Los Angeles Angels superstar Mike Trout is already on pace for an all-time great career.
Shocker: Mike Trout was named to the All-MLB first team in 2020. His numbers over 53 games:
•.281/.390/.603
•164 wRC+
•17 HR
•2.6 fWAR #Angels pic.twitter.com/pUWKK72HSW— Brent Maguire (@bmags94) December 10, 2020
Since entering the league in 2011, he has built himself into the best player in the MLB.
And the margin isn’t close.
It can be hard to get a true understanding of just how good Trout is, especially in a historical context.
From just a talent standpoint, Trout is a pure five-tool player.
He is a dominant player and is likely the most feared hitter in the league, developing himself into a true power threat.
His speed makes him a 30 stolen base threat too, though he has moved away from this part of his game.
On top of this, he is an adept centerfielder, with the propensity to make a big-time play.
With all of this in mind, is Trout already a Hall of Famer?
Could he walk away from the sport and still be enshrined, just based on what he has done so far?
The Mike Trout Resumé
In just 10 years, Trout’s trophy case is already stocked full of numerous awards.
He already has eight All-Star appearances, only not making it in his abbreviated 2011 debut and in 2020 when there was no All-Star game.
He also has eight silver sluggers and a Rookie of the Year award to boot.
What is amazing is that these aren’t even his most impressive accomplishments.
Trout is already tied for the second-most MVP awards of all-time with three (2014, 2016, 2019).
Mike Trout takes home his third American League MVP 🏆 pic.twitter.com/vzu6WpqCkZ
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 14, 2019
He already has the same amount as players with long and storied careers such as Albert Pujols and Alex Rodriguez, both of whom were dominant sluggers throughout their careers.
However, it doesn’t stop there.
Trout is a four… FOUR time runner-up in the MVP voting, where you could easily argue that he deserved to win.
He was extremely close to already having five or six MVP awards which, in just 10 seasons, is absurd.
Not to mention that he hasn’t finished outside of the top five for MVP voting in any of these years, also showing how consistently great he is.
This isn’t just greatness in this generation of the sport, but it is an all-time level.
Beyond the awards, Trout already has 302 career home runs, with 201 stolen bases, a .304 batting average and a .418 on-base percentage.
This gives him a staggering 162 game average of 39 home runs, 103 RBIs and a .304 batting average.
Coming into this season, Trout already had more career wins above replacement (WAR) through his age-27 season than any player in history.
Oh, and he also had more WAR than any player through their age 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, or 26 seasons too.
Comparing Him To Hall of Famers
The beauty of the WAR stat is that it can be used to compare players from different generations, quantifying their talent above the rest of the league.
Trout already has a better WAR in just 10 seasons than a lot of other Hall of Famers.
Halfway through his age-27 season, Mike Trout's career WAR is 70.4 in his ninth year in the big leagues. His career WAR is already higher than three of the four players going into the Hall of Fame on Sunday. Only Mike Mussina's career WAR (82.8) is higher. pic.twitter.com/OlytIPhj0g
— Jared Carrabis (@Jared_Carrabis) July 21, 2019
Look at recent inductee Larry Walker, for example.
He has a 72.4 career WAR, which is 57th all-time among position players.
Trout has already surpassed that.
By some metrics, he has already passed legend Reggie Jackson as well.
The truth is that even though it has been a relatively short career, Trout has already solidified himself among the greats.
His career could end today, and his stats would still merit a Hall of Fame selection.
However, he is really just getting started.
With his extension in 2019, Trout is under contract through the 2030 season.
It is for this reason that he has the opportunity to go down as one of the best to ever play.
He is now beginning to enter his true prime, and it is possible that he is getting even better.
Now, we have the opportunity to see greatness unfold in front of our eyes and watch Trout elevate to historic levels.
NEXT: Angels GM Shuts Down 1 Popular Mike Trout Theory
