Mike Trout continues to set records for the Los Angeles Angels, and his latest was about longevity in center field.
The Los Angeles Angels are all about Mike Trout and Jose Soriano when it comes to setting records these days, and the Angels star outfielder one-upped the Halos’ flashy starter as he set a record for most games played at a single position in franchise history, according to a story written by Robert Falkoff of MLB.com.
Trout has now appeared in 1,367 games in center field for the Angels, but he had some stiff competition. The other franchise leaders are Jim Fregosi at shortstop (1,366), Tim Salmon in right field (1,264) and Garret Anderson, who posted in left field in 1,236 games.
It’s a heady list, but Trout is producing in a big way this year. He’s been setting records nearly everywhere he goes this season, including a memorable week at Yankee Stadium, where he engaged in a mano a mano home run battle with outfielder Aaron Judge.
Trout had a relatively quiet game last night as the Angels lost to the Kansas City Royals, 6-3, as he went 0-for-2, but he still managed to draw three walks, including one with the bases loaded that gave him an RBI. He turns 35 this year, and Trout has surprised everyone by returning to center field and looking the way he did when he was a young superstar.
“Mike has been in this game a long time, even though he’s still young,” manager Kurt Suzuki said prior to the series opener against the Royals. “That’s a testament to how special of a talent he is. Anytime you can play this game and surpass milestones, it’s definitely a tribute to the player.”
No Trout tribute would be complete without some kind of stat update, and today’s tidbit is about those walks. Trout has always been known for his remarkable eye and ability to lay off bad pitches, but his OBP is currently at .425, which is an underrated number that’s not getting enough play these days.
Trout’s defense isn’t getting enough ink these days, either. Most of the outfield focus has been on Jo Adell’s homer-robbing achievements, but Trout can still get a remarkable jump on anything hit deep or in the gaps.
The Angels have lost five of their last six games, but it looks like the AL West is going to be a wide-open affair this year. The Athletics lead the division at 14-12, and the Angels and the Seattle Mariners are both 2.5 games back at 12-15. There’s an opportunity here if the Halos can improve their spotty pitching, and Trout is leading the way in center, just like he always has.