Mike Trout

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #1 prospect in 2012
  Despite his athleticism, Trout's Northeast pedigree and reported $3.5 million price tag prompted clubs to hedge their bets on draft day in 2009. He waited until pick No. 25 to hear his name called by the Angels, signed for $1.215 million and has made the 22 teams that passed on him regret it ever since. Trout starred in the 2010 Futures Games in Anaheim, going 2-for-4 with a double, and then made his big league debut in the same ballpark less than a year later on July 8, 2011. Trout ranked as the top prospect in all four leagues he played in on his rapid climb up the minor league ladder. He won the batting and on-base percentage titles in the low Class A Midwest (2010) and Double-A Texas (2011) leagues, and he owns a career .338 average and .422 OBP in the minors. Trout capped his wild ride by winning Baseball America Minor League Player of the Year honors in 2011, hitting .326/.414/.544 as the lone teenager in the Texas League. Strong, broad-shouldered and built like a football safety, Trout has a high baseball IQ and full-throttle approach that allow him to get the absolute most out of his tools, four of which grade as future plusses or better. He combines a rare blend of bat control, strike-zone management, blazing speed and burgeoning power. His running speed continues to garner the most initial attention. He gets down the first-base line in four seconds flat from the right side to grade as a true 80 on the 20-80 scouting scale. Some evaluators believe he may slow to merely a plus runner as he fills out, but others aren't so pessimistic. A dangerous hitter because of his balanced, quick swing and discerning eye, Trout also remembers how pitchers attack him and makes adjustments on the fly. Double-A hurlers had some success pounding him on the inner half with fastballs, but he avoided slumps by looking to drive the ball line to line and using the opposite field when necessary. Trout connected for a career-high 16 home runs in 2011 while playing in unforgiving home parks, and that total only will increase as he learns to turn on more fastballs in hitter's counts. Some scouts project Trout as an annual .300 hitter with 25-plus homers and 40-plus steals. He completes the five-tool picture with plus range in center field, where he reads the ball well off the bat, and an accurate, if only average, arm. Trout wore down as his season stretched into September, October and November for the first time. He went just 10-for-55 (.182) in 18 games for the Angels in September, then batted .245/.279/.321 in 25 Arizona Fall League games. Just 20, he could win most of the playing time in left field if Vernon Wells continues to freefall. Center field is out of the question so long as future Gold Glover Peter Bourjos roams that pasture. Regardless, Trout's offensive potential makes him a future all-star at any position.
• 
  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #1 prospect in 2011
  Trout lived a charmed life in 2009. After going 25th overall to the Angels and signing for $1.215 million, he ranked as the No. 1 prospect in the Rookie-level Arizona League. Not bad for a player who some feel got somewhat underrated in the draft because he hails from the Northeast. Incredibly, Trout was even more spectacular in his full-season followup in 2010. He began the year by hitting .362 at low Class A Cedar Rapids, winning the Midwest League's batting and on-base (.454) titles and MVP award despite getting promoted in mid-July. Managers rated him the best hitter, best and fastest runner, best defensive outfielder and most exciting player in the MWL. After going 2-for-4 with a double and a steal in the Futures Game in Anaheim, Trout headed to high Class A Rancho Cucamonga at the tender age of 18. He erased a rough start by hitting .338 over his final 34 games and then .367 with three homers in the California League playoffs. All told, he batted .341/.428/.490 with 10 home runs and a 73-to-85 walk-to-strikeout ratio. He ranked fifth in the minors in steals (56 in 71 attempts) and sixth in runs (106) and OBP. Trout ranked as the No. 1 prospect in both the Midwest and California leagues, giving observers little to dislike. Built like a football defensive back, Trout is a rare five-tool talent who can really hit, a product of his strong, compact stroke and impressive batting eye. He shows no fear of hitting with two strikes, an unusual trait in a teenager. He scores well above-average marks for his running speed--a present and future 80 on the 20-80 scouting scale--and center-field range. One scout saw him hit a 400-foot homer in one at-bat, then get to first base in 3.65 seconds on a bunt his next time up. Trout's weakest present tools, his power and throwing arm, still grade as future average. His physicality and bat speed hint at more power down the road. He handles inside pitches well but has yet to demonstrate that he can pull or loft the ball with consistency. If and when he does, he has the potential to hit 20 or more homers annually. He compensates for fringy arm strength with above-average accuracy. His maturity, drive and instincts further separate him from other prospects his age. During a four-year pro career in the Twins system, Trout's father Jeff first reached Double-A at age 23. Mike ought to get to Double-A by July at the latest--four years ahead of Jeff 's pace. Like the Braves' Jason Heyward and the Marlins' Mike Stanton in 2010, Trout could be ready to produce in the majors as a 20-year-old come 2012. The presence of Peter Bourjos, an elite defensive center fielder, in Anaheim clouds Trout's future somewhat. If Bourjos hits enough to stay in the lineup, then Trout may move to an outfield corner, probably left field because of his arm. Even in that scenario he profiles as a top-thirdof-the order hitter with a wide array of offensive skills and Gold Glove potential on defense.
• 
  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #3 prospect in 2010
  A favorite of area scouts in the Northeast for his talent and makeup, Trout was the only player to appear at MLB Network's studios for the television broadcast of the draft last June. It wasn't a wasted trip. The Angels selected him 26th overall and signed him for $1.215 million. He rated as the Rookie-level Arizona League's No. 1 prospect and finished second in the batting race at .360. Trout has a line-drive stroke, the ability to make adjustments and a refined batting eye. His strength and bat speed give him the potential for average power. As good as his feel for hitting is, his plus-plus speed stands out even more. He gets from home to first in 3.9 seconds from the right side, enabling him to leg out infield hits. Built like a football defensive back, he has above-average range and instincts in center field. His arm is average. Trout hit only one home run in his pro debut and has yet to learn to pull the ball consistently. When using the opposite field, he tends to push the ball rather than drive through it. Already listed at 200 pounds, he might fill out, slow down and move to an outfield corner. The Angels haven't developed a starting outfielder since Darin Erstad, so they were thrilled to grab Trout, believing he was overlooked as a high schooler from the Northeast. He'll take his well-rounded game and five-tool potential to low Class A Cedar Rapids in 2010.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Arizona Fall League #2 prospect in 2011
  Trout, 20, was part of a prospect-heavy Scottsdale outfield that also included Harper, Gary Brown (Giants) and Tyson Gillies (Phillies). He looked worn down after spending the month of September in the big leagues, finishing the fall with a season total of 156 games played. Scouts commented that Trout wasn't the same intimidating player they had seen during the minor league season. He was impatient at the plate, leading to an unsightly 5-33 walk-strikeout ratio, and didn't barrel up balls with any consistency. But at times he flashed his incredible tool set.
• 
  Ranked Texas League #1 prospect in 2011
  In the Texas League, there was Trout and there was everyone else. He built on his 2010 breakout season by dominating in Double-A and making his major league debut in July, getting sent back down for a few weeks in August before returning to Anaheim for good. Trout has the tools to be a difference maker in every phase of the game. He's powerfully built and can hit for a high average with legitimate power, plus the ability to adapt his hitting approach to wherever he's placed in a lineup. He also has top-of-the-scale speed with amazing acceleration, going "from zero to 60 in the snap of a finger" in the words of one scout, and it plays both in center field and on the basepaths. What's more, Trout earns raves for his makeup. The only minor blemish is some stiffness in Trout's throwing arm. It's still average and fine for center field, but if he can loosen it up he'll get more carry on his throws.
• 
  Ranked Midwest League #1 prospect in 2010
  If there's something Trout can't do, MWL observers didn't see it. He won the league MVP award as well as the batting and on-base titles, and managers rated him the best hitter, best and fastest runner, best defensive outfielder and most exciting player in the league. One scout saw him hit a 400-foot homer in one at-bat, that get to first base in 3.65 seconds on a bunt his next time up. Extremely disciplined for a teenager, Trout has a short righthanded stroke and stays inside the ball well. He has the strength to hit 20-30 homers per season once he elects to drive more balls and get more aggressive early in the count. He has 80 speed on the 20-80 scouting scale, making him a threat to beat out routine grounders. Trout is very instinctive on the bases and in center field. He covers both gaps and while his arm is his worst tool, it's close to average and not a liability. Completing the package, he has leadership skills and a strong work ethic.
• 
  Ranked California League #1 prospect in 2010
  Trout came to the Cal League directly from the Futures Game, where he was the youngest and most talented player on the field. He continued a dazzling first full pro season with Rancho Cucamonga, where he recovered from a slow start to hit .338 with three homers in the final month and .367 with three more longballs in the playoffs. Trout's most obvious tool is his speed, which grades as an 80 on the 20-80 scouting scale and allows him to pile up infield hits and stolen bases. His power is still developing, but he has enough strength to hit at least 20 homers per season in the majors. Some scouts believe he'll need to adjust his stance to better handle inside pitches. With his speed and good routes on balls, Trout covers a lot of ground in center. Though his arm strength is fringy, he makes accurate throws. For all of his physical tools, his mental approach and all-out effort equally impress observers.
• 
  Ranked Arizona Complex League #1 prospect in 2009
  As the only player who appeared at the MLB Network's studios for its live coverage, Trout was in the spotlight on draft day. He continued to stand out in his pro debut, leading the league in hitting for much of the season. He demonstrated sound strike-zone judgment, good gap power and the ability to use the entire field. Interestingly, his speed and defense are better pure tools than his bat. He's a plus-plus runner who gets out of the batter's box quickly and gets good jumps in center field. He has average arm strength and could become a plus thrower if he improves his throwing mechanics. Trout also drew raves for his character and bulldog approach. "He goes about things like a professional," Angels manager Tyrone Boykin said. "He's got tremendous makeup."

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #3 prospect in 2012
• Ranked Baseball America's #2 prospect in 2011
• Ranked Baseball America's #85 prospect in 2010

• December, 2011 Scouting Report
  Background: Despite his athleticism, Trout's Northeast pedigree and reported $3.5 million price tag prompted clubs to hedge their bets on draft day in 2009. He waited until pick No. 25 to hear his name called by the Angels, signed for $1.215 million and has made the 22 teams that passed on him regret it ever since. Trout starred in the 2010 Futures Games in Anaheim, going 2-for-4 with a double, and then made his big league debut in the same ballpark less than a year later on July 8, 2011. On July 24, he became the first teenager to hit a big league homer since Justin Upton in 2007. Trout ranked as the top prospect in all four leagues he played in on his rapid climb up the minor league ladder. He won the batting and on-base percentage titles in the low Class A Midwest (2010) and Double-A Texas (2011) leagues, and he owns a career .338 average and .422 OBP in the minors. Trout capped his wild ride by winning Baseball America Minor League Player of the Year honors in 2011, hitting .326/.414/.544 as the lone teenager in the Texas League.Scouting Report: Strong, broad-shouldered and built like a football safety, Trout has a high baseball IQ and full-throttle approach that allow him to get the absolute most out of his tools, four of which grade as future plusses or better. He combines a rare blend of bat control, strike-zone management, blazing speed and burgeoning power. His running speed continues to garner the most initial attention. He gets down the first-base line in four seconds flat from the right side to grade as a true 80 on the 20-80 scouting scale. Some evaluators believe he may slow to merely a plus runner as he fills out, but others aren't so pessimistic. A dangerous hitter because of his balanced, quick swing and discerning eye, Trout also remembers how pitchers attack him and makes adjustments on the fly. Double-A hurlers had some success pounding him on the inner half with fastballs, but he avoided slumps by looking to drive the ball line to line and using the opposite field when necessary. Trout connected for a career-high 16 home runs in 2011 while playing in unforgiving home parks, and that total only will increase as he learns to turn on more fastballs in hitter's counts. Some scouts project Trout as an annual .300 hitter with 25-plus homers and 40-plus steals. He completes the five-tool picture with plus range in center field, where he reads the ball well off the bat, and an accurate, if only average, arm. The Future: Trout wore down as his season stretched into September, October and November for the first time. He went just 10-for-55 (.182) with no homers in 18 games for the Angels in September, then batted .245/.279/.321 in 25 Arizona Fall League games. Because Los Angeles optioned him to Double-A Arkansas for half of August, he retains his rookie eligibility for 2012. Just 20, he could win most of the playing time in left field if Vernon Wells continues to freefall. Center field is out of the question so long as future Gold Glover Peter Bourjos roams that pasture. Regardless, Trout's offensive potential makes him a future perennial all-star at any position.
• August, 2011 Scouting Report
  Trout, 20, was part of a prospect-heavy Scottsdale outfield that also included Harper, Gary Brown (Giants) and Tyson Gillies (Phillies). He looked worn down after spending the month of September in the big leagues, finishing the fall with a season total of 156 games played. Scouts commented that Trout wasn't the same intimidating player they had seen during the minor league season. He was impatient at the plate, leading to an unsightly 5-33 walk-strikeout ratio, and didn't barrel up balls with any consistency. But at times he flashed his incredible tool set.