The Mike Trout-Shohei Ohtani era for the Angels is one that’s been marked with a disappointing lack of team success. The team’s struggles with two of the sport’s biggest stars has meant that the pair seldom get to play in big games, but that wasn’t the case when Ohtani struck out Trout for the final out in the World Baseball Classic final back in March. The moment served as the duo’s most iconic together on the baseball field, even if they were on opposite sides.
Now back together on the Angels and firmly in the playoff hunt as the season approaches the midway point, Trout reflected on his matchup with Ohtani as part of an interview with Bleacher Report’s On Base With Mookie Betts podcast, chatting with the Dodgers star on what he believes led to his downfall when facing the 2021 American League MVP.
Mike Trout finally talks about facing Ohtani at WBC 👀 pic.twitter.com/pNFzMFYbZz
— B/R Walk-Off (@BRWalkoff) June 21, 2023
“I’ve got to go deep here,’” Trout said of what his mindset was as he stepped to the plate with two outs in the ninth inning with his team trailing by one. “I’m gonna be real with you, ‘I’ve got to go deep here.’ I think it might have messed me up, because it took me out of my approach. There was one thing on my mind: I was trying to take him deep. There’s no other explanation.”
Trout noted that in all their time together as teammates, he’s never faced Ohtani in a live batting practice or scrimmage environment, so this was the first time the two had ever squared off in a competitive atmosphere. He also added that he and Ohtani haven’t exactly rehashed the experience since it happened, but acknowledged that there’s no hard feelings that have persisted.
“Shohei’s a good dude, man,” Trout said. “Great teammate, just one of them guys that wants to win.”
