Mike Trout 2016

Mike Trout isn’t even 30 but is receiving comparisons to Mickey Mantle, Pete Rose, Barry Bonds, and Hank Aaron. We now breakdown Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Michael Nelson Trout was born August 7, 1991 in Vineland, New Jersey. He has played baseball from a young age. Now, he is known as the best player in baseball. Trout was drafted 25th overall in the 2009 draft. He would have a short stint with the Angels in 2011 before having his official rookie campaign in 2012. In 2012, he would be named the AL Rookie of the Year for hitting 30 home runs, posting a .326 batting average, and tying the league lead in stolen bases with 49. 2013 saw similar numbers for Mike.  He hit 27 homers, drove in 97 RBIs, stole 33 bases, and led the league with 110 walks. But 2014 was what brought Mike Trout into the lime light.

2014 was Mike Trout’s first MVP season. It was also the Angels best season. They won 98 games and advanced to the playoffs. Trout was a big reason of this. He hit 36 home runs, drove in an AL best 111 RBIs, scored a league leading 115 runs, doubling 39 times, and stealing 16 bases. He became the youngest player to be a unanimous MVP.  In 2015, Mike would set career highs. He hit a career best 41 home runs and drove in 90 RBIs. Although Trout’s power numbers were increasing, he base running was decreasing. From 2012 to 2015, his stolen bases decreased drastically. He went from stealing 49 bases in 2012 to stealing 11 bases in 2015. This all changed in 2016. 2016 was a great all around season for Mike Trout. His stolen bases and average were back up. In 159 games, he batted .315, hit 29 home runs, drove in 100 RBIs, scored 123 runs, collected 173 hits, and stole 30 bases. He even set an Angels franchise record by walking 116 times.

All of these great numbers have put Trout on record watch. On the day he turned 25, he had more hits than Pete Rose, more runs than Rickey Henderson, and more home runs than Barry Bonds. In his first six seasons, Trout has 175 doubles, 168 home runs, 37 triples, 143 stolen bases, 600 runs, 497 RBIs, and 477 walks. He is only 25 and has been awarded the AL MVP in 2014, the All Star game MVP in 2014 and 2015, a Silver Slugger from 2012-2015, and finished runner up to the MVP in 2012, 2013, and 2015.