Mike Trout is Off to A Sizzling Start this Season

Sometimes when athletes sign huge contracts, they go into a bit of a tailspin at least initially, probably from trying too hard to live up to the expensive expectations. Los Angeles Angels centerfielder Mike Trout has not had that problem. Just before the 2019 season started, Trout agreed to a 12 year contract extension worth $426.5 million. Instead of becoming a free agent after the 2020 season, Trout will be in L.A. through the 2030 season. He would be 38 at the start of the 2031 season, so the Angels have essentially secured his services for the rest of his career (but if he wanted to play longer than that, and could do so at a high level, they’d probably sign him again).

With his future financially secure, Trout began the season apparently relaxed and ready to focus on baseball and he’s gotten out of the gate fast. Through the Angel’s first 10 games, Trout is hitting .393 with five homers and 12 RBIs, a slugging percentage of 1.000, and an OPS of 1.581. He hit all five home runs against Texas in a four game series with the Rangers in Anaheim on April 4th-7th. L.A. won three of the four. He hit a pair of home runs in the 3-1 win on April 5th:

He followed that with a grand slam the next day.

The Angels have six interleague games next , with three at home against Milwaukee and then three at the Chicago Cubs.