Last year Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout enjoyed a rookie season for the ages. Trout led the American League in runs (129), and stolen bases (49). Trout also hit 30 home runs to go along with a .326 batting average. Trout would go on to be named American League Rookie of The Year and only a Triple Crown season from Detroit Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera prevented Trout from being named AL MVP. Sometimes when players come out of the chute for their Major League Baseball careers in the fashion that Trout did, you wonder when a letdown will come but that hasn’t been the case for Trout.
This season Trout leads the Angels in batting average (.321), runs batted in (63), on-base percentage (.398), and hits (127). Despite the Angels sub-.500 record at this point of the season, Trout is a big reason why the Angels still have an outside shot of the making the playoffs if they can put it altogether.
Trout is just 21-years old and he makes the game of baseball exactly what it should be, fun. There’s hardly a game that goes by without Trout getting his uniform dirty by hustling around the base paths or making a spectacular defensive play. Earlier this month at the MLB All-Star Game, Trout connected on the first pitch of the game that was thrown by New York Mets starting pitcher Matt Harvey and slid head first into second base with a lead-off double.
While his counterpart, Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper has been compared to former Cincinnati Reds infielder Pete Rose, Trout has already been compared to legendary New York Yankees outfielder Mickey Mantle for his all-around ability.
Every generation produces one player that stands out from the rest of the pack with his athletic ability. Growing up I had the pleasure of watching Ken Griffey Jr. grace the baseball world with his raw power and his skill in the outfield. Now that mantle has been passed on to Trout.
Angels owner Arte Moreno has recently spent millions in the hopes to upgrade his team. First baseman Albert Pujols and outfielder Josh Hamilton will receive nearly $400 million from Moreno over the next several seasons and to this point of their time with the team, each man has been a huge letdown. Trout has taken some of the spotlight off of both men while giving the Angels hope for the future.
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