It’s likely that the last time Mike Trout was in Philadelphia it was to attend a Philadelphia Eagles game. The Millville, NJ native and fan of Philadelphia sports will be at Citizens Bank Park this weekend when the Los Angeles Angels come to town for a weekend series as baseball wakes up from its all-star slumber.

Trout, who turns 34 in a little over two weeks, has seen his durability and statistics fall off some since his MVP season in 2019 when his 45-104-.291/.438/.645 line had him leading the majors in a number of offensive categories. In the five full seasons since then, Trout has averaged 19-40-.277/.378/.580, still some impressive numbers. Injuries have limited him to an average of just 64 games per season since then as well.

The 2025 season has seen a resurgence by Trout, who going into the All-Star Break had a line of 17-41-.238/.365/.471 with the Angels. Trout’s power has returned and his plate discipline, which has always been among the best in baseball, has remained in the elite class with his walk rate of 16% – nearly double the MLB average – remains among the highest in baseball.

One possible reason behind the resurgence is the fact that Trout is now playing right field instead of center field for the Angels. He and the team believe the move reduces wear and tear on his body and will help him to avoid some of the injuries he has dealt with over the past few seasons. Actually, Trout’s most prominent role with the Angels has been as a designated hitter, having played 46 games as the team’s DH and 22 as the right fielder. He has not played center field since last season. That fact has likely reduced the chance of the Phillies looking to deal for Trout, although they had been rumored to be interested in a deal for him previously in his career. Another drawback is that Trout is in the middle of a 12-year/$426-million contract that runs through 2030. Trout himself has also said that he enjoys playing with the Angels and wants to stay there and hopefully, be a part of a championship team.

Former trading partners

An August 2, 2022 trade sent Logan O’Hoppe from the Phillies to the Angels in exchange for Brandon Marsh was a rare example of a mutually beneficial deal. At the time, the Phillies were in urgent need of a center fielder and had J.T. Realmuto locked in as their starting catcher through 2025. That made O’Hoppe, their top catching prospect, expendable. Marsh, meanwhile, was a young outfielder with elite defensive tools but an inconsistent bat, and the Angels were looking to upgrade at catcher.

For the Phillies, Marsh immediately filled a defensive void in center field and contributed offensively down the stretch in 2022. His 2023 season was a breakout, posting a .277/.372/.458 slash line with a 125 wRC+ and 3.5 fWAR. However, his performance dipped in 2024 and early 2025, with declining power, increased groundball rate, and defensive regression.

On the Angels’ side, O’Hoppe has emerged as one of the top young offensive catchers in baseball. Despite some defensive shortcomings, his power has been undeniable, with a 131 wRC+ and 14 home runs in just 47 games to start 2025. His high barrel rate and exit velocity suggest sustainable production, though his strikeout rate and lack of walks make him a high-variance hitter. Defensively, he’s struggled with framing and pop time, raising questions about his long-term fit behind the plate.

Ultimately, the trade addressed immediate needs for both teams. The Phillies got a controllable outfielder to stabilize their lineup, while the Angels landed a potential franchise catcher. The difference is that the Angels figure to have O’Hoppe somewhere in their lineup for the foreseeable future and the Phillies are looking for another upgrade in center field.

Series Preview

The Phillies and Angels kick off a three-game weekend series at Citizens Bank Park starting Friday night, and it promises to be a compelling matchup between two teams with postseason aspirations. The Phillies enter the series atop the NL East with a 55–41 record and a dominant 30–16 mark at home. Their offense is led by Kyle Schwarber, who has already launched 30 home runs, and Trea Turner, who’s batting .289 with 112 hits. Jesús Luzardo gets the ball for the opener, coming off a stellar seven-inning shutout against the Giants.

The Angels, sitting at 47–49 and just outside the AL Wild Card race, are looking to build momentum. Mike Trout returns to his home region riding a hot streak – four homers and 10 RBIs in his last 10 games. José Soriano is expected to start for Los Angeles, bringing a 3.90 ERA and solid strikeout numbers into the series.

Philadelphia’s pitching edge and home-field advantage make them the favorites, but the Angels’ power – fifth in MLB in home runs – could keep things interesting. With Trout chasing career milestones and both teams hungry for wins, this series could deliver fireworks.