Can Mike Trout Return to MVP Form and Lead the Angels?
As the Los Angeles Angels gear up for the 2026 MLB season, all eyes are on Mike Trout. After years of battling injuries, the big question is whether Trout can reclaim his MVP form and lead the Angels back to relevance.
It's been a tough stretch for the Angels, who haven't seen postseason action in 11 seasons, despite boasting talents like Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout. The offseason brought a mix of risky, yet low-cost moves, including the additions of Vaughn Grissom and Alek Manoah. The team also brought in Kurt Suzuki as the new manager, though he's on just a one-year contract.
Trout's health remains a focal point. After playing only 111 games combined in 2023 and 2024, he managed 140 games in 2025, his highest since 2019.
That’s a promising sign for Angels fans. Last season, Trout hit 26 home runs and drove in 64 RBIs, but the lineup struggled to support him, with Zach Neto being a rare bright spot.
Eno Sarris of The Athletic has high hopes for Trout’s comeback. He suggests that while Trout may not return to his early-career peak, there are strong indications of a resurgence.
At 34, Trout's accolades speak for themselves: three-time MVP, 11-time All-Star, and nine-time Silver Slugger, among others. Yet, injuries have been a persistent hurdle, limiting him to under 100 games in four seasons, including the COVID-shortened year.
Trout hasn't reached the 100-RBI mark since 2019, when he smashed 45 home runs and had 104 RBIs. Whether the Angels can break their playoff drought remains uncertain, but a return to All-Star form for Trout would be a win for the team, the fans, and Trout himself. After all he’s endured, few deserve a triumphant comeback more than Mike Trout.