Inside The Cardinals

Angels' Mike Trout Belts First HR Of 2025 Campaign With Moonshot Over Cardinals Ace

St. Louis is first to sacrifice a Trout dinger this season
Nate Hagerty|
Aug 26, 2022; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout (27) reacts after hitting a two run home run against the Toronto Blue Jays in the eighth inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
Aug 26, 2022; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout (27) reacts after hitting a two run home run against the Toronto Blue Jays in the eighth inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images | Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images

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St. Louis CardinalsLos Angeles Angels

The St. Louis Cardinals hoped to contain Los Angeles Angels superstar Mike Trout on Wednesday during the final chapter of their three-game series but failed to do so.

After missing most of his 2024 season, Trout is healthy and ready to reestablish himself as one of the league's most feared and revered sluggers.

During Wednesday's matchup against the Cardinals, Trout reminded everyone of the tremendous offensive power he possesses with a moonshot over St. Louis' top starting pitcher.

"This 81 mph curveball from (Cardinals) right-handed pitcher Sonny Gray didn't fare as well as one earlier to Luis Rengifo," MLB.com's John Denton wrote Wednesday after Trout belted a home run to dead center field at Busch Stadium to give the Angels an early 1-0 lead over the Cardinals. "(Angels) star Mike Trout hit this two-strike curveball for his first HR since April 24, 2024."

If it weren't for injuries derailing his career, Trout would likely already be a no-doubt first-ballot Hall of Fame candidate -- batting .299 with 745 extra-base hits including 379 home runs, 959 RBIs and a .990 OPS throughout his illustrious 15-year career with the Angels.

The 33-year-old was dubbed the 2012 American League Rookie of the Year and earned three AL MVP awards, 11 All-Star Game appearances, nine Silver Sluggers, two All-Star game MVPs and the 2012 AL Wilson Defensive Player of the Year.

After playing in only 111 games the two previous seasons combined, Trout hopes to remain healthy for all of 2025. Although off to a relatively slow start -- batting .167 with 3 hits including one home run, five RBIs and a .650 OPS in 18 at-bats across six games played for the Angels -- he's one of the best pure hitters the game has ever seen and should bounce back in no time.

Undoubtedly, Gray won't be the only frontline starter to sacrifice a home run to Trout this season, as long as the Angels legend remains clear of the injured list.

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Nate Hagerty
NATE HAGERTY

Nate Hagerty joined “Inside The Cardinals” as a content creator to spread knowledge about his favorite childhood team. A hometown native of Boston, Hagerty chose at an early age of six years old to follow the St. Louis Cardinals. The miraculous season of 04’ for the Red Sox did not deter Hagerty from rooting against his hometown team, nor did it in 2013 against the Red Birds. For all business/marketing inquiries regarding Inside The Cardinals, please reach out to Scott Neville: nevilles@merrimack.edu 

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