ARLINGTON, Texas — Mike Trout is already excited for next year’s World Baseball Classic.
Although the Angels star still can’t officially say that he’ll be a part of Team USA next year, he left little doubt with his comments on Tuesday.
“I want to, for sure,” Trout said. “I expect to, for sure. A lot of unfinished business. No doubt.”
The 2023 WBC ended with the USA losing to Japan, with Trout striking out against then-Angels teammate Shohei Ohtani to end the tournament.
The participants on next year’s team will be revealed gradually. Mark De Rosa returns as the manager, and he announced on Monday that New York Yankees star Aaron Judge would be the captain.
Trout, who was the captain in 2023, got a call from DeRosa before the announcement, and he fully endorsed the choice.
“He was the MVP last year,” Trout said. “I love Judgy.”
Trout said he believes so many players were excited by the tournament the last time that there will be even more interest in 2026.
“I think the overall hype it brought to baseball and to guys across the league, guys reaching out to me and to other guys that are on the team, the experience was unbelievable,” Trout said. “The atmosphere of the fans, the overall experience for baseball, was intriguing for a lot of people. I think a lot of people will want to do it this year.”
NEW STRATEGY
Eyebrows were raised when left-hander Reid Detmers did not throw a single slider among his 29 pitches on Sunday afternoon in Houston. It is generally considered his best pitch. Detmers threw 16 fastballs and 13 curveballs.
So far this season, Detmers has cut his slider use to 20.9%, the lowest percentage of his career.
Angels assistant pitching coach Sal Fasano explained that the slider isn’t going away permanently.
“I thought the matchups were better for the curveball-fastball combination at this point in the year,” Fasano said.
Fasano added that Detmers’ slider still can be a very good pitch: “I like it a lot actually. I think ever pitch he has has the opportunity to be a plus weapon.”
Detmers’ slider is devastating when he commands it, but when he doesn’t, it can get hit hard. At this point, the Angels believe the command with his curveball is better.
Detmers isn’t planning on abandoning the pitch.
“I definitely want to throw my slider,” he said. “I think it’s my best pitch with two strikes, my best swing-and-miss pitch. So I’m definitely going to start using it more.”
Detmers has been a starter for his entire career, but he was inconsistent enough that he’s now working out of the bullpen. He’s thrown just 6⅓ innings so far this season, allowing two earned runs, with four walks and six strikeouts.
NOTES
Catcher Logan O’Hoppe was not in the lineup on Tuesday because he was still recovering from an illness that struck him on Monday, an off day. “I don’t know if it was food poisoning or a bug or whatever it was, but I do not want it,” O’Hoppe said. He said he was feeling better on Tuesday, but agreed with Manager Ron Washington’s decision to give him another day off. O’Hoppe is expected to be back in the lineup on Wednesday. …
Shortstop Zach Neto (shoulder surgery) was scheduled to play nine innings at shortstop for Triple-A Salt Lake on Tuesday and Wednesday nights. Washington said he’s been waiting to see Neto come through full games on back-to-back days before they consider activating him. Even if Neto gets through this final test, the Angels still might have him complete the full 20 days of his rehab assignment. In that case, his return would be next Tuesday, at home against the Pittsburgh Pirates. …
Third baseman Yoán Moncada (right thumb) has still not swung a bat since going on the injured list last week. He has been doing defensive drills, though. “That bone bruise is nothing to play with,” Washington said. “We tried everything we could, and it didn’t work. So next thing to do is just to make certain that he doesn’t aggravate it for as long as we possibly can.” …
When the Angels face left-hander Patrick Corbin on Wednesday, it will be just the second time in their first 17 games that they see a left-handed starter.
UP NEXT
Angels (RHP José Soriano, 2-1, 2.70) at Rangers (LHP Patrick Corbin, 0-0, 6.75), Wednesday, 5:05 p.m. PT, FDSN West, 830 AM
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