With All-Star Game 40 miles away from hometown, Trout hopeful for 12th nod

This story was excerpted from Rhett Bollinger’s Angels Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

PHOENIX -- With the 2026 MLB All-Star Game set to be held just 40 miles away from his hometown, Angels superstar Mike Trout was happy to see his name among the leading vote-getters in the first ballot update released on Monday.

Trout, a Millville, N.J. native, grew up less than an hour away from Philadelphia’s Citizens Bank Park, which will host the Midsummer Classic on July 14. Trout ranked third among all American League players in the balloting and second among outfielders, as he garnered 926,601 votes, which trailed only Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (1,015,768) and Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (977,460).

“When it first came up a couple years ago that 2026 would be in Philly, that was one I really wanted to get to,” Trout said. “So to be up there in the voting means a lot. Hope I get in.”

Trout, 34, leads all active players with 11 All-Star selections, but he hasn’t been named an All-Star since 2023 and hasn’t played in one since 2019 in Cleveland because of a spate of injuries in recent years. Trout has stayed remarkably healthy this season, playing in 73 of the club’s 74 games and only serving as designated hitter 10 times compared to 63 times in center.

He’s remained fresh through it all, reaching 30.1 feet per second (30 is considered elite sprint speed by Statcast) while beating out an infield single in Monday’s series opener against the Diamondbacks. He also showed off his power by hitting a solo blast to right field for his 16th homer of the season.

“Just trying to keep the same routine,” Trout said. “My body feels good. Coming in, preparing myself every single day just to go out there and perform, take care of my body.”

After going 2-for-4 with a homer, a double and three RBIs in Tuesday’s 7-0 win over the D-backs, he’s hitting .233/.393/.473 with 17 homers, 12 doubles, seven stolen bases and 36 RBIs in 73 games. His seven stolen bases are his most since 2019, when he won the last of his three AL MVP Awards.

He slumped early in the month but has started to heat up over the last week, batting .321/.424/.714 with three homers, two doubles, two stolen bases and five RBIs over his last seven games.

“I'm hitting balls hard,” Trout said. “I’ve been like a little up and down where some at-bats I feel good, some at-bats I don't. Earlier in the season I consistently was feeling locked in. The last few games, some balls are starting to fall. I'm hitting balls hard, just like I was the last few weeks, but that's baseball. Just got to stay with the path and the work every single day and good things happen.”

Trout said he also has another reason to participate in All-Star Week festivities, as he would love to bring his wife, Jessica, and their sons, Beckham, 5, and Jordy, 2, to the events. Trout got to take in the Home Run Derby on the field with Beckham at the 2022 All-Star Game at Dodger Stadium, but his eldest son is now old enough to understand the game more.

“It'd be cool for both of them,” Trout said. “Jordy is a little young right now, but he knows that dad plays baseball. But Beckham is involved right now, so it'd be a cool experience for him. And MLB does a great job with putting on stuff for the families.”

Angels manager Kurt Suzuki has been impressed with the way Trout has performed and stayed on the field this season. Suzuki and Trout constantly communicate to make sure Trout is feeling good, but this year, Suzuki has been fortunate to write Trout’s name in the lineup in all but one contest.

He’s hopeful that Trout will be able to play in yet another All-Star Game, especially with it being held so close to Trout’s hometown.

“I think it's great for baseball,” Suzuki said. “It's great for Mike for him to be recognized again. He had some tough years the last couple years, but I played with Mike for two years. And I think being on this side managing him, you really get to appreciate how he handles himself around the clubhouse with the work he puts in every single day. It's just been awesome.”