Angels' Mike Trout Battling Wild Pitches, Injuries, Early-Season Slump

Los Angeles' outfielder, a potential Hall of Famer, is fighting through a sluggish offensive start.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 5:48am

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A cubist-style painting depicting a baseball player's batting motion broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes, conveying the complexities of Mike Trout's early-season struggles.Trout's struggles at the plate are deconstructed into a cubist masterpiece, reflecting the complexities of his early-season slump.Los Angeles Today

Mike Trout, the Los Angeles Angels' star outfielder and three-time AL MVP, is struggling with a slow start to the 2026 season. Trout has been hit by wild pitches, suffered a hand contusion, and is batting just .069 over his last eight games with 12 strikeouts. The 34-year-old potential Hall of Famer has dealt with injuries throughout his 15-year career, only playing more than 119 games twice since 2019.

Why it matters

Trout is one of the best players in baseball, and his struggles could have a major impact on the Angels' season. The team is hoping Trout can bounce back and regain his MVP-caliber form, but the mounting injuries are raising concerns about his long-term durability.

The details

In recent games, Trout has been hit by wild pitches from the Seattle Mariners' Bryan Woo and Casey Legumina, leading to a hand contusion that required the use of scissors to remove his batting glove. Trout has expressed frustration with the pitchers' inability to control their fastballs up and in, a location they've been targeting to get him out. Despite returning to the lineup, Trout has struggled at the plate, going 1-for-9 with 12 strikeouts over his last eight starts.

  • On Friday, Trout was hit by a 94-mph sinker from Woo.
  • On Sunday, Trout was hit by a 94.2-mph fastball from Legumina, suffering a hand contusion.
  • Trout missed Monday's game but returned for the final two games against the Atlanta Braves.
  • Trout's 400th career home run bobblehead promotional night was last Tuesday, where he went 1-for-5 with two strikeouts.

The players

Mike Trout

A 34-year-old outfielder for the Los Angeles Angels and a three-time American League MVP. Trout is considered a potential Hall of Famer but has dealt with injuries throughout his 15-year career.

Bryan Woo

A pitcher for the Seattle Mariners who threw a 94-mph sinker that hit Trout.

Casey Legumina

A relief pitcher for the Seattle Mariners who threw a 94.2-mph fastball that hit Trout, causing a hand contusion.

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What they’re saying

“We know where they're trying to get me out, fastballs up and in, so it's just frustrating. You know, if you can't control it up there, you shouldn't do it. So it is what it is.”

— Mike Trout

What’s next

Trout will look to bounce back in the upcoming series against the Cincinnati Reds, as the Angels hope their star player can regain his form and lead the team to success.

The takeaway

Trout's early-season struggles, marked by wild pitches, injuries, and a prolonged slump, raise concerns about the long-term durability of one of baseball's all-time greats. The Angels will need Trout to return to his MVP-caliber play if they hope to contend in the AL West.