Mike Trout gave himself a birthday gift on Friday, and it put him in some pretty rare company.
On his 35th birthday, the Angels star homered in the top of the first inning against Miami Marlins right-hander Tyler Phillips, driving a 400-foot shot to right-center field that opened the scoring and made it 1-0. With that swing, Trout moved into a tie with Alex Rodriguez and Mark Reynolds for the most home runs hit on birthdays, with six, according to Sarah Langs of MLB.com.
MIKE TROUT !!!
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) August 7, 2026
His sixth career birthday home run, tying Alex Rodriguez and Mark Reynolds for the most
Trout is the only MLB player to homer on his birthday in six different years!
Birthdays are important https://t.co/Ys7pHvDMdN
Trout’s name coming up in that kind of historical company is no accident. He has spent his entire career with the Angels, the team he’s been with since 2011, and Friday’s blast was another reminder of how deep his place in franchise and league history runs.
The birthday homer also came against a backdrop of trade chatter before the deadline, though that speculation didn’t lead anywhere. Trout has a no-trade clause in his contract, and he remained with the Angels.
Reynolds, who played from 2007 to 2019, hit his birthday homer on Aug. 3, 2017, when he was with the Colorado Rockies and turning 34. Rodriguez, whose career ran from 1994 to 2016, last went deep on his birthday when he turned 40 on July 27, 2015.
Trout’s current season line sits at .239 with 83 hits, 19 home runs, 41 RBIs and 64 runs scored. For his career, he’s at .291 with 1,837 hits, 422 home runs, 1,058 RBIs and 222 stolen bases.
Happy Birthday, Mike Trout.
In Other News...
Logan OHoppe Just Touched A Nerve Angels Fans Know Too Well
Logan OHoppes exit from the Angels came as part of a deal that sent him and Chase Silseth to the Texas Rangers, and it added another layer to a franchise that has spent years trying to steady itself behind the plate. New executive John Mozeliak moved quickly to reshape the catching picture, but the move also reopened old questions about how the Angels have handled player development and why so many young backstops seem to leave with unfinished business.
OHoppe did not hide his frustration with the instability around him in Anaheim, saying the constant turnover affected his growth. For Angels fans, it is the sort of familiar pain point that lands hard because it sounds less like one players complaint and more like a diagnosis of the organization itself, even as the club tries to move forward with a new plan at catcher. [Read more 🡒]
Angels Outfield Depth Suddenly Faces A Cade Marlowe Decision
Cade Marlowe has put himself in position to create a real roster question for the Angels outfield mix. The former Mariners outfielder has played well in the minors this season, and his major league background gives him a different kind of appeal than a typical depth add, especially for a club that is always weighing how much upside it can stash outside the 40-man roster.
The next step comes Monday, when Marlowe is expected to use the upward mobility language in his minor league deal. From there, the Angels may have a decision forced on them if another club wants him on its 40-man roster, leaving Los Angeles to either make room or risk losing him altogether. For a team trying to sort through outfield depth, it is the kind of small-calendar detail that can matter more than it looks. [Read more 🡒]
Angels Rebuild Suddenly Feels Bigger Than Kurt Suzukis Lineup Decisions
Kurt Suzukis lineup and bullpen choices have become part of the larger conversation around the Angels rebuild, especially as the front office continues reshaping the roster with recent trades and a strong 2026 draft class looming as part of the bigger picture. The manager has leaned toward veterans in key spots even when the matchups are not ideal, and his handling of late-game pitching has only added to the sense that every decision is being watched through more than one lens.
What makes the discussion linger is how much of it sits at the intersection of the dugout and the front office. The Angels are still trying to balance the present with a rebuild that is clearly underway, and the question around Suzuki is not just whether he likes a certain look in the lineup. It is whether those choices are purely his own, or whether the organization is nudging things in a direction that serves a larger plan still taking shape. [Read more 🡒]