Angels’ Mike Trout Reflects How Getting Sent Back to the Minors Taught Him Vital Lessons
In Major League Baseball many players experience being called up to the big show and unfortunately being sent back down for underperforming. However, one of the game’s best hitters contemplated how this form of development enhanced and strengthened his abilities. The Angels’ Mike Trout reflects on how getting sent back to the minors taught him vital lessons.
In a recent appearance on Los Angeles Dodgers’ Mookie Betts “On Base” podcast, Trout delivered an honest and thoughtful expression on how taking a step back can actually propel an athlete forward. Trout explained to Mookie,
“I think when I got sent back down, when I came up. I got the call, I was in Double-A, I was in my apartment. It was late at night. I heard my phone ring. It’s Orange County and I was like, This is like midnight, and I didn’t answer it. I didn’t know who it was. Then I got a voicemail and then they called again. I answered. ‘You’re going to the big leagues.'”
Once I got called up, I struggled. I hit like .205 or something. Hit some homers, whatever. But I got sent back down and it kind of was like, wow, it’s kind of like a wake-up call. Like, ‘Hey man, let’s go.’
It calmed me down because I went up there and I was trying to do way too much. You go in this game, you go up there trying to hit homers every time, you’re gonna get out.
Being able to just calm myself down. I try to calm myself down. I think when you’re up there tense and trying to hit the ball so hard, for me personally, it might work for other guys to go up there and try to launch, I’m trying to hit the ball hard for sure, I’m trying to get my A swing off, but I’m not trying to hit the ball to the 55 freeway every time.”
Angels’ Mike Trout Reflects How Getting Sent Back to the Minors Taught Him Vital Lessons
When you look at Mike Trout’s big league career you can see all the success he has had since this transforming moment as a player. Trout is widely considered one of the greatest baseball players in history. Being named AL Rookie of the Year in 2012; and has won 9 Silver Slugger Awards as well as earned 2 All-Star Game MVP awards. Additionally, he has been honored with three American League MVP awards and earned 12 All-Star selections.
However, Mike credits his “early failure” for a lot of his achievements. Trout mentions,
“Being able to fail that one time, fail that month and a half I was up there, to be able to come back, I knew what to expect. To calm myself down. Just to be myself. What got me there.”
And Mike is still elite. Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout has hit 20 home runs so far during the 2026 Major League Baseball season.
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