Angels News: MLB Columnist Pinpoints Why Mike Trout is Struggling

Trout is striking out at a career-high rate, and his stats are suffering as a result.

Mike Trout is already considered to be an all-time great in Major League Baseball. Spending all 13 of his MLB seasons on a oft-struggling Angels team, Trout has been one of the driving forces behind putting fans in seats.

This season, however, the star has put together one of the worst statistical performances of his career. Outside of his rookie season, Trout is posting career-lows in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage.

It's not like the ten-time All-Star is stinking it up out there. Trout is still hitting at a .255/.358/.473 rate. But for one of the best hitters in baseball, the stat line thus far leaves much to be desired.

ClutchPoints columnist Joey Mistretta noted that Trout's unwieldy strikeout percentage is a factor behind his substandard performance.

According to Baseball Reference, Trout is striking out in 28.3 percent of his at-bats — a drastic decline from his career strikeout rate of 22.3 percent.

Mistretta pointed out that Trout is still performing well when he makes contact with the baseball. His hard-hit percentage is almost two points above his career average and he is still elevating the ball at an impressive rate.

The breaking ball has given Trout difficulties this season. He has a 38.9 percent whiff rate against breaking pitches this season, according to Baseball Savant.

4/19/14:

Joe Nathan vs Mike Trout

7th pitch
2-2 count
🔺9th

Strikeout 🟢

LAA (1) @ DET (5) pic.twitter.com/rcrSpFR2Jr

— Random Detroit Tigers Pitches (@TigersPitches) June 8, 2023

As a whole, Trout is striking out an average of 1.23 times per game, which would be a career-worst were the season to end today.

The Angels have won seven of their last eight games, and are just one game behind in the AL Wild Card race. An improved Trout would only strengthen the Halos' recent surge.