Mike Trout has spent his entire 15-year MLB career with the Los Angeles Angels, and he has unquestionably established himself as a future Hall of Famer. Despite a string of injury-plagued seasons, Trout has 86.2 bWAR and three MVP awards in his career.
However, Trout has not been himself this season. While his return from injury has been a delight for baseball fans, he has yet to play like Mike Trout. His 21-game sample size this season is small, but it has some fans in Los Angeles concerned about their franchise icon.
Trout clarified his approach at the plate while speaking with reporters following a two-homer game against the San Francisco Giants on Saturday night.
“I just have to get up there and get myself in a good position to hit and hit the ball hard,” according to him. “I felt like, especially during the road trip, the last few games, I hit the ball hard but just right at people. “That is baseball.”
Despite a.184 batting average, Trout’s OPS remains respectable at.802. This could be due to his recent power surge, as he is currently tied for third in Major League Baseball with eight home runs.
It’s also reasonable to conclude that Trout has been unlucky this season. According to the Baseball Savant page for the 11-time All-Star, his expected batting average of.277 is significantly higher than his actual mark of.184. Trout has never been a below-average hitter during his time as a Halo, so fans can expect him to move closer to the mean.
