Fans swarm to greet Trout at airport

TEMPE, Ariz. -- How popular is Mike Trout?

He was mobbed before he could even leave the airport and head to Spring Training.

Trout announced via Twitter that he would be flying in from the Northeast to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport on Monday night. When he landed, he took the escalator downstairs for baggage claim, where roughly 200 fans were awaiting his arrival, lining up against the railing and begging for autographs.

Want proof that the Angels' center fielder may already be the most popular player in baseball? There it is.

"I shouldn't have done that," Trout joked Tuesday morning, right after he was done playing catch and just before leaving for a photo shoot with Nike. "It was crazy."

The 22-year-old Trout -- coming off back-to-back seasons in which he was the runner-up for the American League Most Valuable Player Award -- will address the media for the first time on Wednesday morning, just before the Angels' first full-squad workout.

. @Trouty20 signing for fans here in Tempe #LAASpringTraining pic.twitter.com/4eYzLHk8pl

- Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) February 18, 2014