400 reasons to appreciate Trout

Some lament star’s injuries and career, but that’s not the whole story

- BILL SHAIKIN

THE ANGELS' Mike Trout hits his 400th career homer against the Rockies on Saturday at Coors Field.

Mike Trout introduced himself to Angels fans at the 2010 Futures Game. In his first performance at Angel Stadium, his magic was on display: beating out an infield single, turning a routine single into a double on sheer hustle, forcing two errors with his speed on ground balls that could have been scored as hits.

He was not selected the most valuable player of the game. Fifteen years later, does he remember who was?

He thought about it for a second. Then his eyes lit up.

“Hank Conger,” Trout said.

The Angels had drafted both in the first round: Conger, a catcher, in 2006; Trout, an outfielder, in 2009.

Before the 2010 season, Baseball America ranked Conger as the 84th-best prospect in baseball, Trout as the 85th.

Of the 29 position players in the 2010 Futures Game, Trout is the only one still playing. Conger, now a coach for the Minnesota Twins, last played in the major leagues nine years ago.

In 2012, when he and Trout each started the season at triple-A Salt Lake, Conger realized there were top prospects, and then there was Trout.

Trout was 20. He played 20 games, batted .403, and the Angels summoned him to the major leagues for good.

“He goes off, gets called up, misses almost a month,” Conger said, “and still becomes the rookie of the year.”

That vote was unanimous. Trout also finished a close second for American League MVP to Miguel Cabrera, who won the Triple Crown. He went on to win three MVP awards — only Barry Bonds has won more — and finish in the top five in MVP voting every year for nine consecutive years.

On Saturday night in a 3-0 win over the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field, Trout hit his 400th home run, a milestone the oft-laconic Trout readily put into perspective.