SEATTLE -- Mike Trout unleashed a prodigious three-run homer off Mariners ace Félix Hernández in Friday's first inning, continuing his dominance against one of the game's best pitchers and putting the Angels' center fielder in a prestigious class.
Trout's home run -- which traveled 110 mph off the bat and a projected 425 feet away, according to Statcast™ -- made him one of five American League players to hit 20 or more home runs in five seasons before their age-25 season. The others are Mickey Mantle, Tony Conigliaro, Alex Rodriguez and Ken Griffey Jr., who will have his number retired at Safeco Field on Saturday.
The home run gave the Angels a 3-0 lead, which dissolved into a 6-4 loss.
After his latest home run, Trout was batting .384 (28-for-73) lifetime against Hernandez, with six home runs, six other extra-base hits and 18 RBIs in 80 plate appearances. The rest of the Majors entered batting .238 against King Felix. Heading into Friday's series opener, Trout was batting .317/.430/.542 while leading the Majors with 6.4 FanGraphs Wins Above Replacement.