Trout's cycle reels in GIBBY for Hitting Performance
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Mike Trout's cycle on May 21 made him the youngest player in American League history to accomplish the feat. And on Tuesday, it gave him the Greatness in Baseball Yearly Award (GIBBY) for Hitting Performance of the Year.
Trout was only 21 years, nine months and 16 days old when he went 4-for-5 against the Mariners at Angel Stadium, joining Mel Ott (1929), Arky Vaughan ('33), Cesar Cedeno ('72) and Alex Rodriguez ('97) as the only players to hit for the cycle before age 22.
The Halos' center fielder had an infield single, an RBI triple and a two-run double under his belt when he came to bat in the eighth, then took a 2-0 slider from Lucas Luetge and lined it over the fence in right-center field, becoming the sixth player in Angels history to hit for the cycle.
"It's just a dream come true," Trout said that night. "… To stand here after a night like this is definitely up there on my lists of personal [accomplishments]. Triple, double, home run and a single. It's tough to do, and hopefully, there's more to come."
MLB's A-listers won GIBBY trophies -- the ultimate honors of baseball's awards season -- on Tuesday at the Winter Meetings. More than 10 million votes were cast by media, front-office personnel, MLB alumni, fans at MLB.com and the Society for American Baseball Research.
This year's GIBBY Awards featured nominees in 22 categories. Individual honors went to the MLB MVP, in addition to the year's best Starting Pitcher, Hitter, Closer, Setup Man, Rookie, Breakout Hitter, Breakout Pitcher, Comeback Player, Defensive Player, Manager, Executive and Postseason Performer.
GIBBY trophies also were awarded for the year's top Play, Storyline, Hitting Performance, Pitching Performance, Oddity, Walk-off, Cut4 Topic, Regular-Season Moment and Postseason Moment, with video available via MLB.com's Must C highlight reels.
GIBBYs categories included players from both leagues and performances not only from the regular season but also through the end of the playoffs, making them unique in singling out the best of the best.
All 30 clubs were represented among the award candidates. In fact, every team had multiple nominees in 2013 -- a testament to the parity of talent around the game.
Trout also finished second behind Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera for the GIBBY for Most Valuable Player. Trout -- the runner-up to Cabrera for the American League MVP Award, as handed out by the Baseball Writers' Association of America, each of the last two years -- got 19.4 percent of the vote, while Cabrera notched 48.8.
Trout's 2013 slash line (.323/.432/.557) almost mirrored the one from his historic 2012 campaign (.326/.399/.564). He led the AL in runs (109) and walks (110), set a franchise record for on-base percentage and easily led the Majors in WAR for a second straight season (10.4), all while adding 27 homers, 97 RBIs, 33 steals and 190 hits.
The prevailing sentiment is Trout will probably hit for the cycle again someday.
"Just seeing his talent, you have to really shake yourself, because he's 21 years old," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said after Trout's cycle. "He has so many ways that he can help you win a game.
"If I'm a betting man, I've got to believe there's another cycle in his career somewhere."