Mike Trout facts for kids

Michael Nelson Trout, born on August 7, 1991, is an amazing American professional baseball player. He plays as an outfielder for the Los Angeles Angels in Major League Baseball (MLB). Many people consider Mike Trout to be one of the best baseball players of his time, and even one of the greatest ever!

Trout has achieved a lot in his career. He has been an All-Star 11 times and won the American League (AL) Most Valuable Player (MVP) award three times (in 2014, 2016, and 2019). He also won the Silver Slugger Award nine times, which means he was recognized as one of the best hitters at his position.

The Angels picked Mike Trout in the first round of the 2009 MLB draft. He first played in the major leagues in 2011. By 2012, he became a regular player and won the AL Rookie of the Year Award unanimously. This means everyone agreed he was the best new player! His incredible skills on the field have always impressed fans and experts. He even captained the U.S. national team in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.

In 2019, Mike Trout signed a huge 12-year contract with the Angels. It was one of the biggest contracts in sports history at the time.

Quick facts for kids Mike Trout
Trout with the Los Angeles Angels in 2022
Los Angeles Angels – No. 27
Center fielder / Designated hitter
Born: (1991-08-07) August 7, 1991 (age 34) Vineland, New Jersey, U.S.
Bats: Right Throws: Right
debut
July 8, 2011, for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
MLB statistics (through May 30, 2026)
Batting average	.292
Hits	1,803
Home runs	418
Runs batted in	1,049
Stolen bases	219
Teams
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim / Los Angeles Angels (2011–present)
Career highlights and awards
11× All-Star (2012–2019, 2021–2023) 3× AL MVP (2014, 2016, 2019) 3× All-MLB First Team (2019, 2020, 2022) AL Rookie of the Year (2012) 9× Silver Slugger Award (2012–2016, 2018–2020, 2022) 2× AL Hank Aaron Award (2014, 2019) AL RBI leader (2014) AL stolen base leader (2012)
Medals Men's baseball Representing  United States World Baseball Classic Silver 2023 Miami Team
Signature

Mike Trout's Childhood and Early Baseball Days

Mike Trout was born in Vineland, New Jersey, on August 7, 1991. He grew up in a town called Millville, New Jersey, with his two older siblings, Teal and Tyler. Mike's dad, Jeff, also played baseball in college and was even drafted by the Minnesota Twins! However, injuries stopped his dad's professional career. Mike was a huge fan of the Philadelphia Phillies baseball team when he was a kid.

Mike started playing baseball in a league called Cal Ripken Baseball. He mostly played as a shortstop and wore jersey number 2 to honor his hero, Derek Jeter of the New York Yankees. In high school, he switched to number 1. Mike went to Lakeside Middle School and graduated from Millville Senior High School in 2009.

At Millville High, Mike played both baseball and basketball. In his junior year, he even pitched a no-hitter in a baseball game! During his senior year, he moved to the outfield and hit an amazing 18 home runs, which was a record for high school players in New Jersey. Before being drafted, Mike had planned to play college baseball at East Carolina University.

Mike also played for a top travel baseball team called Tri-State Arsenal. He worked with coaches there from age 14. An Angels scout, Greg Morhardt, who knew Mike's father, said that Mike was the fastest and strongest 17-year-old he had ever seen!

Mike Trout's Professional Baseball Journey

Joining the Angels and Minor League Success

The Los Angeles Angels chose Mike Trout as the 25th player in the 2009 MLB draft. He signed with them on July 2, 2009, and started his professional career right after high school. He played for the Arizona Angels in a rookie league, showing off his skills with a high batting average, home runs, and stolen bases.

In 2010, Mike was already seen as one of the best young players in baseball. He played for the Cedar Rapids Kernels and continued to impress, hitting well and stealing many bases. He was even picked to play in the All-Star Futures Game, which features the best minor league prospects. After that, he moved up to a higher minor league team, the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes.

After the 2010 season, Mike Trout won the Topps Minor League Player of the Year Award. He was only 19 years old, making him the youngest player ever to win this award! Before the 2011 season, many experts ranked him as the number one prospect in all of baseball. He started the 2011 season with the Arkansas Travelers, another minor league team, where he kept up his excellent performance.

Playing for the Los Angeles Angels

2011: First Taste of the Big Leagues

Trout with the Angels in 2011

Mike Trout was called up to the Los Angeles Angels on July 8, 2011, to play in center field. He made his first major league appearance that night. Soon after, he got his first major league hit and later his first home run. After a short time, he was sent back to the minor leagues.

However, the Angels called him back up in August 2011. He hit his first home run at Angel Stadium and became the youngest Angel to hit two home runs in one game. Even though he only played 40 games, he showed flashes of his amazing talent. For his incredible minor league season, he was named Baseball America Minor League Player of the Year.

2012: Rookie of the Year Season

Trout making an amazing catch to rob a home run in 2012.

Mike Trout started the 2012 season in Triple-A, but he was quickly called back to the Angels in April. He immediately started playing incredibly well. He had several games with four hits and even made a spectacular catch, leaping over the center-field wall to rob a home run!

Trout broke several Angels and American League rookie records that year. He scored runs in 14 games in a row and stole many bases. He was selected for his first All-Star Game. He won the AL Player of the Month and AL Rookie of the Month awards multiple times.

On September 30, Mike Trout made history by becoming the youngest player ever to join the 30–30 club, meaning he hit at least 30 home runs and stole at least 30 bases in one season. He finished the season leading the Angels in many important stats, even though he only played 139 games.

On November 12, 2012, Mike Trout won the Major League Baseball Rookie of the Year Award unanimously, meaning every voter chose him! He also won the Silver Slugger Award for his hitting and a Fielding Bible Award for his defense.

2013: Another Amazing Season

Trout playing in 2013

Mike Trout started the 2013 season playing in left field. He had a slower start in April but quickly found his rhythm in May. On April 20, he hit his first career grand slam! On May 21, 2013, he became the youngest player in American League history to hit for the cycle, which means he hit a single, double, triple, and home run all in one game.

Trout was chosen to start in the 2013 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, showing how popular and skilled he was. He continued to have a fantastic season, leading the American League in bases on balls (walks). For the second year in a row, he finished second in the AL MVP voting.

2014: First AL Most Valuable Player Award

Trout in 2014

In March 2014, Mike Trout signed a big six-year contract extension with the Angels. On May 15, he hit his first career walk-off home run, winning the game for his team!

Trout played in his third Major League Baseball All-Star Game on July 15. He had a great game, hitting a double and a triple, and was named the MVP of the game. He was the second-youngest player ever to win this award. He also hit the longest home run of the 2014 season, traveling 489 feet!

In 2014, Trout played in 157 games, hitting 36 home runs and leading the AL with 111 runs batted in (RBIs) and MLB with 115 runs scored. He also had his first taste of the postseason, hitting a home run in the 2014 American League Division Series.

On November 13, 2014, Mike Trout was unanimously chosen as the AL MVP! This meant every baseball writer voted for him. He became the sixth player in MLB history to win both the regular-season MVP and the All-Star Game MVP in the same year.

2015: Another All-Star MVP

On April 17, 2015, Mike Trout became the youngest player in MLB history to reach 100 home runs and 100 stolen bases. He continued his All-Star streak by leading off the 2015 MLB All-Star Game with a home run. For the second year in a row, he won the All-Star Game MVP Award, a first for any player!

Trout finished the season with 41 home runs and 90 RBIs. He also won his fourth Silver Slugger Award, becoming one of only two players to win four straight to start their career. He was a finalist for the AL MVP award again, finishing second.

2016: Second AL MVP

Trout hitting a home run in 2017

In 2016, Sporting News called Mike Trout "baseball's best player." He had accumulated more "Wins Above Replacement" (a stat that measures a player's overall value) through his age-24 season than almost any other player since 1913!

In 159 games in 2016, Trout led MLB in walks (116), runs scored (123), and on-base percentage (.441). He also had a .315 batting average, 29 home runs, 30 stolen bases, and 100 RBIs.

On November 17, Trout was announced as the 2016 AL MVP, winning the award for the second time in his career! He also became only the second player in MLB history to finish in the top two for MVP voting in five straight seasons.

2017: Overcoming Injuries

Trout in 2017

On May 28, 2017, Mike Trout had to leave a game because he sprained his left thumb. This injury required surgery, and he was placed on the disabled list for the first time in his major league career, missing 39 games. Even though he was injured, fans still voted him to be a starting outfielder for the American League in the All-Star Game.

He returned in July and on his 26th birthday, August 7, he got his 1,000th career hit and then hit a home run for his 1,001st hit! On September 29, he hit his 200th career home run. Despite playing in a career-low 114 games due to injury, he still led the team in many important categories like runs, home runs, and stolen bases.

2018: Leading the League in Walks

Trout at Nationals Park before the 2018 Major League Baseball All-Star Game

Before the 2018 season, Sports Illustrated ranked Mike Trout as the #1 player in baseball. On May 26, he had his first career five-hit game, with three doubles and a home run! He was named a starting outfielder for the 2018 MLB All-Star Game.

For the season, he batted .312 with 39 home runs and 79 RBIs. He led the major leagues in walks, showing his great eye at the plate. He also had an excellent stolen base percentage.

2019: Third AL MVP and Record Contract

Trout during a game against the Orioles in May 2019

On March 20, 2019, Mike Trout signed a massive 12-year, $426 million contract with the Angels. At the time, it was the richest contract in the history of North American sports!

Trout made his eighth straight All-Star Game. During the game, he honored his late teammate and friend Tyler Skaggs by wearing his number 45. On August 31, Trout became the youngest player to join the 200 home run, 200 stolen base club.

His 2019 season ended early due to a foot injury that required surgery. He finished the season with a career-high 45 home runs and led the American League in on-base percentage and slugging percentage.

On October 24, 2019, he won the AL Hank Aaron Award. Mike Trout was also named the AL MVP for the third time in his career!

2020: Breaking Angels Records

On September 5, 2020, Mike Trout hit his 300th career home run. This broke the Angels' all-time home run record, which was previously held by Tim Salmon. He finished the shorter 2020 season with 17 home runs and 46 RBIs in 53 games.

2021: Calf Injury

Trout started the 2021 season hitting very well. However, on May 17, he strained his right calf while running the bases. He was placed on the injured list and later confirmed that he had torn his calf muscle. This injury kept him out for the rest of the 2021 season.

2022: Back on the Field

After his injury, Mike Trout returned to play on Opening Day in 2022. On May 21, he scored the 1,000th run of his career, becoming only the second player in Angels history to reach this milestone. In June, he made history by hitting four game-winning home runs in a single series against the Seattle Mariners.

Trout had to go on the injured list again in July due to back spasms. He was diagnosed with a rare back condition. He returned in August and finished the season with 40 home runs and 80 RBIs in 119 games.

2023: Another Injury Setback

Trout batting in 2023

On April 15, 2023, Trout hit his 300th career double. This made him one of only four players in major league history to have at least 300 doubles, 300 home runs, and 200 stolen bases by his age-31 season.

However, on July 4, Trout was placed on the injured list after fracturing his left hand bone. He returned in August but was quickly placed back on the injured list due to lingering pain. His 2023 season ended early in September.

2024: Knee Injuries

On April 9, 2024, Trout hit a home run, becoming the fastest player in Angels history to reach six home runs in a season. Unfortunately, on April 30, Trout was diagnosed with a torn meniscus in his left knee, which required surgery.

He tried to return later in the season but announced in July that he had torn the meniscus in his left knee again. This second injury meant he would miss the rest of the 2024 season.

2025: Position Change and Milestones

Before the 2025 season, Mike Trout announced he would play as a right fielder instead of center field. This change was an effort to help him stay healthier.

He left a game on April 30 with a bone bruise in his left knee and was placed on the injured list. He returned on May 30. On July 27, he hit a two-run home run for his 1,000th career RBI. On September 20, Trout hit his 400th career home run, becoming the 59th player to reach that milestone. He also became the second active player to do so and the 20th player to hit all 400 home runs with one team. On September 26, he hit two home runs in a game, setting a new Angels franchise record for most multi-homer games.

International Baseball Career

On July 19, 2022, Mike Trout announced that he would be the captain of the United States national baseball team for the 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC). He led the team all the way to the final game, where they played against Japan. Japan won the championship, with Trout's Angels teammate Shohei Ohtani striking him out for the final out. Trout was named to the All-WBC team for his excellent performance in the tournament.

Mike Trout's Awards and Achievements

Awards and Team Selections

Statistical Achievements

Mike Trout's Playing Style

Mike Trout's amazing skills at a young age have led people to compare him to baseball legends like Ted Williams and Mickey Mantle. He has a rare combination of both power (hitting for home runs and doubles) and speed (stealing bases).

Between 2012 and 2019, Trout was one of the best hitters in MLB. He had a high batting average, hit for a lot of power, and walked often. He is especially good at hitting pitches that are low in the strike zone.

Trout is also a great baserunner, stealing many bases with a high success rate. He is considered an average defender in the outfield, but his overall offensive and baserunning skills make him an incredibly valuable player.

Mike Trout's Life Off the Field

Mike Trout married his longtime girlfriend, Jessica Cox, on December 9, 2017. They have two sons, born on July 30, 2020, and June 30, 2024. During the baseball season, his family lives in Newport Beach, California.

Mike is a Christian and has spoken about how his faith helps him through tough times, especially with injuries.

He has several nicknames, including "Prince Fish," "God's Gift," "Millville Meteor," and "King Fish 2.0." The nickname "Millville Meteor" became popular after someone edited his Wikipedia page, and it stuck!

In 2014, former President of the United States Barack Obama even used Mike Trout as an example to describe a new law. He said the law was "like Mike Trout...somebody who's got a lot of tools."

Mike is a big sports fan outside of baseball. He supports the Philadelphia Eagles (football), Philadelphia Flyers (hockey), and Philadelphia 76ers (basketball).

In August 2020, one of Mike Trout's trading cards sold for $3.93 million at an auction, breaking the record for the most expensive sports card ever sold at that time.

Mike likes to keep his personal life private. Some of his hobbies include fishing, hunting, and studying meteorology (the weather).

Endorsement Deals

Mike Trout has partnered with several companies. Since 2012, he has been an investor in Bodyarmor SuperDrink, a sports drink. He also signed a deal with J & J Snack Foods to promote SuperPretzel in 2012.

In 2014, Nike started selling Mike Trout-branded shoes. He also has a special deal with Topps, a company that makes baseball cards, giving them the exclusive right to sell his autographed cards. This deal was renewed in 2016 and again in 2021, becoming the largest and longest contract Topps ever signed with an individual athlete. He has also had sponsorship agreements with Subway, Rawlings, and Land Rover.

See also

In Spanish: Mike Trout para niños