Once the undisputed best player in the league, Mike Trout has recently found himself troubled by injuries. With the slugger missing more games every season, the Los Angeles Angels are beginning to worry. Especially now that they’ve lost superstar Shohei Ohtani, they need Trout to fire on all cylinders. The only question – Is there anything left in Trout’s tank?

The 3x AL MVP’s talents on the diamond are undeniable but so is the fact that his body seems fragile as of now. With a contract that could turn into a nightmare for the Angels, could 2024 prove to be a game-changing year for Prince Fish?

Bad luck seems to be plaguing Mike Trout in recent years

Before Shohei Ohtani made his grand entry and reached legendary status by 2021, there was Mike Trout – the almost uncontested king of the league. There was nothing that the slugger couldn’t do and was en route to one of the greatest careers of all time. But then the injury bug bit him and suddenly the wildly inconsistent Trout couldn’t even finish one full season. 

2018 was the last time Trout played in 140 games. Since then, his numbers have been dwindling at an alarming rate. The fall has been so remarkable that since 2020, the slugger has played only 290 games, just 56% of the total games played by the Angels. The bigger issue, however, is the injuries that he’s had. 

Since 2018, Trout has injured his wrist, calf, back, and hand. It shows his body is not able to withstand the pressure of regular baseball. It’s a troubling sign but there could be a ray of hope yet. Insider Rhett Bolinger of MLB.com has made a bold yet hopeful prediction that Trout could have an MVP-worthy season in 2024. 

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His reasoning is simple – before his fractured hamate, Trout was gaining heat. If not for that freak injury, who knows how high he’d have climbed in the second half of the season? It’s something for the Angels to latch on to as they’re looking at Trout to guide them through an Ohtani-less journey. 

How Prince Fish can help after the departure of Shohei Ohtani

Bolinger also noticed that in the absence of Shohei Ohtani, the Designated Hitter post could go to Trout. This would ensure that his body remains well protected and he can focus more on offense. At 32, Trout needs all the shielding he can get, so the DH spot may prove helpful in the next stage of his growth.

In 2023, in just 82 games, Trout had hit 18 home runs and had 54 runs. The class and skills are still there, but perhaps a healthier season will reignite the flame. With the Angels not adding much hitting talent this offseason, the Millville Meteor needs to be as hot as ever. More than hot, it needs to stay burning for as long as possible.

Read more: A Cursed or Blessed Dichotomy? Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout’s ‘Championship-Less’ MVP Heritage