million over two years.

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    Blum reported from Qatar.

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    AP Baseball: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP—Sports

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  • Eagles improve to 6-0, Hurts key in 26-17 win over Cowboys

    Eagles improve to 6-0, Hurts key in 26-17 win over Cowboys

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    PHILADELPHIA — The Eagles closed out another familiar outcome — their latest victory as they roll unbeaten into an off week — with a recognizable tune: “Dancing On My Own.” Yes, the Eagles borrowed the signature anthem for the Philadelphia Phillies that they’ve blasted in the clubhouse on their way toward a spot in the National League Championship Series.

    It’s a great time for Philly sports fans.

    Even better for the athletes who only know how to win around here of late.

    “We up! Philly’s up right now,” cornerback Darius Slay said. “We’re going up. Up, up, up. We’re going up to that room.”

    Maybe the Eagles will find a Lombardi Trophy once they get to Slay’s room.

    Jalen Hurts threw for 155 yards and two touchdowns, C.J. Gardner-Johnson had two of Philadelphia’s three interceptions of Cooper Rush, and the Eagles stayed undefeated with a 26-17 win over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night.

    The Eagles held on after their 20-0 lead shrank to 20-17 early in the fourth quarter, improving to 6-0 for the first time since 2004 — when they won their first seven games and went to the Super Bowl.

    “We know we’ve got to play a complete game,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said. “What’s exciting about being 6-0 and not having played a complete game is we know it’s coming.”

    Philly put the game away with an efficient drive that took up more than half the fourth quarter. The Eagles converted three third downs and Hurts hit DeVonta Smith for a 7-yard touchdown. Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs ripped off his helmet and slammed it in anger after the score, one final blown opportunity to make a stop and wrest the NFC East lead away from the Eagles.

    The Eagles failed on the 2-point conversion and led 26-17.

    Hurts converted two of the third downs on rushing attempts and Philly needed the clutch runs after the Cowboys (4-2) powered their way back into the game. Ezekiel Elliott scored on a 14-yard run in the third that made it 20-10 and Rush, who mostly struggled, threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to Jake Ferguson in the fourth for a 20-17 game.

    Gardner-Johnson made a diving catch for his second interception to cut off one late drive, and Brett Maher missed a 59-yard field-goal attempt in a last-gasp effort to stay within striking distance.

    “Read your keys and go get the ball,” Gardner-Johnson said. “It feels good to come out in into the field like a hawk and go get the ball.”

    Rush had led Dallas to four straight victories in place of the injured Dak Prescott but was overmatched under the lights in front of a rowdy crowd — and an Eagles defense that ranks second in the NFL in points off turnovers. Rush threw two interceptions in the first half that led to 10 points for the Eagles and the ineffective QB finished the half with a 1.0 rating.

    No wonder the Eagles stand as the NFL’s lone unbeaten team.

    Prescott, out since he suffered a broken right thumb in the season-opening loss to Tampa Bay, said his was plan was to play next week.

    The Eagles scored 20 points in the second quarter and have now outscored opponents 112-27 in that quarter this season.

    The Eagles had converted 8 of 12 fourth-down attempts coming into the game and kept the gambles rolling on their first scoring drive. Hurts connected with A.J. Brown on fourth-and-3 for 11 yards. Then on fourth-and-4 from the 10, the Eagles snared Dallas in a neutral zone infraction for an automatic first down. Miles Sanders scored on a 5-yard TD run and a 7-0 lead.

    Rush, solid but hardly lighting up the scoreboard as a starter, had a pass deflected and intercepted by Gardner-Johnson, who flapped his arms after the pick and had Eagles fans going wild. Philly sports fans haven’t had much chance to settle down this fall. The Eagles are perfect, the Phillies are in the NL Championship Series, the Union host a playoff game this week, and the 76ers open the season this week and play the home opener Thursday.

    Hurts capitalized off the pick and hit Brown for a 15-yard TD and a 14-0 lead.

    Jake Elliott, who missed last week’s game with a bad ankle, added field goals of 51 and 34 yards to make it 20-0. Elliott’s second field goal came after Slay intercepted Rush.

    “We took some shots from them,” Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy said.

    It’s what the Eagles do. It’s why they’re in first place.

    TRAINER’S ROOM

    Eagles T Lane Johnson left with a concussion.

    FIRST LADY IN THE HOUSE

    First lady Jill Biden attended the game as part of cancer awareness night. Biden met with cancer patients, cancer survivors and their families. She also chatted with 76ers center Joel Embiid and was at midfield for the coin toss.

    SIX IN THE CITY

    The Eagles started 7-0 in 2004 when they finished 13-3 in the regular season before falling in the Super Bowl to the Patriots, and began 6-0 in 1981 but dropped their first playoff game.

    STAR REPORT

    Embiid and several other Sixers were at the game. So was New Jersey native, Anaheim Angels slugger and Eagles fan Mike Trout. Slay gave the ball from an interception earlier this season to Sixers star James Harden. After his pick against Rush, Slay gave the ball to rapper Meek Mill. Questlove and Bradley Cooper, wearing an Allen Iverson T-shirt, were also at the game. Gardner-Johnson, who played with a left hand injury, has a tattoo in honor of Meek Mill on his right arm.

    UP NEXT

    The Cowboys return home next Sunday and play Detroit.

    The Eagles are off next week and host the Steelers on Oct. 30.

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    More AP NFL coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP—NFL

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