Doesn’t it seem like athletes always do something special on their birthday?? Well, the world’s best baseball player certainly followed that trend. Monday night, Mike Trout celebrated his 26th birthday. Yes, Mike Trout, the 2-time MVP, is only 26. And what better way to celebrate than collect your 1000th career hit, right??
Trout stepped to the plate to lead off the bottom of the 4th inning and promptly ripped a double down the left-field line (as pictured above). And just like that, Trout became one of the youngest players to reach 1000 hits. That distinction belongs to Ty Cobb (24 years, 145 days). Trout’s evening didn’t stop there. In the bottom of the 6th inning, Trout smashed a home-run off the left-field foul pole. Despite his historic evening, the Los Angeles Angels fell to the Baltimore Orioles 6-2.
While the Angels are 3 games under .500 (55-58), they stand just 3 games back of the 2nd Wild Card in the American League. Remember when there was only 1 Wild Card?? Better yet, do you remember when there was NO Wild Card?! Such a simpler time….
Anyway, it’s likely the Angels would be in a far better position to make the playoffs if Trout hadn’t gotten injured earlier in the season. Trout has missed 45 of the Angels’ 113 games this year thanks to a torn ligament in his thumb and a minor hamstring issue.
The craziest thing is Mike Trout still has a chance to win the AL MVP. There are only 3 players in the running for AL MVP:
1.) Jose Altuve – .364/16 hr/63 rbi/24 sb
2.) Aaron Judge – .299/35 hr/78 rbi/6 sb
3.) Mike Trout – .346/23 hr/52 rbi/ 13 sb
Jose Altuve is the most underrated player in MLB. Standing just 5’6″ tall, Altuve is a 5-tool player. He is the best player, on the best team, in the American League. If the season ended today, Altuve would undoubtedly be the AL MVP.
Aaron Judge is having a historical season. He is running away with the AL Rookie of the Year Award, and despite his current slump is still entrenched in the race for the AL MVP. The next 52 games will test Judge’s ability to handle adversity, in the Fall, in New York.
Mike Trout remains the best baseball player in the world. Trout’s impressive stat-line through 68 games speaks to his unparalleled talent level. Trout, when healthy, will always be in the MVP race, however, it’ll be interesting to see how the MVP voters judge (see what I did there?) Trout if he continues this pace down the stretch.
To see Mike Trout’s incredible career stats, click here.
Trout’s next milestone is rapidly approaching, as he is just 9 home runs shy of 200. We shouldn’t have to wait until his 27th birthday for that.
Can Mike Trout still win the AL MVP?? Who do you think will win the AL MVP?? Post your prediction in the comment section below.
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