Mike Trout’s 2025 season has certainly taken some unexpected turns. Manager Ron Washington and GM Perry Minasian have pushed Trout out of his usual routine—shifting him from center field to right and moving him out of his traditional spot in the No. 2 hole. And today, Washington had yet another surprise in store for Trout when it came to the lineup.
Mike Trout is officially back in the Angels’ lineup after missing far more time than initially expected due to a sore left knee. In a corresponding move, infielder Matthew Lugo was optioned to Triple-A so he can get regular playing time. This marks Trout’s first appearance since April 30, making it his first game of the month.
He returns carrying a .179/.264/.462 slash line with a .727 OPS, nine home runs, 18 RBIs, a 30% strikeout rate, and a remarkably low .159 BABIP. Most notably, Trout will be hitting fifth in the lineup—a dramatic change considering it’s the first time he’s batted outside the top three spots in the order since 2011. For context, the last time Trout hit lower than third, the Angels’ roster included Maicer Izturis, Alberto Callaspo, and Vernon Wells.
He’ll be hitting just behind Jorge Soler, who has struggled mightily this month with a .202/.287/.310 slash and a .107 ISO. The reasoning behind Trout’s placement in the five-hole is…curious. Before landing on the IL, Trout had been penciled into the No. 3 spot in 27 of his 29 games this season. Even hitting him third instead of second felt unusual given his long-standing role as the No. 2 hitter for the majority of his career. Now in the five-spot, it raises the question—what message is manager Ron Washington sending?
While Trout’s strikeout rate is high, his abnormally low BABIP and consistently elite exit velocity numbers suggest his current stats are due for positive regression. If Washington saw the payoff from giving Taylor Ward an extended look in the three-hole, why not show the same patience with Trout, a future first-ballot Hall of Famer?
As Washington mentioned earlier this week, Trout will return in the designated hitter role and is expected to stay there for at least the next week. He’s still working on regaining full strength in his legs and shaking off some rust. On top of adjusting to a new position in right field, he left with a below-average Outs Above Average (OAA) mark and a middling arm value. How he moves on the basepaths tonight—assuming he reaches base—will be worth watching closely.
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