Three Goals For Mike Trout in 2019

In 2018, Mike Trout was yet again the best player in all of baseball. With the New Year here, it’s time to set goals for the two-time MVP’s eighth full season in the league.

The LA Angels and Mike Trout are coming up on their

ten-year anniversary of being together, as the Halos drafted Trout in 2009. Since then, he has been the best player in baseball year-in and year-our. However, the thing that keeps Trout at the top of baseball’s totem pole is that he always goes into the next year an improved player.

A strong case of this in 2018 was his defense. Trout began his career as one of the best outfielders in baseball, but realized his advanced metrics had gone down in 2017. After an offseason focused on his defensive range, taking the best routes to the ball, and a quick first step, Trout reached his full potential in the field and was a Gold Glove finalist.

Now, coming off what was arguably his best year yet in 2018, there are still ways for Trout to get better and reclaim his first MVP since 2016 and help lead the Angels to a playoff spot. In this article, we’ll focus on three goals for Trout to focus on in 2019 that will lead to not only his success, but the success of the Angels as a whole.

Join the 40/40 club

In the history of the MLB, there have been only four players to ever hit 40 home runs and steal 40 bases in a single season. Josè Canseco, Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, and Alfonso Soriano are in perhaps the most exclusive group in baseball. Next season, Trout could have a real chance of joining them.

Last year, Trout hit 39 home runs. Given that he missed over 20 games due to injury and spending time on the bereavement list, Trout seems like a healthy candidate for 40 big flies in 2019.

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The real question comes with stolen bases. Trout has only stolen more than 40 once in his career, and that was in his rookie season where Trout swept 49 bags. Since then, stealing bases has not been a huge part of Trout’s game, but he has stolen a collective 66 in his past three years.

Now, Trout needs to steal more bases. He does it at an elite clip, as he was only caught twice last year in 26 attempts. While that number is partially due to Trout picking and choosing when he runs, he has the speed and instincts to be an elite threat on the bases.

If Trout can swipe 40 bags, not only would he be joining an elite group of players in the 40/40 club, it would help the team as well. Last season, Trout hit 79 RBI’s. Considering he hit 39 home runs, he was only hit in by a teammate 40 times. That’s a preposterous number, and with Shohei Ohtani hitting behind him consistently this year, Trout needs to be in scoring position, which involves stealing bases.

Make the Playoffs

This is what it comes down to. For Mike Trout, for the Angels, for the city of Anaheim, for the fans. Mike Trout needs to make the playoffs this year. 2019 will mark the fifth season since their last playoff berth in 2014, where they were promptly swept by the Kansas City Royals in the first round.

For all sports, legacies are built on the postseason. Michael Jordan never lost in The Finals while winning six rings. Tom Brady would not be considered the best player in NFL history if not for his five Super Bowl rings. Even in baseball, Clayton Kershaw may be the best pitcher of all-time, but since he has flopped in the postseason so many times, his legacy is tarnished.

And then there is Trout. In his lone playoff appearance, he had one hit in 12 at-bats. Sure, it was a monster home run and sure, he walked once in each game, but Trout has never done anything worth noting in the postseason. In terms of how he’ll be remembered once he retires, Trout needs another shot in the postseason.

In 2014, the Angels were the #1 seed after having the best record in baseball during the regular season. This upcoming season, there would have to be something absolutely miraculous for the Angels to be hosting a playoff series.

While they will most likely only be competing for a Wild Card spot, even that would be a good step for the Halos and Mike Trout. As always, his upcoming free agency looms, and the Halos need to give Trout a playoff run if they want to keep him around past 2020.