For the majority of Mike Trout’s illustrious MLB career, the three-time MVP has rightfully been regarded as a top-five player in the sport. But after another injury-riddled season in 2024, Trout’s reputation took a significant hit when it came to MLB Network’s annual Top 100 Players list.
Since Mike Trout’s 2012 Rookie of the Year campaign, he has remained a top-two player in the annual MLB Network rankings until 2022. In 2023, Trout slipped to a third-place ranking, a slide that continued to the No. 12 ranked player in 2024.
Earlier this month, MLB Network released its rankings for the 2025 season, which featured an even steeper decline for Trout, falling all the way down to No. 39 on the list.
When speaking with the media on Monday, his ranking was brought up to him by a reporter. Trout replied by outlining how he believes the ranking is due to his time missed to injury and not MLB Network suggesting he has lost a step when he has been on the field.
“Yeah, I saw it,” said Trout. “I mean, they are going off the last couple of years. I haven’t been out there. So that’s their ranking. I know where I stand.”
Trout was then asked whether this ranking gave him some added motivation, admitting that it does get him “fired up” to prove those behind the rankings wrong.
“Oh yeah,” replied Trout. ” Oh yeah, definitely. Stuff like that fires you up a bit. It’s all good.”
The old saying is that the best ability is availability. And unfortunately for Angels fans, Trout simply hasn’t been able to stay on the field due to injuries in recent years, playing in just 111 games in the last two seasons combined.
In the short sample size that Trout was on the field for the Angels, he struggled, hitting for just a .220 batting average, his worst of any season to date. So it is understandable why those behind the MLB Network’s Top 100 rankings may be cautious when it comes to their ranking of Trout.
Still, given Trout’s track record of excellence over the course of his 14-year career, along with the fact that he now has some added motivation, don’t be surprised to see some flashes of vintage Mike Trout in 2025.
About Reice Shipley
Reice Shipley is a staff writer for Comeback Media that graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in Sports Media. He previously worked at Barrett Sports Media and is a fan of all things Syracuse sports.