The Los Angeles Angels are fortunate enough to have two of the best players in all of Major League Baseball with Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout. With their stardom on the field, they became two of the most searched players on the internet.
According to the Baseball-Reference annual “Sportify Wrapped” for 2022, both Ohtani and Trout placed in the top five of their most searched athletes of the season.
This is just one of the many accolades Ohtani and Trout racked up during the 2022 season, which includes their selection to the All-MLB team, Silver Slugger Awards, Cy Young votes and MVP votes as Angels duo remain at the top of their game.
Former Angels’ first baseman Albert Pujols came in at the top spot on the Sportify list, followed by New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge. Ohtani and Trout took the third and fourth spots, and San Diego Padres right fielder Juan Soto checked in at number five.
The list was rounded out by Barry Bonds placing sixth, followed by Bryce Harper, Miguel Cabrera, Justin Verlander and Joey Gallo.
In an injury-shortened season for Trout, he launched 40 home runs and drove in 80 runs. His .999 on-base plus slugging percentage was the fifth-best in his career.
Ohtani batted .273/.356/.519 with 34 homers, 30 doubles, 11 stolen bases, and 95 RBIs in 157 games, and on the mound, he went 15-9 with a 2.33 ERA and 219 strikeouts over 166 innings in 28 starts this season.
Ohtani and Trout are set to play for their respective teams, Team Japan & Team USA, in the upcoming 2023 World Baseball Classic scheduled to take place before the start of the regular season.
Newly acquired Angels outfielder, Hunter Renfroe, expressed his excitement that he will share the same field with two of the best players in all of baseball.
Angels will use Shohei Ohtani as much as possible
Ohtani took a step forward on the mound, something that has been a work in progress after Tommy John surgery just a few years ago. He wrapped up the 2022 season with a 15-9 record and a FIP of 2.40 in 28 starts, earning him the fourth spot in AL Cy Young voting.
The incredible talent is a marvel to witness, but the strain and pressure to monitor has been something the Angels have made a point to keep tabs on given his one-of-a-kind talent.
Although it will depend on how their rotation shapes out, manager Phil Nevin thinks the club could alter their plans to get him on the mound more often.
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