The Orioles are headed to the postseason for the first time since 2014 after winning an American League Wild Card. As this will be the first time that many fans across the Majors will be focusing on their roster, here's our attempt to learn the origins of slugger Mark Trumbo.
Mark Trumbo, DH/RF
Born: Anaheim, Calif.
DOB: 1/16/1986
HS: Villa Park (Calif.) High School
College: None
Minors: Orem (R), Cedar Rapids (A), Rancho Cucamonga (A+), Arkansas (AA), Salt Lake (AAA)
:: Before they were Postseason-bound: Select a player ::
Path to Baltimore: Trumbo was selected by the Angels out of high school in the 18th round of the 2004 Draft. After debuting for the Angels in '10 and playing four seasons in Anaheim, he was traded to the D-backs in a three-team deal following the 2013 season. Trumbo was traded again, to the Mariners, after a season and a half in Arizona, then traded a third time to the Orioles in December 2015 in a deal for Steve Clevenger.
Trophy case: Two-time American League All-Star (2012 and '16). Shared AL Player of the Week honors with José Altuve for week of April 17 this season. Named to 2011 Topps All-Star Rookie Team. Angels' Minor League Player of the Year in 2010.
Famous feat(s): Leads the Major Leagues in home runs this season. Hit two home runs in the same inning on April 15, becoming the first Oriole to do so. In 2011, led all rookies in home runs, with 29. While playing for Triple-A Salt Lake in 2010, led the Pacific Coast League in home runs.
You might not know: Trumbo's first career at-bat in the Major Leagues, he pinch-hit for Mike Napoli (and struck out swinging). Neither Trumbo nor Napoli are on the Angels anymore. Instead, both are key pieces in the middle of the order for playoff teams. Trumbo has had a 40-homer season for Baltimore, and Napoli has hit the 30-homer mark for the AL Central champion Indians.
Six degrees of Willie Aikens: Trumbo played winter ball twice as a prospect, in the Dominican Winter League in 2009 and the Venezuelan Winter League in '10. In the Dominican Republic, Trumbo's Gigantes del Cibao team also included Mariners slugger Nelson Cruz, Trumbo's teammate in the Majors last season. In '10, Trumbo was on the Venezuelan team Navegantes del Magallanes with a 20-year-old José Altuve.
Change is good: Trumbo was drafted by the Angels, his hometown team ... as a pitcher. But in the summer of 2004, a few months after the Draft, Angels scouting director Eddie Bane had Trumbo take batting practice at Angel Stadium. He figured Trumbo could come back to pitching if hitting didn't work out.
"I had always made a point to teams that I can hit, too, hoping that maybe they would consider that, but most teams said, 'No, we're not interested in you as a hitter, so just forget about it,'" Trumbo said. "The Angels were one of the few teams that were interested."
TrumBombs: Trumbo, who stands 6-foot-4, 225 pounds, is known for his long home runs. So both times he's been named an All-Star, he has also participated in the Home Run Derby. Trumbo hasn't won, but he acquitted himself well this season and in 2012. This year, he was the only contestant to hit balls both off the Petco Park scoreboard and onto the roof of the Western Metal Supply Co. building. In '12, he almost made the finals but lost a swing-off to José Bautista.
"It's a blast," Trumbo said of the Derby.