Mike Trout ignites offense, Jorge Soler drives in runs, and Jose Soriano dominates on the mound, showcasing the Los Angeles Angels' potential.
You never know what you’re going to get with the Los Angeles Angels. One night, they look like a sure postseason team, the next, they look like they are competing for the No. 1 pick in the next draft.
At a 9-9 record through the first three weeks of the 2026 campaign, there have been several nights of both scenarios for the Halos. With that comes some players who underperform while others carry the weight. Let’s talk about those top performers for the Angels.
Mike Trout, CF
Things change fast in baseball. Recently, I included center fielder Mike Trout on my list of Angels underperformers, but he’s turned things around enough to also make an appearance on this list.
As of Wednesday morning, Trout has recorded at least one hit in four straight games now after getting just two in his previous nine games. This includes two doubles and three home runs, raising his OPS from .693 to .895. His 17 total bases in his last four games have propelled the Angels to huge victories against some of the MLB’s leading clubs, such as the Cincinnati Reds and the New York Yankees.
The recipe is simple: when Trout is on the field and playing to his level, the Angels win ball games. Let's hope this version of Trout sticks around.
Jorge Soler, DH
Soler wasn't great in his first year as a Halo in 2025, but his start to 2026 has been electric. He leads the club in RBIs while being tied for the most home runs and having the second-highest OPS. He had three consecutive games with a home run last week and hit another on Tuesday on the way to a win.
The 34-year-old has brought life to the Angels’ lineup even on nights when it is dormant. The fire has consistently fueled the offense, even getting involved in a brawl that saw him receive a seven-game suspension. During the time of his appeal, Soler’s bat has helped guide the Angels to multiple wins.
Jose Soriano, RHP
Soriano is a different beast in 2026. The 27-year-old has allowed just one run across 27 innings to start his season, leading all of the MLB with a 1.8 WAR. One look at his Baseball Savant page tells you everything you need to know; he’s disgusting.
He blows by batters with his upper-90s fastball and sinker before fooling batters with a nasty mid-80s curveball. His splitter and slider help round out his arsenal, keeping opponents on their toes with every pitch.
The Dominican has earned a chase rate of 36.5% and a whiff rate of 32.4%. Every piece of Soriano’s game is not only working, but dominating. The Angels finally look to have a much-needed ace as Soriano has been as sure a thing as you can get in baseball.