Mike Trout, the Los Angeles Angels’ star outfielder, has reached a significant milestone by becoming the first player in the major leagues this season to hit 10 home runs. However, despite this impressive feat, Trout is still seeking consistency at the plate.
Trout’s solo home run in the sixth inning of Wednesday’s loss to Baltimore marked the third time since 2018 that he has been the first to reach double digits in homers. It also extended his streak of hitting multiple home runs in a game to two.
However, Trout’s overall batting average remains a concern. He is currently batting .237, which is on pace to be the lowest average he has recorded in May during his 14-year career. This is a significant departure from his performance in the past three seasons, when he averaged .347 in March and April.
“Some of the at-bats I feel really good and some of the at-bats just trying to figure some stuff out,” Trout said after Wednesday’s game. “I’m just trying to put a full game together.”
Trout’s struggles have coincided with a downturn in the Angels’ fortunes. After a promising 7-6 start, they have lost nine of their last 12 games. Manager Ron Washington has been experimenting with his lineup, including moving Trout up to the leadoff spot.
“Mike is only human, he can have off times just like everyone else,” Washington said. “I thought if I can put him up there and he can give us a swing of the bat like he did Tuesday night, I’m not looking for that every night, but he has the capability to give us a run when swinging the bat.”
Trout remains optimistic despite the team’s recent struggles. He believes that the Angels have the potential to turn things around, especially with a young and talented roster.
“I think the mindset is keep coming and working, things will turn. Guys are battling, it’s just not going our way right now,” Trout said. “We’re going to be in different situations every night and we learn from it. Things will turn.”
