Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout has a chance to make the All-Star game based on his impressive season.
When Mike Trout first got hot, the Los Angeles Angels outfielder with a sentimental favorite to make this year's All-Star game in Philadelphia. That initial month was something of a blast from the past, but now Trout is making it more than that.
According to a piece written by Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com, Trout ranked third among all American League players in the balloting, and he’s second among outfielders. Going into today’s action, Trout has accumulated 926,601 votes, which trailed only Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (1,015,768) and Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (977,460).
It's an unexpected development to be sure, and now it has unexpected meaning to Trout as well. He grew up in Millville New Jersey, and he's always had a special attachment to the possibility of making an All-Star game in Philadelphia.
“When it first came up a couple years ago that 2026 would be in Philly, that was one I really wanted to get to,” Trout said. “So to be up there in the voting means a lot. Hope I get in.”
Bollinger added that trout leads all active players with 11 selections to the All-Star team, but he hasn't been named since 2023 and he hasn't played in one since 2019 because of a series of ongoing injuries.
Perhaps the most remarkable thing about tryouts remarkable season is that he's played in 73 of the Angels 74 games and Bollinger added that he's only had to service a DH 10 times playing the rest in centerfield.
His elite speed is also back, and on Monday against the Arizona Diamondbacks he had an opposite field homer to right that was his 16th of the season.
Trout had a brief slump early in June, but since then he's come on with a vengeance. His last week his slash line is .321/.424/.714 with three homers, two doubles, two stolen bases and five RBIs over his last seven games, according to Bollinger.
“I'm hitting balls hard,” Trout said. “I’ve been like a little up and down where some at-bats I feel good, some at-bats I don't. Earlier in the season I consistently was feeling locked in.
“The last few games, some balls are starting to fall. I'm hitting balls hard, just like I was the last few weeks, but that's baseball. Just got to stay with the path and the work every single day and good things happen.”
Good things haven't been happening for the Angels, so it would be a great break for Trout to be able to hobnob with his genuine peers. He has a wife and family now and he talked about what it would mean to his two kids.
“It'd be cool for both of them,” Trout said. “Jordy is a little young right now, but he knows that dad plays baseball. But Beckham is involved right now, so it'd be a cool experience for him. And MLB does a great job with putting on stuff for the families.”
Angels manager Kurt Suzuki is hopeful as well.
“I think it's great for baseball,” Suzuki said. “It's great for Mike for him to be recognized again. He had some tough years the last couple years, but I played with Mike for two years. And I think being on this side managing him, you really get to appreciate how he handles himself around the clubhouse with the work he puts in every single day. It's just been awesome.”
