ANAHEIM, CA - Outfielder Mike Trout has been chosen to start for the American League in the 2016 Major League All-Star Game, to be played July 12 at Petco Park in San Diego, CA. He is just the third Angels player to be selected as a starter in four consecutive All-Star Games, joining Vladimir Guerrero (2004-07) and Rod Carew (1980-84).
Selected onto the team via fan voting, (receiving 3,828,794 votes, third most in the A.L.). Trout will be making his fifth consecutive All-Star Game appearance and fourth career start. At age 24, he becomes just the sixth American Leaguer to start at least four All-Star games before turning 25, joining Ken Griffey Jr. (five starts), Joe DiMaggio (four), Mickey Mantle (four), Al Kaline (four) and Ivan Rodriguez (four). Additionally, with his five All-Star game nods, Trout ranks third in franchise history trailing only Jim Fregosi (1964 & '66-70) and Rod Carew (1979-84).
Trout is batting .324 (99/306) with 20 doubles, two triples, 17 home runs, 54 RBI and 59 runs scored in 83 games this season. He currently ranks second in the A.L. in OBP (.426), second in walks (54), fourth in slugging (.569), fifth in average, ninth in runs scored and 10th in RBI. 2016 marks the fourth consecutive season that the 24-year-old has amassed at least 15 home runs before the All-Star Break. Trout is just the sixth player all time to collect 15 home runs before the Midsummer Classic four times before his age-25 campaign, joining Miguel Cabrera (2004-07), Albert Pujols (2001-04), Alex Rodriguez (1996-00), Orlando Cepeda (1958-62) and Jimmie Foxx (1929-32). Additionally, Trout's 92 career first half home runs are tied for 6th all-time by a player in their age-24-season or younger, trailing only Ken Griffey Jr. (104), Alex Rodriguez (100), Mickey Mantle (97), Eddie Mathews (95) and Jimmie Foxx (93).
Last season at Great American Ball Park, Trout went 1-for-3 with a home run, one RBI, a walk and two runs scored en route to capturing his second career All-Star Game MVP award (2014 and 2015). The Millville, NJ native became the first player to ever be named All-Star Game MVP in consecutive seasons and just the fourth player to ever take home the honors multiple times in their career. His home run, a leadoff blast against the Dodgers' Zack Greinke was the sixth leadoff home run in All-Star Game history and first since Bo Jackson's in the 1989 All-Star Game at Anaheim Stadium. With a single in 2012, a double in 2013, a triple in 2014 and a homer in 2015, Trout joined Lou Whitaker, George Brett and Ted Williams as the only players to tally an All-Star Game cycle during their career.
In his four All-Star games, Trout has amassed a .500 average (5/10) with two doubles, a triple, a home run, three RBI, two walks and three runs scored. The five hits are the second most in All-Star Game history by a player before turning 25, trailing only Ken Griffey Jr.'s six and one more than Al Kaline and Mickey Mantle.