Will Mike Trout ever be truly great again?

In the days leading up to Mike Trout’s expected return from a torn meniscus, team officials asked the three-time MVP to sit down with them.

They had cobbled together videos depicting the evolution of his swing since 2016. The Angels were trying to discern why Trout was striking out more, walking less and trending away from his once-robust offensive profile.

“You’re trying to find similarities to what he did when he was the best player in the game,” Angels hitting coach Johnny Washington said. “You’re trying to find commonalities of what he did before, and compare to now, to piece that thing back together. I think if he can get close to that, we should see a better version of Mike Trout.”

Trout’s baseball existence is now focused on that singular goal

To resemble the singular talent he was before injuries derailed his career. His eventual place in Cooperstown remains assured. But his time as one of baseball’s best players appears to have ended.

The milestones that once seemed so assured — 3,000 hits, 500 home runs, 1,500 RBIs — may be out of reach, as he has averaged only 66 games per season since 2021 and hasn’t played in more than 140 since 2016.

At 33, limited by a knee injury to only 29 games in 2024, he has often referenced “my old self” or “the old Mike Trout” in the context of recapturing his former greatness, the form that carried him to three American League MVP trophies and 11 All-Star appearances.

“It’s in there,” Trout said, “for sure.”

The Athletic sat down with Trout earlier this month, and spoke to others in the Angels’ orbit to better understand how he’ll navigate his future amid a spate of physical ailments, elongated recoveries and a notable drop in offensive production.

Some requested anonymity to speak freely about a player who still commands respect and admiration from current and former Angels players, coaches and executives.

After this lost season, Trout still has six years and $216 million owed to him on the 12-year, $426 million extension he signed heading into 2019. The contract has become an albatross in the eyes of some rival executives.

The only way to salvage the deal would require a revival from Trout. Which invites a host of questions. Can he stay healthy? Will he be able to navigate his aging body? And will he be able to accept being a very good player, even if he might never be among the best again?