ARLINGTON -- Angels superstar Mike Trout said he had great conversations with Team USA manager Mark DeRosa and new captain Aaron Judge last week and indicated his interest in participating in the World Baseball Classic again next year.
Trout served as captain in the 2023 edition that saw Team USA advance to the final against Team Japan, only to lose in memorable fashion, with his then-teammate Shohei Ohtani striking him out to end the game. Trout, a three-time AL MVP and 11-time All-Star, isn¡¯t officially on Team USA just yet but has a strong desire to help it to a title in the 2026 Classic.
¡°I want to and I expect to, for sure,¡± Trout said on Tuesday before the Angels¡¯ 4-0 loss in the series opener against the Rangers. ¡°There¡¯s a lot of unfinished business, no doubt. I think the overall hype of what it brought to baseball and to guys across the league, guys reaching out to me, to guys that were on the team, the experience was unbelievable.
¡°The atmosphere, the fans. I think just the overall experience for baseball and for the game was intriguing for a lot of people. I think a lot of people are going to want to do it next year.¡±
Trout said DeRosa reached out to tell him that he was going to select Judge as captain for next year, and he appreciated the gesture. Judge also talked with Trout about it. The Angels¡¯ outfielder said he enjoyed their conversation because he has nothing but respect for Judge, who won AL MVP awards with the Yankees in 2022 and ¡¯24.
¡°I mean, he was MVP last year,¡± Trout said. ¡°I love Judgey. We had a good conversation. And I¡¯ve got a great respect for DeRo. We¡¯re good friends. We communicate a lot. I think the experience we had last WBC, just getting to know him more obviously, him being the manager -- it was really fun.¡±
Trout, though, now plays the same position as Judge. The 33-year-old Trout moved to right field this year to help stay healthy, as he has dealt with a plethora of injuries in recent seasons. But both players have plenty of experience in center, and Trout didn¡¯t think that would be an issue.
¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Trout said. ¡°I just want to win this thing. I¡¯m sure DeRo has some tricks up his sleeve. But it¡¯s really cool. The experience I had last time was unbelievable.¡±
Trout, who teamed with Dodgers superstar Mookie Betts to serve as the primary recruiters for Team USA ahead of 2023, said he believes it¡¯ll be an easier role this time because so many players around the league saw how fun and competitive the Classic is. He said it¡¯s also a fun way to bond with players from other teams and to play for a common goal to bring pride to the country.
¡°You compete every single day against these guys that aren¡¯t on your team,¡± Trout said. ¡°So to be able to see guys come in and see how they work, see how they are off the field -- I got to spend a lot of time with them, with their families off the field. And then you come to the ballpark to play, but you get to know them a little bit more. And the experience was unbelievable.¡±
Trout has been productive in his 15th season, mostly because of his power numbers. He entered Tuesday with a slash line of .196/.299/.536 with six home runs, a double and 14 RBIs in 15 games. But he believes more hits are coming, as he has worked to improve the mechanics of his swing.
Trout was dealing with what he described as wrapping his bat but has worked to get his hands in a better position. He also has hit on the field pregame much more often than in recent years.
¡°The biggest thing is when I stay short and quick and my swing isn¡¯t long and loopy,¡± Trout said. ¡°It¡¯s what I¡¯ve been working on the whole year. Some at-bats, it feels good, some bad. It's just a habit I've created over the last few years that I'm trying to break. And I¡¯m doing pregame stuff to try to master it.¡±
Angels manager Ron Washington said he believes Trout is close to fully clicking at the plate but is just impressed by the presence he brings.
¡°Mike is our leader,¡± Washington said. ¡°He has to do the things to help keep them accountable. That¡¯s how you become a team and become successful.¡±