Trout becomes 3rd AL player elected to start 11 All-Star Games

ANAHEIM -- Angels superstar Mike Trout is finally an All-Star yet again.

Trout was officially voted in as a starting outfielder on Saturday, marking his 12th career All-Star Game selection and the 11th time he’s been elected as a starter. Trout leads all active players in All-Star Game selections, but hadn’t been named one since 2023 after suffering a torn meniscus in his knee that plagued him in ‘24 and ‘25.

It’s also extra special for Trout because the Midsummer Classic is being held at Citizens Bank Park, which is located just 40 miles from his hometown of Millville, N.J. When manager Kurt Suzuki announced in front of the team that Trout had been elected as an All-Star, the Angels had Trout’s wife, Jessica, and his two sons, Beckham and Jordy, on FaceTime, which made Trout emotional. Trout also fought back tears when speaking to reporters about what it meant to him.

“It was definitely on my list when it came out, so it's pretty cool,” Trout said. “Just the kids, friends, family. It just means a lot.”

Trout, a three-time AL MVP, was also the MVP of the All-Star Game in both 2014 and ‘15 but hasn’t played in one since 2019 after missing the 2021-23 editions due to injuries. Trout is currently on the 10-day injured list with a strained right hamstring sustained on June 17 but said he’s aiming to return by Tuesday or Wednesday in Texas. So he’s expected to get a few games under his belt before playing in his first All-Star Game in seven years.

But Trout said he officially ruled out participating in the Home Run Derby, as he strongly considered competing in it for the first time in his 16-year career but opted out because of the injury. Trout, though, said he’s excited to watch the Derby on the field with Beckham, who turns six on July 30, and Jordy, who just turned two on Tuesday.

“I love playing in it, but it's an experience for my kids and family,” Trout said. “It's going to be good to be able to stay at my house and enjoy a few days. And I know my kids are excited for the Derby, and obviously the game too. MLB does a really good job on the festivities for the families. Beckham is really into baseball right now, so he'll enjoy it. Jordy, he's just trying to soak everything in. He doesn't really know what's going on yet.”

Trout is the third player in AL history to be elected as a starter at least 11 times, joining Hall of Famers Cal Ripken Jr. (17) and George Brett (11). He's also the 11th in MLB history to be elected by the fans 11 times, joining Ripken (17), Rod Carew (15), Ken Griffey Jr. (13), Barry Bonds (12), Alex Rodriguez (12), Iván Rodríguez (12), Ozzie Smith (12), Brett (11), Tony Gwynn (11), Reggie Jackson (11) and Mike Piazza (11).

The 34-year-old has hit .234/.394/.472 with 17 homers, 12 doubles, seven stolen bases, 54 runs and 36 RBIs in 74 games this season. Trout led all AL outfielders in Phase 2 of the balloting, garnering 24 percent of the vote, with Byron Buxton (20 percent) and the injured Aaron Judge (19 percent) also being elected as starters.

Angels manager Kurt Suzuki, who was an All-Star alongside Trout in 2014, said he could tell how much it meant to Trout to be able to participate in the event near his hometown. Trout is beloved by Philadelphia fans, as they consider him one of their own, and he’s a noted fan of Philly sports teams, especially the Eagles. So Trout is expected to get huge applause from the fans at Citizens Bank Park, and it’ll mean even more to him because he’ll be able to share the moment with his family and friends.

“He's been to it a lot of times, but I know this one meant a lot to him, obviously being in Philly,” Suzuki said. “Just how hard he's worked to get to this spot. I played with Mike for two years. I appreciated the way he went about it. But now being a manager and seeing how he goes about it and what he means to the team, it couldn't have happened to a better guy.”

• Mike Trout, CF
• Previous number of All-Star appearances: 11, 2012-19, ‘21-23.
• Something to know: Trout has only played eight career games at Citizens Bank Park, playing series there in '14, '22 and '25, and has never homered in front of his hometown fans in Philadelphia.