Throughout Mike Trout’s distinguished MLB career, the three-time MVP has consistently been acknowledged as a top-five player in the league. However, following another injury-plagued season in 2024, his standing was notably affected, losing position on MLB Network’s annual Top 100 Players list. Since his impressive Rookie of the Year campaign in 2012, Trout had secured a spot among the top two players in the MLB Network rankings each year until 2022. In 2023, he dropped to third place, and in 2024, his ranking further slipped to No. 12.
Recently, MLB Network released its rankings for the 2025 season, revealing an even steeper decline for Trout, who fell to No. 39. A reporter brought this ranking to Trout’s attention during a media session on Monday. He attributed his drop to the time missed due to injuries rather than an indication of declining performance when on the field. “Yeah, I saw it,” Trout remarked. “I mean, they are going off the last couple of years. I haven’t been out there. So that’s their ranking. I know where I stand.”
When asked if this ranking serves as motivation, Trout candidly responded that it invigorates him to prove critics wrong. “Oh yeah, definitely. Stuff like that fires you up a bit. It’s all good,” he affirmed. The old adage about the best ability being availability rings true, yet, regrettably for Angels fans, Trout has struggled to remain on the field due to injuries, appearing in only 111 games over the past two seasons combined.
In the limited time Trout was active for the Angels, he faced struggles at the plate with a .220 batting average, the lowest of his career. This performance inevitably contributes to the caution taken by those ranking him for MLB Network’s Top 100. Nevertheless, given Trout’s history of excellence throughout his 14-year career and added motivation from recent setbacks, fans can expect to witness some glimpses of vintage Mike Trout in 2025.
