"Mike Trout is gonna come back very determined" - MLB sportscaster predicts Angels superstar to start from where he finished last season

Mike Trout's career in the last few seasons has been derailed by major injuries that have cut short his game time. The 11x All-Star has played in just 266 games since 2021, but whenever he has been on the field, he has shown signs of his previous destructive self.

Speaking on MLB Network's "Hot Stove," former MLB veteran and current analyst Al Leiter said that Mike Trout will regain the same form that he had at the start of the 2024 season. He felt that because the 3x AL MVP was finally unburdened from playing with someone like Shohei Ohtani, he was playing more freely. The meniscus injury stopped his progress, but Leiter is sure he will be as hungry in 2025.

"Same as April of 2024, when he was like completely unburdened. He was stealing base again, Shohei was gone. Mike never said it, but it had to get a little tired that everything that asked of Mike was 'What's it like playing with Shohei."

"No, no, 'What's it like playing with Mike'. That's his team, it's always been his team, and then the meniscus injury, and he re-aggravated it, missed the whole year essentially from May on. Mike's gonna come back very determined in 2025," Leiter said.

Mike Trout played in just 29 games for the Los Angeles Angels in 2024. In the short span, he led the league in home runs hit with 10. He was also showing his base-running prowess.

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Mike Trout felt confident leading up to the 2024 season

In his first message after suffering yet another season-ending injury, Mike Trout in September had made his feelings known about feeling healthy coming into Spring Training. The Halos slugger also added that if required, he will be willing to change some things about his play to stay fit and improve.

“I think you're always going to sit down with your family and your team just trying to figure out what ways we can try to prevent stuff,” Trout said. “I felt really confident in where I was and how I was training and how I was working out during the season. And coming into spring, I felt really good. So there’s definitely going to be some conversations on things that I can improve on.”

The Angels are committed to paying $37.1 million for at least six seasons to Trout. They would be hoping to do their best to keep him healthy. This has also prompted discussions of a possible move to a corner in the outfield or even a full-time DH to reduce his workload.