Trout Helps Angels Improve – Hitting over .300 in the Majors

Is it possible that a South Jersey guy who is not even of legal drinking age can save one team's struggling season?  The legend of Mike Trout is becoming something to see, as he has been the most effective player of late on a Los Angeles Angels team full of high salaries and disappointments.

SoJO 104.9 has been keeping tabs on the former Millville High School star on his journey this season that started with a difficult Spring Training in Arizona (shoulder injury and viral infection), followed by a super stint at Salt Lake City (hitting .403 in 77 at-bats with 5 Triples and 13 Runs Batted In) that forced the struggling Angels to make a shake-up by bringing the Vineland born talent to the major leagues.

Trout has shined in his arrival to Orange County.  He made his national TV debut last night as ESPN carried the Angels vs. the Texas Rangers on Sunday Night Baseball.  Many friends and family got to see Mike get 2 hits and score a run against the best team right now in the American League.

#27 has hit .306 in 49 at-bats for the Angels with 5 Doubles, 2 Home Runs and 7 RBI.  Trout has shown hustle, and has brought a spring in the team's step that has been missing much of this season.  The Angels have gone 8-5 since Trout's arrival - the club was 7-15 before this.

The Angles still needs its "franchise player" and future Hall of Fame first baseman Albert Pujols to show up.  So far his nightmare season has seen him hit just .196 with only 1 HR - Albert has averaged 40 Home Runs a season during his career.

Mike Trout cannot be asked to put the Angels team on his back.  He needs the other veterans to pull their weight to make this season be what the Angels had expected for 2012 - a playoff appearance with a shot at the World series.  Trout is doing his job leading off this lineup, hitting with proficiency, solid defense in the field, and hopefully making the other players realize if a 20-yr-old can play like this now, the best is yet to come.

One thing is for certain - the Angels needed Mike Trout, and will need him for this season to continue to turn around.