The more things change, the more they stay the same for Mike Trout and the Los Angeles Angels.
Trout ushered in the Angels’ season with a solo home run in his first at-bat of the season to give the team a 1-0 lead over the Baltimore Orioles in the first inning.
They would go on to lose 11-3.
Trout’s career has been built on strong play, having won three American League MVP awards, nine Silver Slugger Awards, and being named to 11 All-Star teams in his 13 years with the Angels. But, in that same 13-year span, the Angels have made just one playoff appearance, with Trout and the team getting swept by the Kansas City Royals in the 2014 ALDS.
While things looked promising with two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani, who also won multiple MVPs and a Cy Young Award for the Angels, the duo could only do so much and it didn’t result in any postseason trips. Ohtani, now on the Dodgers, likely will make his postseason debut this season while Trout and the Angels are likely to be home in October, yet again.
As he approaches the later stages of his career, Trout will eventually have to sit down and think about if he’d like to ride out his contract, which goes through the 2030 season, or if he’d like to be traded to a team more serious about winning.
Social media had a lot to say about Trout’s situation remaining the same as it ever was.
Mike Trout homered and the Angels lost by 8. Baseball is really back
— Zachary Smith (@ZacharySmithPGH) March 29, 2024
Angels about to immediately blow a Mike Trout generated lead. Baseball is back.
— Matt C. Shoot (@ConfirmedShoot) March 28, 2024