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Angels Fans Urged to Believe in Mike Trout's Resurgence
MLB.com's Rhett Bollinger says Trout's hot start is a sign he's back to MVP-caliber form.
Apr. 19, 2026 at 7:04pm
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A cubist interpretation of Angels star Mike Trout's resurgent batting form, capturing the raw power and dynamism of his swing.NYC TodayLos Angeles Angels star Mike Trout is off to a blistering start this season, including a five-homer series against the New York Yankees. After years of struggles with injuries and inconsistency, MLB.com's Rhett Bollinger is urging Angels fans to believe that Trout's resurgence is for real based on his improved mechanics, contact rates, sprint speed, and hard-hitting metrics.
Why it matters
Trout is one of the best players in baseball when healthy, so his return to form would be a huge boost for the Angels as they look to contend in the AL West. Fans have been skeptical after so many injury-plagued seasons, but the early signs point to Trout being back to his MVP-caliber self.
The details
Trout has made a slight tweak to his mechanics, slightly stepping back before swinging, which has helped him make more contact and cut down on strikeouts while still showing plenty of power. He's also returned to playing center field full-time and is running the fastest he has since tearing his meniscus in 2024. Trout's exit velocity this season is 92.8 mph, higher than any year since 2020, indicating he's hitting the ball as hard as ever.
- Trout hit five home runs against the New York Yankees in a recent series.
- Trout has seven home runs and a .974 OPS so far this season.
The players
Mike Trout
A superstar outfielder for the Los Angeles Angels who is considered one of the best players in Major League Baseball when healthy.
Rhett Bollinger
An MLB.com reporter who is urging Angels fans to believe in Trout's resurgence this season.
What they’re saying
“He's back to looking like his MVP-caliber self after making a slight tweak in his mechanics, as he's now slightly stepping back for swinging. He's making contact at an elite rate and has cut down on his strikeout rate while proving plenty of power. He's returned to center field and is running the fastest he has since tearing his meniscus in his left knee in April 2024.”
— Rhett Bollinger, MLB.com Reporter
What’s next
If Trout can continue producing at an All-Star level, it would be a huge boost for the Angels as they look to contend in the AL West this season.
The takeaway
After years of injuries and inconsistency, the early signs point to Mike Trout being back to his MVP-caliber self, which would be great news for the Angels and their fans. Trout's improved mechanics, contact rates, sprint speed, and hard-hitting metrics suggest his resurgence is legitimate and worth believing in.
