Mike Trout’s resurgence with Angels has him primed to win the AL MVP originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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Limited to 531 games out of a possible 972 games, Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout is finally healthy. Through 35 games of the 2026 season, the three-time MVP is batting .250 with a .954 OPS, 10 home runs (fifth in the American League) and has stolen five bases without being caught.
Not being himself since 2019, having the old Trout is helping build his case for why he should be considered to win his fourth MVP award in his illustrious Hall of Fame career.
Mike Trout receives votes as an early MVP favorite for the Los Angeles Angels
In a recent poll of over 40 MLB.com experts, Trout ranked fifth to win the MVP award in the American League. MLB.com’s Jason Foster notes that Trout’s resurgence is what’s making him an early favorite to dethrone the reigning MVP, New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge.
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“Seeing Trout’s name on this list just feels right, even if it’s been a while for the three-time AL MVP,” wrote Foster. “But this season, he’s looked a lot like the Mike Trout of old. His 10 homers are tied for fifth-most in the AL, while his .433 on-base percentage ranks second. Meanwhile, his .983 OPS through Sunday would be his highest since 2022. It just shows that a healthy Trout can still be a major game-changer whenever he’s on the field.”
If Trout can remain healthy for the rest of the season, maintain the pace he is on and up his batting average, he should have a strong chance to give Judge, a fellow three-time MVP, a run for his money.
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