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Mike was just selected to the All Star team...outstanding!
RJM, Thanks for posting the link about Mike Trout. He seems so mature for such a young man. He will be a pleasure to watch play ball. I loved that unbelievable catch that he made. I have replayed it many times.
Outstanding player. He'll be an all-star for many years to come.
The first time I came across Mike Trout was the summer of 2008, the year before he was drafted and the summer after I had graduated from high school.
I was pitching in a tournament for my summer team on Long Island and heard that the centerfielder for the other team was a stud. He came up in the first inning and swung at the first pitch, hitting a mile-high flyball into left field. He was rounding second base when the ball was caught.
His second at-bat he hit a three-hopper to shortstop and beat the throw to first base. He then proceeded to steal second on the first pitch to the next batter.
His third at-bat he roped a line drive double to the left centerfield wall.
After the game I was sitting in the stands talking with my parents and he spotted me. He quickly walked over and interrupted:
"Hey man I'm sorry to interrupt. You have real good stuff but I wanted to let you know you telegraph your curveball. Your arm slot is a little lower and you cup it behind your back. It moves well but you can kinda see it coming."
I told him I appreciated it and that I'd take his advice.
The next time I faced him was a few weeks later, at a different tournament at the same location. I came into the game in relief and faced him as the first batter of my outing. I struck him out on a 1-2 curveball.
As we shook hands he pulled me to the side and said "dude, that was much better. It means a lot to me that you took my advice like that."
I told him if a hitter is willing to help me out like that then I'd definitely take it into consideration. He smiled and nodded and said "I'm Mike, I'm sure we'll cross paths again," and stuck out his hand to shake mine.
I didn't see him again until he was wearing an Angels jersey less than 3 years later.
I was pitching in a tournament for my summer team on Long Island and heard that the centerfielder for the other team was a stud. He came up in the first inning and swung at the first pitch, hitting a mile-high flyball into left field. He was rounding second base when the ball was caught.
His second at-bat he hit a three-hopper to shortstop and beat the throw to first base. He then proceeded to steal second on the first pitch to the next batter.
His third at-bat he roped a line drive double to the left centerfield wall.
After the game I was sitting in the stands talking with my parents and he spotted me. He quickly walked over and interrupted:
"Hey man I'm sorry to interrupt. You have real good stuff but I wanted to let you know you telegraph your curveball. Your arm slot is a little lower and you cup it behind your back. It moves well but you can kinda see it coming."
I told him I appreciated it and that I'd take his advice.
The next time I faced him was a few weeks later, at a different tournament at the same location. I came into the game in relief and faced him as the first batter of my outing. I struck him out on a 1-2 curveball.
As we shook hands he pulled me to the side and said "dude, that was much better. It means a lot to me that you took my advice like that."
I told him if a hitter is willing to help me out like that then I'd definitely take it into consideration. He smiled and nodded and said "I'm Mike, I'm sure we'll cross paths again," and stuck out his hand to shake mine.
I didn't see him again until he was wearing an Angels jersey less than 3 years later.
quote:Originally posted by J H:
The first time I came across Mike Trout was the summer of 2008, the year before he was drafted and the summer after I had graduated from high school.
I was pitching in a tournament for my summer team on Long Island and heard that the centerfielder for the other team was a stud. He came up in the first inning and swung at the first pitch, hitting a mile-high flyball into left field. He was rounding second base when the ball was caught.
His second at-bat he hit a three-hopper to shortstop and beat the throw to first base. He then proceeded to steal second on the first pitch to the next batter.
His second at-bat he roped a line drive double to the left centerfield wall.
After the game I was sitting in the stands talking with my parents and he spotted me. He quickly walked over and interrupted:
"Hey man I'm sorry to interrupt. You have real good stuff but I wanted to let you know you telegraph your curveball. Your arm slot is a little lower and you cup it behind your back. It moves well but you can kinda see it coming."
I told him I appreciated it and that I'd take his advice.
The next time I faced him was a few weeks later, at a different tournament at the same location. I came into the game in relief and faced him as the first batter of my outing. I struck him out on a 1-2 curveball.
As we shook hands he pulled me to the side and said "dude, that was much better. It means a lot to me that you took my advice like that."
I told him if a hitter is willing to help me out like that then I'd definitely take it into consideration. He smiled and nodded and said "I'm Mike, I'm sure we'll cross paths again," and stuck out his hand to shake mine.
I didn't see him again until he was wearing an Angels jersey less than 3 years later.
JH that is an awesome story. i don't know mike trout and honestly hadn't heard of him until recently being from south ga, but just the few things i have read about him remind me of buster posey. these two young superstars are the type of athletes that i want my son to aspire to model. they aren't perfect i'm sure but they seem to do things the right way.
Awesome story! He's a very special player!quote:Originally posted by J H:
I didn't see him again until he was wearing an Angels jersey less than 3 years later.
quote:but they seem to do things the right way.
Isnt it refreshing?
Mike Trout reminds me of Kenny Lofton in some respects. A guy whose speed and athletic ability distorts the game. He has overwhelming talent and obviously good character to go with it.
The first time I saw Mike play was when he was 14. Son's team played them his team in a tournament and other parents on our team were talking about this kid we might see in the finals. We did see them in the finals. Mike pitched in the semis so was in the field for the finals. Son's team jumped to lead so they bring Trout in to pitch with my son on deck. I'm thinking great, they have to do this with my son. Son hits a line drive up the middle on his first pitch. For the next 3 years until Mike struck him out a couple of times in a high school game my son joked that he owned Trout. Mike must have remembered too because the night after he "owned" my son he sent him a text breaking his stones about it. These days my son gives me a daily update on Mike's accomplishments. He's his biggest fan. We both are astounded how fast he went from high school star to MLB all star. That thing doesn't happen to often in south Jersey.
The next year he played in the same organization my son played with. Mike was one year older. During that summer every coach and parent that saw him every weekend raved about every aspect of his game. How he was obviously better than anyone they had seen at that age. I wish I was there.
I've seen Mike and his father at 3 banquets since his senior year. Both are very unassuming and modest. Last fall the organization had a fund raiser for a young coach who will need a kidney someday soon. Mike came showed up with a signed bat for auction. He stood 5 feet inside the front door taking pictures with anyone who wanted one. My son stood in line for 15 minutes for his picture.
I was also there the day my son's team was practicing at a local high school. Mike shows up, 15 minutes later the GM, head scout and area scout for a MLB team show up. Kids called off the field so he can workout for them. Turns out Mike, according to the GM, didn't have his best workout. The GM leaves before watching a scheduled game that night and passes on him in the draft a week later. Along with 25 other teams. Five months later at one of those banquets the area scout laments about making a mistake not taking him. Mike had great rookie ball and fall seasons.
Being human I admit I'm sometimes jealous/envious of players who hit it big while my guy is still finding his way. But not with Mike Trout. I'm right there with my son rooting for him. And I'm amazed at how well he's doing so quickly. I couldn't be happier for him and his family!
The next year he played in the same organization my son played with. Mike was one year older. During that summer every coach and parent that saw him every weekend raved about every aspect of his game. How he was obviously better than anyone they had seen at that age. I wish I was there.
I've seen Mike and his father at 3 banquets since his senior year. Both are very unassuming and modest. Last fall the organization had a fund raiser for a young coach who will need a kidney someday soon. Mike came showed up with a signed bat for auction. He stood 5 feet inside the front door taking pictures with anyone who wanted one. My son stood in line for 15 minutes for his picture.
I was also there the day my son's team was practicing at a local high school. Mike shows up, 15 minutes later the GM, head scout and area scout for a MLB team show up. Kids called off the field so he can workout for them. Turns out Mike, according to the GM, didn't have his best workout. The GM leaves before watching a scheduled game that night and passes on him in the draft a week later. Along with 25 other teams. Five months later at one of those banquets the area scout laments about making a mistake not taking him. Mike had great rookie ball and fall seasons.
Being human I admit I'm sometimes jealous/envious of players who hit it big while my guy is still finding his way. But not with Mike Trout. I'm right there with my son rooting for him. And I'm amazed at how well he's doing so quickly. I couldn't be happier for him and his family!
got to watch Trout when he was in Cedar Rapids 2 years ago, he would look so ugly on a swing, and the pitcher would throw the same pitch to him and Trout would have the most beautiful swing ever.
A friend of mind coaches in the Midwest League and we went out after a game when they were in town early in the season, asked him about Trout and all he said "he's a big leaguer", as in MLB player not the other type of "big leaguer"
A friend of mind coaches in the Midwest League and we went out after a game when they were in town early in the season, asked him about Trout and all he said "he's a big leaguer", as in MLB player not the other type of "big leaguer"
Aside from the fact that he's from my general neck of the woods, I like this from the article:
quote:A provision in the first contract the Trouts signed with the Angels required the team to set aside more than $100,000 for Mike’s college tuition.
quote:Originally posted by Initech:
Aside from the fact that he's from my general neck of the woods, I like this from the article:
quote:A provision in the first contract the Trouts signed with the Angels required the team to set aside more than $100,000 for Mike’s college tuition.
That's standard in most of the contracts (paying for college education) and a part of the negotiation. If he keeps it up he will never use that money, it goes into the ML scholarship fund not his pocket. That's 25K a year and may just cover tuition alone at some schools), but has already reduced itself by incentives (levels achieved).
If he keeps it up, he could buy a college someday.
