Angels creating organizational trend by leading MLB in strikeouts

Los Angeles Angels second baseman Oswald Peraza stepped into the batter's box, primed to fuel a two-out, ninth-inning rally at Angel Stadium. 

Four pitches later, Peraza declined to swing at an 81-mph sweeper. The one-ball, two-strike offering by New York Mets relief pitcher Brooks Raley sailed along the outside edge of home plate.

"Strike three," home plate umpire Chris Conroy ruled.

Like 10 other times Sunday, an Angels batter went down on strikes.

For the season, the last-place AL West squad ranks last in the league with 447 strikeouts during 1,174 at-bats this season. Their strikeout percentage spiked to 30.4 percent.

The Angels striking out frequently should no longer be considered a fluke. 

Over the past four seasons, it's developed into an organizational trend.

Angels leading MLB in strikeouts -- again

Last season, the Angels' strikeout percentage ranked last at 27.1 percent. 

In 2024, they ranked No. 19 (23.7 percent)

In '23, they ranked No. 26 (24.8).

In '22, they ranked last at 25.8.

The Angels' top hitters continue to whiff the most. Four key contributors, Zach Neto (52 strikeouts), Jorge Soler (41), Mike Trout (37) and Yoan Moncada (37), departed Sunday's 5-1 loss with more strikeouts than games played this season. Jo Adell had 32 whiffs in 35 outings. 

Before an announced crowd of 41,614, the host Angels struck out at least once in every frame, but the sixth. They ended the seventh, eighth and ninth innings by following the recent organizational trend and going down on strikes.

The free-swinging Minnesota Twins struck out a combined 1,654 times in 2023, establishing an all-time MLB record for strikeouts in a season. The 2025 Angels rank second all-time with 1,627 strikeouts. 

Will the 2026 Angels top the Twins' dubious mark?