Angels superstar Mike Trout already solidified a Hall of Fame career early in his pro career but postseason success remains an issue.
Trout hasn’t played a meaningful October game since 2014 and is approaching a near decade without postseason baseball with Anaheim.
MLB Network analyst Rob Parker cited such shortcomings as a reason to compare the Halos superstar with another historic great whose postseason career went the same way.
“When I think about it, I think that Mike Trout is going to wind up being a modern-day Ted Williams. And Ted Williams was a great player, and nobody would deny that, but we never got to see him play, really, in the postseason with the Red Sox. He batted .200, only had seven postseason games, and Trout has only had three postseason games.”
via Rob Parker, MLB Network
Who has had the better career: Bryce Harper or Mike Trout?
"I think Trout is the better player…but I would take Bryce Harper's career." – @RobParkerFS1 #MLBNow | #MLBNowShowdown pic.twitter.com/ED6vB2ShzJ
— MLB Now (@MLBNow) October 17, 2023
Reasons for this debate become even more relevant as fellow 2012 superstar Bryce Harper could be playing in his second World Series in as many years very soon.
Harper’s Nationals consistently made the postseason during his tenure but he’s found a new pinnacle since he signed a massive contract with the Phillies in 2019.
Washington may have won a title in Harper’s first year away from the team, but nobody is questioning his postseason heroics after another dominant run thus far into 2023.
Trout’s regular season resume far outclasses Harper’s yet the dysfunction around the Angels only goes to exemplify how much of an individual sport baseball is, or isn’t.
Even someone as dominant as Trout is, much like his counterpart Ted Williams, he can only hit once every nine times at the plate and can only make a few catches per game on defense.
Shohei Ohtani learned such a lesson Trout’s come to know all too well and he has the chance to jump ship this winter as an impending free agent.
The Angels’ franchise icon and outfielder won’t have that luxury unless he submits a trade request out; a possibility that will be painful for all parties involved.
