Angels’ Mike Trout could benefit from starting next season in minors

The more you see Mike Trout languish against good major league pitching, the more you think the outfielder, despite his tremendous potential, might be better off starting next season at triple-A Salt Lake.

Not that that would be a huge disappointment for Trout or the Angels. The kid just turned 20 on Aug. 7.

“Wherever they think I should be, they’ll make the right choice, just like they have in the past,” Trout said. “I can’t really tell where I belong, because I’m not playing every day like I’m used to. I only have [113] at-bats. It’s hard to make a determination based on that.”

Trout mastered double-A this season, hitting .326 with a .414 on-base percentage, 11 homers, 13 triples and 33 stolen bases and winning Baseball America minor league player-of-the-year honors.

He was called up from double A on July 8 and hit .163 in 14 games for the Angels before being sent back to double A on July 31.

The speedy Trout was called up again Aug. 19, and in his first 11 games he hit .406 (13 for 32) with four homers and eight runs batted in, raising his average to .267 on Sept. 3.

But in 12 games since, Trout is three for 38 (.079) with one RBI, 15 strikeouts and no walks, his average falling to .204.

“He’s had some struggles, but when he first came up, you saw the talent he has to play in a big way,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “His skill set is obvious. His makeup is off the charts. Whether a player is ready for the major leagues is a combination of his talent level and opportunity.”

If injured first baseman Kendrys Morales returns next season, pushing Mark Trumbo into an already crowded outfield (Torii Hunter, Vernon Wells, Peter Bourjos, Bobby Abreu) or to the designated hitter spot, there could be even less opportunity for Trout in 2012.

Trout is scheduled to play in the Arizona Fall League, and the Angels will evaluate him in spring training.

“Players of his ability at some point push their way into a lineup, and that’s what we hope to see,” Scioscia said. “But we don’t have to make that decision now.”

Hunter thinks Trout will benefit from the adversity he is facing.

“You’ve got to let him take his bumps and bruises, let him learn the game and learn the league,” Hunter said. “He’s never experienced the pressure of pennant race. Now he has, and that’s going to make him better.”

Hunter sees one potential drawback to sending Trout to triple A.

“Most of your top prospects are at double A,” Hunter said. “Triple A has a lot of guys who get sent down from big leagues, they’re ticked off and bitter, and that can ruin a 20-year-old.

“You’ve got to be careful. I’m not saying that would happen, but you can have lesser talent at triple A.”

Short hops

Trumbo, the rookie first baseman who entered Saturday with a team-leading 29 home runs and 87 RBIs, was voted by teammates as the Angels’ most valuable player. Jered Weaver, who is 18-8 with a 2.41 earned-run average, won the Nick Adenhart Award as the team’s top pitcher for the third straight season. … The Angels passed the 3-million mark in attendance Saturday for the ninth straight season. The New York Yankees are the only other American League club to draw 3 million in each of the last nine years.

mike.digiovanna@latimes.com