Mike Trout Hits Career High 42nd Home Run

The Los Angeles Angels’ Mike Trout has led the American League or the majors at the end of the season in over a half dozen offensive categories during his career, but one that he hasn’t is the American League home run title. That may change this season. On August 20th, Trout hit a two run homer in the first inning of the Angels’ 5-1 win over the Texas Rangers in Arlington. It was his 42nd of the season, establishing a career high. He also is leading the American League and the homer tied him with the Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger for the major league lead.

Trout is hitting .297 with 98 RBIs, a .440 on base percentage, a .664 slugging percentage, and an OPS of 1.104. all of which are at or near the top in the American League. The two time A.L. MVP has to be one of the favorites for his third such award. However, it is highly unlikely we will see Trout play in the post season; the Angels (63-66) are 11 1/2 games behind the second A.L Wild Card. Since arriving in the majors in 2011, Trout has only played in one post season series, the 2014 American League Division series against the Kansas City Royals. The Royals swept the Angels in three games, and Trout was very unTrout-like in the series, just one for 12 at the plate, with a solo home run. He’ll have to wait another year at least to improve on those numbers.