The Case for South Jersey’s Trout as a Baseball MVP Gets Stronger

In 11 days Mike Trout will finally be of legal drinking age.  He should celebrate being 21, but this South Jersey native may have much more to celebrate after this Major League Baseball season comes to an end - maybe post season play, a trip to the World Series, and the league's Most Valuable Player!

The former star of Millville High School continues to gain the attention from across the country - from the New York Post to the L.A. Times, and is becoming a constant fixture on ESPN (whether its making a timely hit or a spectacular catch).  The talent on display for the Los Angeles Angels is proving to be something very special - Mike Trout is becoming a superstar on a team full of superstars!

On a team with the most prolific sluggers in the game today (Albert Pujols with 463 career Home Runs), one of the best defensive outfielders in the game (Torii Hunter with 9 Gold Gloves for defensive excellence), the most dominant pitcher in baseball this season (Jered Weaver with a 13-1 record, and a Major League best 2.26 Earned Run Average), the hype is all on Trout, and with good reason.

His call up from the minors has proven to be the turning point of the Angels season - resurrecting a 7-15 squad with no life to a 54-45 team with energy brought to you from "The Millville Meteor".

Trout is for sure is L.A.'s MVP, and is making his case for the American League award.  Trout is currently leading the league in Batting (hitting .356), leading the league in Runs Scored (74), and leading the league in Stolen Bases (31).  Trout is in the Top-10 of the AL for Hits (10th with 111), Triples (tied for 2nd with 5), and On-base average (.413 ranks him 3rd).  Throw in some power with 16 Home Runs, tying a Major League record with 15 consecutive games with scoring a run, plus his stellar play in the field, and you have a player that few can match this season.

Trout right now should be the Most Valuable Player for the American League - the Angles are not where they would be without Mike.  You could say the same thing about Josh Hamilton of the Texas Rangers (28 Home Runs, 81 Runs Batted In), but recent struggles may have Trout in the driver seat.

Mike Trout seems to be a lock for Rookie of the Year, and that honor with the MVP would make him only the 3rd player in baseball history to achieve this honor (the other 2 players are Fred Lynn and Ichiro Suzuki).

Mike Trout is on a course of historic proportions - Happy early 21st Birthday Mike!