2016 – Mike Trout & Albert Pujols give Angels a strong 1-2 punch. Mike Trout .315, 29 HR 100 RBIs & 30 SB (AL MVP and All-Star). Albert Pujols .268, 31 HR 119 RBIs
The Mike Trout and Albert Pujols dynamic duo was in full affect in 2016 with both players driving in 100 runs and the duo combined for 60 home runs (Trout 29 and Pujols 31). Mike Trout finished with a .315 batting average and Pujols had a respectable .268 batting average.
Trout’s numbers also included a .991 OPS with 30 steals, 123 runs scored, and 116 walks. While Pujols didn’t come close to Trout in these three categories he was still a force to be reckoned with and gave Trout some much-needed protection in the line-up as only Kole Calhoun hit more than 15 homers and drove in more 70 runs in the 2016 season.
On the pitching side the team was decimated by injuries to Andrew Heaney, Garrett Richards, and Nick Tropeano all who suffered UCL injuries and Tyler Skaggs who pitched in only 10 games after coming back from Tommy John surgery. Unfortunately Trout and Pujols could not carry the team.