A former captain and WBC star, Mike Trout is notably absent from Team USA's roster, sparking debate amidst a talented outfield assembly.
Team USA’s roster for the World Baseball Classic was revealed on Thursday night, and the Los Angeles Angels surprisingly have no representation, not even the former captain of the team, Mike Trout.
Many baseball fans were confused seeing Trout’s name absent from the outfield/designated hitter category. Just three years removed from the 2023 WBC, where Trout was the heart of Team USA, he’s not even a bench piece on the roster heading into this year’s tournament.
It’s a big fall from grace for Trout, and it’s arguable if he deserves it or not. He did see a setback in his production at the plate last season for the Angels, dipping under an .800 OPS for the first time since 2011. Still, Trout smashed 26 home runs last year, reaching the elite 400 home run club.
For a star-studded Team USA, however, Trout’s step back in 2025 was enough to leave him completely absent from the roster despite being the team’s captain last time the tournament was played. Instead, the outfielders and designated hitters will be Aaron Judge, Kyle Schwarber, Byron Buxton, Corbin Carroll, and Pete Crow-Armstrong.
There are only 14 spots for fielders on the roster, making little room for error for those who hoped to be selected onto the roster. With the continued excellence of Judge, Schwarber, Buxton, Carroll, and the emergence of Crow-Armstrong, Trout couldn’t sneak in after his 1.5 WAR campaign. With his move to a full-time designated hitter last season, Trout’s chances were made even smaller.
For Team USA in 2023, Trout was one of the better players on the squad, hitting four RBIs, driving in 7 runs, and recording a .962 OPS in 7 games. Perhaps the most memorable moment of the tournament was when he struck out in the final at-bat of the championship game to his then teammate Shohei Ohtani and Team Japan.
Now, that moment is likely to be the last in a Team USA uniform after missing out on the roster this year. Though the choice makes sense when looking at the limited roster spots, it will certainly feel strange to see Team USA out there in March without their former captain.
On the bright side, perhaps it will give Trout some extra time to prepare for a bounce-back 2026 campaign in Anaheim. Angels fans would certainly love to see Trout re-establish himself as one of baseball’s best.