Despite being one of the most powerful hitters in all of MLB, Mike Trout has traditionally been pretty passive when it comes to representing his country on the international stage.
The three-time AL MVP winner and face of the Los Angeles Angels sat out the 2013 and 2017 World Baseball Classic tournaments and won AL MVP awards in each successive year.
That all changed in late 2022 when Trout announced that he would suit up for Team USA at the 2023 WBC. His team’s odds of winning the tournament increased the moment the news broke, and so did named captain.
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By all accounts, Trout had a successful tournament. He slashed .296/.406/.556 with seven RBIs and a home run that came during a 12-1 thrashing of Team Canada at Chase Field, home of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Team USA topped their opposition, including a thrilling 9-7 victory over Team Venezuela in the quarterfinals. Soon, only Trout’s Los Angeles Angels teammate Shohei Ohtani and Team Japan stood in the US’s way.
In the end, Trout and his star-studded team lost to Japan 3-2. In the aftermath of the loss, Trout took to Twitter to offer a heartfelt message to his fans and teammates.
“It’s hard to put into words what these past few weeks have meant to me,” Trout tweeted. “I had the time of my life representing the USA on my chest! The energy was electric and made the WBC a moment I will always cherish. So thank you all so much. It was an honor to be your captain.”
Trout will now return to training camp in Arizona before the Angels’ season opener against the Oakland Athletics on March 31.
Despite the poignant message, Mike Trout faces a difficult season ahead
Although Mike Trout has had a terrific personal career, he hasn’t seen many must-win situations. In fact, his only postseason experience dates back to 2014. With his team paying him big bucks, the Angels will expect more than friendly Trout Twitter posts in 2023.