Mike Trout showered for sticking with Angels this long originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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It was about time someone showed appreciation for Mike Trout’s loyalty to the Los Angeles Angels. The outfielder, who was drafted in the 2009 MLB draft, has stuck with the team throughout despite no notable postseason achievements.
On Friday’s Foul Territory show, former Toronto Blue Jays star Kevin Pillar showed appreciation to Trout’s loyalty towards the Anaheim-based MLB franchise for as long as anyone can remember, despite what the league has turned out to be today.
“People could talk about his lack of competitiveness and not wanting to play in a winning organization, but I think he should be applauded for his loyalty,” Pillar said. “I’m an NBA fan, you see it all the time, and the NBA players want to team up so that they can create super teams. Mike, as drafted, developed by Anaheim, has always wanted to be there. He’s always wanted to win there, and unfortunately it hasn’t happened, but I think we should applaud him for his loyalty.”
Mike Trout’s loyalty needs to be recognized and celebrated a little more. pic.twitter.com/XlTDA8fC96
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) April 24, 2026
More: Mike Trout ties Angels history in emotional moment as team honors franchise legend
Mike Trout’s Angels loyalty yet to meet World Series accomplishment
Despite having Mike Trout, the Angels have only made the postseason once. In the age of modern contracts and trades, the players don’t hang around enough without any competitive motivation in sight, but Trout’s loyalty is rooted deep in the Angels system.
Over the last few years, trade speculations have been rampant, with many asking him to get traded so that he can have the best shot to win the World Series before his career wraps up. Even Shohei Ohtani knew when it was time to leave the Angels and join the Dodgers and now he’s a back-to-back World Series champion.
However, when Trout has been asked about his opinion on joining a contender, his answer has remained the same. The three-time MVP wants to bring a World Series to Anaheim.
Even though the odds are not great for the Angels to win it all this year, his loyalty remains something for which Trout will always have our respect.
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