The 2022 regular season for star Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout included much of the same from the three-time Most Valuable Player, but a back injury almost derailed what turned out to be an incredible year.
The ten-time All-Star and nine-time Silver Slugger opened the season on a torrid pace, posting a 1.141 on-base plus slugging in the first month, including a 218 wRC+ with five homers. With Trout leading the way, the Angels got off to an incredibly hot start and it put their club among the best offensive teams in Major League Baseball.
But the magic wore off for them as a group, they fell into a franchise-record-losing slump and fired manager Joe Maddon. For Trout, however, toward the backend of June, he became the fastest player in league history to reach 300 home runs, 200 steals and 900 walks.
The real news came following a month of July in which Trout posted an OPS of .481 with a 46.2% strikeout rate. Trout was diagnosed with a costovertebral dysfunction at T5. Many feared that this injury could affect his career, but after the initial shock, the Angels put a plan in place for his rehab and he eventually return on Aug. 19.
Head athletic trainer Mike Frostad revealed that a series of cortisone injections helped Trout get back to a good spot, with much of his initial work coming through cardio workouts and core strengthening.
The consensus best player in MLB returned as his usual self and then some. Through his final 173 plate appearances, Trout slugged 16 home runs with 29 RBI, 30 runs scored and a 192 wRC+.
Trout tied and broke Bobby Bonds’ Angels record for consecutive games with a home run after he slugged his sixth home in six games on Sept. 10 against the Houston Astros.
Trout would go on to finish the 2022 season with a .283/.369/.630 slash including 40 homers (the third-highest total of his career), and a 176 wRC+.
Mike Trout 2022 highlight
Despite the injury scares, Trout returned to MLB with a refined focus to absolutely obliterate the baseball. From Sept. 4 through Sept. 12, he homered in seven straight games, breaking a franchise record and coming one shy of tying the all-time record of eight straight games with a homer.
In that stretch, he batted .393/.433/1.214 with nine total extra-base hits.
2023 outlook
Entering his 13th year in MLB, Trout is poised to have another monster season for the Angels. General manager Perry Minasian recently added to the outfield group by acquiring veteran right-handed bat Hunter Renfroe, whose already given high praise to the best player in Angels history.
Being named to the 2022 All-MLB team, the third time in four seasons, Trout’s only job is to monitor himself and continue playing at the level he’s capable of.
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