The Los Angeles Angels were holding off as long as possible; they wanted 19-year-old Mike Trout to receive full seasoning at the minor league level before giving him a full-blown major league shot next year. But then in the July 7th game against the Seattle Mariners, center fielder Peter Bourjos suffered a strained right hamstring while rounding second on an eighth-inning double, and exited immediately afterward, so the Angels' hand has been forced. And so they've decided to find out what their blue-chip prospect can do at the major league level, since Angels owner Arte Moreno has told General Manager Tony Reagins not to spend any more of his money this year.
Trout broke in at the age of 17, and has hit at every minor league level; his career minor league batting average is .340. In 2010, he was named Minor League Player of the Year by Topps and was honored as the Midwest League MVP for his efforts with Class A Cedar Rapids. This season, he's hitting .330 with 9 home runs and 27 RBIs at their Class AA farm club in Arkansas. He entered the season ranked as the top prospect in all of baseball by ESPN.com, MLB.com and MLB Network, and was also ranked the No. 2 prospect by Baseball America behind Washington prospect Bryce Harper. He is considered to have the five potential tools necessary for stardom; run, throw, field, hit, and hit with power; the ESPN blog "The GM's Office" contains a mid-season scouting report .
"Mike Trout has a chance to be a special player," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said earlier this season. "He can really run, and he loves to compete. He has all the tools and the desire to make things happen." But Trout's visit could be short term, since Bourjos is expected to be back by July 15th. So Trout could be shipped back out at that point, most likely to the Angels' struggling Class AAA farm club in Salt Lake City.
The Angels have already received key contributions from three rookies this year; Mark Trumbo at first base, Jordan Walden as the closer, and Tyler Chatwood in the starting rotation. Walden has just been selected to the A.L. All-Star team to replace Mariano Rivera. Another rookie, Hank Conger, has also contributed in a platoon role behind the plate.
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