Mike Trout

Played against him in Fall ball---he is the real deal

I remember seeing him at the Tournament of Stars event in Cary, NC a couple of summers ago. After watching him play a few innings I thought, "Who is that kid? He looks really special." Then I realized I was sitting right behind his family. I made a mental note to keep track of Mike Trout.

By the way, Trout didn't make the 18U National Team that summer. There were a bunch of great ball players who did. Some of them are in college now, others are in the low minors. Trout looks like he will beat all of them to the majors by a healthy margin. Just goes to show, if you combine talent and a great work ethic you will make it even if some experts deem you unworthy.

Being in New Jersey, I had the pleasure of following Mike throughout his high school career ... anyone watching him play could see he was going to be something special.

Knowing a bit about the rigors of minor league baseball, what Mr. Trout has accomplished in such a short time is nothing short of amazing!

My son played against him in club ball. Absolute stud with an unbelievable work ethic and just a real nice kid. Nice to hear he is doing so well.

quote:

Originally posted by TRhit:
Played against him in Fall ball

I'd have paid to see that.

Mike Trout is perhaps the top prospect in all of baseball imho. A five tool player.

I heard TR struck him out with a spit ball the first time he faced him. In Trouts second ab Trout hit a 500' bomb and pimped it. Next time up TR threw at him and Trout took his 50 mph heater like a man right in the ribs.

Trout got his revenge when TR hit a screaming line drive in the gap and Trout hosed him by 20' at first base.

Baseball , you got to love it!

quote:

Originally posted by Coach_May:
I heard TR struck him out with a spit ball the first time he faced him. In Trouts second ab Trout hit a 500' bomb and pimped it. Next time up TR threw at him and Trout took his 50 mph heater like a man right in the ribs.

Trout got his revenge when TR hit a screaming line drive in the gap and Trout hosed him by 20' at first base.

Baseball , you got to love it!

Now that right there, I don't care who you are, that right there, that's funny.

quote:

Originally posted by CPLZ:

quote:

Originally posted by Coach_May:
I heard TR struck him out with a spit ball the first time he faced him. In Trouts second ab Trout hit a 500' bomb and pimped it. Next time up TR threw at him and Trout took his 50 mph heater like a man right in the ribs.

Trout got his revenge when TR hit a screaming line drive in the gap and Trout hosed him by 20' at first base.

Baseball , you got to love it!

Now that right there, I don't care who you are, that right there, that's funny.

Yes it is...and exactly how I imagined it would have gone.

.

Well when it comes to trout fishing TR has both The Spirit and the boat...






.

My son played with and against Mike here in South Jersey. Like others have said he always stood out as exceptional. He is the fastest high school player I've seen in person.

One time, Mike was on first when a ball was hit into the right field gap. The third base coach is watching the ball, looks down to wave Mike home but Mike had already passed him and was halfway home.

He also threw in the low 90's when picthed in high school.

Jimmy,

Do you work the Midwest League?

Mike's dad came in to our building to visit this spring. We're located right across the street from the ballpark. Obviously we had seen Mike play many times as a high school player, but this was the first time we met his dad. No surprise... He is a great guy!

Wish Mike would have stayed here the whole season, but he was really too good for this league. Maybe the best talent ever on this club (over 100 years of professional baseball). The speed is astounding. He has 4 ++ tools right now and he will probably end up with + power as he gets older.

As PG said, wish he would have stayed in Cedar Rapids all year as he was a real joy to watch. It did not take look to see this kid was not like the rest of the players in the Midwest League. Great bat, great speed, stole 30+ bases in less than half a season.

Another quick story.

A week or so before the 2009 draft my son's team was practicing and were called off the field so Mike could workout (BP and some running) for the GM, head scout and area scout of a MLB team. This team had a top 10 pick that year. Supposedly the GM wasn't knocked off his feet with what he saw that day and left town before watching his game that night. (his trip initially included the game). The GM passed on Mike that draft. As did many other teams.

We were at a banquet 6 months after the draft, as was Mike and his family. Mike had already torn up the rookie league. The area scout was a speaker at the banquet and made a point to mention how his team would like to have a do over for that draft.

I know these types of things must happen a lot but not to often here in New Jersey.

quote:

Originally posted by PGStaff:
Jimmy,

Do you work the Midwest League?

Nope. Fill in from time to time in the Cal League, as needed. And, I attend games at, at least, four franchises in the league each year. The Cal league gets some talented kids at times. Unfortunately, they don't always get managers with the level of class you find in the MWL. The MWL, in my opinon, is the finest run league in the minors.

My son played with Mike on the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes this season. Great kid with boundless enthusiasm, smiles galore and the right amount of swagger. Speed and talent have already been discussed, but no exaggeration there.

Loved meeting him and having him look up and wave whenever he recognized me arriving to watch son's games.

He'll be around a long time!