Angels Spring Training Preview: Catching Trout
February 24, 2025
The numbers are eye-opening: 378 homers, 954 RBIs, a career .299 batting average with 11 All-Star appearances, nine Silver Slugger awards and three American League MVPs.
But the most staggering number is one.
Yes, Mike Trout — one of baseball’s brightest stars — has just one career postseason hit in 14 seasons, playing in just three playoff games with a mere 12 at-bats.
With Shohei Ohtani long gone from Anaheim, Trout’s prime years have been all but wasted. Now 33, he isn’t getting any younger – or healthier – and the Los Angeles Angels franchise certainly isn’t any closer to its first World Series title since 2002.
Trout hasn’t played in more than 130 games in a season since 2019. An assortment of injuries has limited him to 266 total games in the past four years; he missed the final 133 games in 2024 after initially tearing the meniscus in his left knee in April. In July, Trout was diagnosed with costovertebral dysfunction, a rare back injury that could affect him the rest of his career.
The Angels are going to try to protect Trout in 2025 by moving him to right field instead of his traditional center-field spot in order to reduce wear and tear. Trout says he approached the club about switching positions.
“I just want to be on the field,” Trout told reporters on Feb. 17. “I want to preserve the legs and go out there and run some balls down in right.”
Regardless, the Angels’ hopes likely will once again be at the mercy of the health of their aging MVP – but more help could be on the way.
2024 record: 63-99 (Fifth, AL West)
Last Postseason Appearance: 2014 (lost ALDS 3-0 to Kansas City)
What Happened in 2024: Let’s be honest, the Angels were in trouble long before Trout’s injury in April. Los Angeles was 10-18 at the time of his April 29 injury … and things only got uglier from there. Anthony Rendon got hurt again, too. The 99 losses were the most in franchise history, and it’s easy to see why. Only the historically bad 41-121 White Sox had a higher ERA among AL teams than the Angels (4.56). At the plate, it wasn’t much better. L.A. had a .229 team batting average (28th in MLB), while only the Rays and White Sox scored fewer runs. The Angels ended their miserable season with 15 defeats in their final 18 games and barely avoided their first 100-loss season. One of the few bright spots was shortstop Zach Neto, who had 23 homers and a team-leading 77 RBIs … but now he’s hurt. He needed offseason shoulder surgery after getting injured on a slide in the season’s final week and may not be ready for the start of the season.
New Arrivals
- OF Jorge Soler (Atlanta Braves)
- LHP Yusei Kikuchi (Houston Astros)
- C Travis d’Arnaud (Atlanta Braves)
- 3B Yoán Moncada (Chicago White Sox)
Key Departures
- RHP Griffin Canning (trade to Atlanta Braves)
- LHP Matt Moore (free agent)
- OF Kevin Pillar (free agent)
- 3B Brandon Drury (free agent)
- RHP Hunter Strickland (free agent)
Projected Batting Order*
- LF Taylor Ward
- 2B Luis Rengifo
- RF Mike Trout
- DH Jorge Soler
- 1B Nolan Schanuel
- C Logan O’Hoppe
- 3B Yoán Moncada
- CF Jo Adell
- SS Tim Anderson
Projected Rotation*
- Yusei Kikuchi (LHP)
- José Soriano (RHP)
- Tyler Anderson (LHP)
- Kyle Hendricks (RHP)
- Reid Detmers (LHP)
Projected Bullpen*
Mid-Relief: Ryan Zeferjahn (RHP), José Quijada (LHP), José Suarez (LHP), Hans Crouse (RHP)
Long-Relief: Garrett McDaniels (LHP)
Setup: Ben Joyce (RHP), Brock Burke (LHP)
Closer: Kenley Jansen (RHP)
Biggest Question: Can newly-added veterans resurrect the pitching?
Starting pitching has been one of the primary reasons the Angels haven’t had a winning season since 2015. They’ve been among the 10 worst in MLB in runs allowed in five of the past six seasons. Los Angeles is putting its trust in Yosei Kikuchi as its new ace, despite an up-and-down season in 2024. The Japanese left-hander was excellent in 10 starts down the stretch for Houston, going 5-1 with a 2.70 ERA and striking out 72 hitters in just 60 innings after a midseason trade from Toronto. Los Angeles made its biggest offseason splash by signing the free agent to a three-year, $63 million deal in November. Now the Halos hope Kikuchi, 33, and fellow new arrival Kyle Hendricks, 35, can add veteran consistency to what otherwise is a mostly young staff.
Team MVP: Mike Frostad, the Angels’ head athletic trainer.
For the Angels’ sake, if Trout can play at least 120 games, it would be a huge win. Remember, he hit 40 homers just three years ago when he played 119 games, and led MLB with 10 homers in the 29 games he played before his April injury. Aside from Trout, the Angels’ training room already has been busy this spring, However, both Neto and set-up man Robert Stephenson, who had Tommy John surgery last April, received positive news on their recoveries last week.
Breakout Candidate: Christian Moore
Last June, Moore helped Tennessee capture its first College World Series baseball title. The No. 8 overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft soon may find himself in Los Angeles. After tearing up the minors (.347/.400/,984) in after just 25 games split between Single- and Double-A, the 22-year-old Moore is widely considered the Angels’ top prospect – MLB.com lists him as the No. 68 overall prospect – and has a shot to win the team’s second base job with a strong spring camp. His bat could be another jolt the Halos’ lineup badly needs after also adding Soler and d’Arnaud in the offseason.
Key Stat: 443.
The number of games Rendon has missed over the past four seasons. Once again, Rendon is facing an extended absence after suffering a setback in rehab last week that will require hip surgery. Rendon, who will turn 35 in June, signed a seven-year, $245 million contract with the Angels prior to the 2020 season. He hit .218 with no homers and 14 RBIs in 206 at-bats last season. Now it’s a real question if he ever plays for the Angels again.
2025 Will Be Successful If… the Halos can reach 80 wins for the first time since 2018.
Trout’s consistent presence in the lineup obviously will be a driving force, but Los Angeles upgraded both its lineup and starting rotation. Depth, especially in the bullpen, remains a concern. If No. 2 starter José Soriano can continue to build off his breakout season, the Angels could have a sneaky good top of the rotation.
2025 Prediction: Fourth in the AL West, No Playoffs
The Angels still have too many questions and holes to be a serious force in the AL West for the first time in more than a decade. However, this team will be much better than the one that nearly lost 100 games a season ago. The window is closing rapidly for Trout. Barring a stunning, franchise-altering trade, expect Trout’s – and the Angels’ – playoff drought to continue. This team, though, could challenge .500 if it stays healthy.
FanGraphs’ Projection: 76-86
Baseball Prospectus: 74-88
*Projections were pulled from FanGraphs as of Feb. 23
Posted: February 24, 2025
Category: Cactus League, Los Angeles Angels
Tagged as: al west, Houston Astros, jose siriano, jose soriano, kenley jansen, kyle hendricks, Los Angeles, Los Angeles Angels, luis rengifo, Mike Trout, MLB, MLB Spring Training, Spring Training, Taylor ward, tim anderson, Yoan Moncada, Yusei Kikuchi
