Mike Trout superstitiously switches up his sports drink flavor to get hot at the plate

• Mike Trout said he is very superstitious.
• One of his superstitions includes a specific kind of sports drink.
• The drink also ensures that he avoids cramps during games, which is another bonus to his play.

Superstitions are common among sports' most competitive athletes, and Mike Trout is no exception.

The three-time AL MVP for the Los Angeles Angels told Insider that he has a long list of superstitions, and one of his big ones is switching up the flavor of Bodyarmor sports drink he has in the dugout depending on how he's performing.

"I have different flavors and whatever flavor has been working, I roll with it," Trout told Insider. "I'm really superstitious, so you know it's fruit punch one day or orange mango the next and I roll with it, try to switch it up every once in a while."

Still, Trout admitted that fruit punch is his favorite flavor among the bunch, and he'll often go to if he really wants to get hot at the plate.

"I'm a big fruit punch guy," Trout said. "I try to drink one before workouts, before a game, and after a game ... even during the games if I feel sluggish I'll drink one."

Trout's superstitious sports drink habits date back to the start of his career with The Angels in 2011. That year, Trout signed the first major endorsement deal of his career with Bodyarmor, the same year the brand was founded.

"My dad came home and had a drink from a store and it was a Bodyarmor and he really enjoyed it and I looked into it and got a connection and I really like how it tasted and all the stuff inside of it like the electrolytes." Trout said. "That was one of my big decisions, was partnering up with them."

Trout's superstitious habits haven't soured on him this year, as he's started the season batting .385 with five home runs and 11 RBI for The Angels.

-MLB Stats (@MLBStats) April 21, 2021

As one of baseball's most accomplished players, Trout's approach to how he drinks Bodyarmor is not unlike another all-time great player who had superstitous dietary dugout habits. Babe Ruth famously had an exclusive diet of hot dogs and soda.

However, Trout's habits are arguably significantly healthier than Ruth's, as the drink helps him stay hydrated and avoid cramps, while Ruth's habit once sent him to the hospital during a game, according to Time.