ANAHEIM, Calif, – Game 162 has come and passed, and the Los Angeles Angels’ 2025 season with it. The Angels fell to the Houston Astros 6-2 after an onslaught of Astro home runs in the fifth inning. Mike Trout started the game strong in what became his last at-bat of the season with a 443 foot home run to left-center field, his fourth home run in as many games.
It was a season of uncertainty for Los Angeles. The squad was led by interim manager Ray Montgomery for the majority of 2025 after Ron Washington stepped away on medical leave.
“It’s like a wide range of emotions,” Montgomery said of his unexpected position this season. “There were times when you’re on top of it; you feel really good about what the guys did and how we responded, and then there were times when we just didn’t play very well, and we wear that. I know we wear the losses more than we celebrate the wins, so it’s been very difficult.”
It was another disappointing finish as the club misses the playoffs for the 11th consecutive season and finishes 72-90, the second-worst Angels record since 2019, barring the pandemic-shorted 2020 season.Â
The Angels’ present may not have been bright, but there were flashes this season of what the team can be and in an American League West division that has seemed up for grabs in recent seasons, there may be space at the top for Los Angeles with some adjustments made.
Jordan Carroll – The Sporting Tribune
Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout (27) hits a home run during the MLB game against the Houston Astros, Sunday September 28th, 2025 at Angel’s Stadium in Anaheim, Calif.
Young Core Becoming Mainstays
2025 has been the season that a handful of young Angels stars have come into their own. Jo Adell broke out for a team-leading 37 home runs while slugging .485, bringing home 98 RBIs in the process.Â
Zach Neto established undoubtedly established himself as the franchise shortstop and one of the Angels’ best players, leading the team in WAR with 3.2 while earning his second consecutive 20-20 season. Nolan Schanuel, similarly, carved out a place for himself as the regular first baseman of the franchise moving forward, clocking a career-high in runs, OPS and OPS+ while ending the season one-shy each of his career-highs in RBIs, hits and home runs.Â
On the pitching side of the roster, José Soriano had his own breakout. While Soriano’s season ended prematurely after he was struck by a line drive and placed on the 15-day IL, he showed flashes of ace material in his starts prior. In his third season with the Angels Soriano led the pitching staff with 3.0 WAR, second across the entire team behind Neto.Â
The Angels pitching staff has trended younger in recent years and with the expiring contracts of veterans Tyler Anderson and Kyle Hendricks, Soriano looks poised to lead a young staff of Halos in the future with stellar stuff and a fastball that loiters near 100 MPH.Â
Jordan Carroll – The Sporting Tribune
Los Angeles Angels outfielder Jo Adell (7) gets a run to first base during the MLB game against the Houston Astros on Sunday, September 28, 2025, at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, Calif.
Taylor Ward came into 2025 as the Angels second-longest tenured outfielder behind Mike Trout, and with Trout missing time early in the season with injury and shifting to a full-time designated hitter upon his return, Ward was now the veteran of the outfield and an even more crucial offensive presence than ever before.
Ward exploded for 36 home runs, one shy of the team lead, and eclipsed the 100 RBI mark for the first time in his career. One of the most talked about names at the Trade Deadline, the Angels retained Ward and he totaled 2.7 WAR this season. Among all the question marks in the Angels franchise, keeping Ward as a mainstay in the outfield has not been one of them. He even surprised himself with the level of success he had at the plate in 2025, and has used this season as his benchmark for the future.Â
“I really didn’t have a RBI goal this year until I was creeping toward 100, so to achieve that, it’s unbelievable,” Ward said. “Next year, hoping there’s a good OPS, help the team win, what ever happens with homers. And, I think I would add 100 RBIs to my list.”
Jordan Carroll – The Sporting Tribune
Los Angeles Angels shortstop Denzer Guzman (13) tags out incoming runner from 1st base during the MLB game against the Houston Astros on Sunday, September 28, 2025, at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, Calif.
Mike Trout’s Ups and Downs
By Trout’s standards, a 26 home run, .798 OPS season is considered a down year. But for Trout, being on the field for the majority of the season is a win by itself. He played in 129 games in 2025 and had his most at-bats in a season since his MVP-winning 2019, and while he didn’t escape the entire season injury free, he stayed active longer than can be said in a long time. The story of Trout’s lengthy pursuit of 400 dominated much of the latter half of his 2025 but with the milestone past him, Trout looked and felt, in his own words, “like himself.” He finished the season with five home runs in his last seven games solo shot in his last at-bat of Sunday’s game before being pinch-hit for by Logan O’Hoppe.Â
As a talented young offense grows around him, Trout’s steady presence in the lineup is vital for the Angels. As the future Hall of Famer showed signs of his vintage prowess to end this season, one can only imagine what a fully healthy 2026 would hold.Â
The Angels have a long way to contend in the American League, but maybe a short road to get there. Health and consistency are the factors that have so far escaped them and become even more crucial as the clock keeps ticking. The offseason will be an impactful one, full of major decisions regarding coaching and front office positions and a push to fill the gaps in the team.Â
“They’ve got a good thing going here. It’s just the record doesn’t show it,” Kenley Jansen said, who will now be a free agent, said. “If they fill up the holes… these guys Jo [Adell], Zach [Neto], Trouty… they’re good… they just gotta add some more depth.”