Trout elected to AL All-Stars' starting outfield
Mike Trout is headed back to the All-Star Game.
It's basically assumed at the start of every year, and it was deemed official, again, on Sunday, when Trout was named to the American League's 2015 starting lineup by virtue of the fan votes. The final tally showed the Angels' superstar center fielder with 14,013,021 votes, tops among AL outfielders and second only to Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson for the overall lead.
It hasn't gotten old yet.
"I come in at the beginning of the season, work hard in the offseason, and just go out there and play my game," Trout said after his Angels completed a three-game sweep of the Rangers with a 12-6 win Sunday. "It's definitely an honor, for sure."
Joining Trout in the AL starting lineup, managed by Royals skipper Ned Yost, will be Donaldson, Angels teammate Albert Pujols at first base (injury replacement for Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera), Astros second baseman Jose Altuve, Mariners designated hitter Nelson Cruz and four members of the defending AL champion Royals -- catcher Salvador Perez, shortstop Alcides Escobar, left fielder Alex Gordon and center fielder Lorenzo Cain.
Cain also has experience in right field, likely making Trout the starting center fielder at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Tuesday, July 14.
Trout, 23, is making his fourth trip to the Midsummer Classic in as many full seasons in the Major Leagues and joins Reggie Jackson (1982-84), Rod Carew (1979-84) and Vladimir Guerrero (2005-07) as the only Angels players to start three straight All-Star Games.
"It's special to be a part of that group," Trout said. "It's a fun couple of days. It's going to be fun in Cincinnati. I enjoyed going there [for Opening Day in 2013]."
Trout finished the week with a .299/.393/.575 slash line, adding 21 home runs, 45 RBIs, nine stolen bases and a Baseball-Reference Wins Above Replacement score of 5.2, tops in the AL. Earlier this year, Trout -- the reigning AL Most Valuable Player Award winner and the MVP of last year's All-Star Game -- became the sixth AL player with four 20-plus-homer campaigns before his age-24 season, joining Alex Rodriguez, Ken Griffey Jr., Tony Conigliaro, Mickey Mantle and Ted Williams.
Pujols finished fifth in fan votes among Junior Circuit first basemen, and compiled fewer votes than at least 72 players, despite entering Sunday with an AL-leading 24 home runs. Pujols added his 25th long ball Sunday night.
"He deserves to be there," Trout said of Pujols. "His bat has been unbelievable."
During the Midsummer Classic in Cincinnati on Tuesday, July 14, fans can once again visit MLB.com to submit their choice for the Ted Williams Most Valuable Player Award. Voting exclusively at MLB.com, online and via their mobile devices in the 2015 All-Star Game MLB.com MVP Vote, the fans' collective voice will represent 20 percent of the overall vote that determines the recipient of the Arch Ward Trophy.
MLB.TV Premium subscribers will be able to live stream the All-Star Game via MLB.TV through FOX's participating video providers. Access will be available across more than 400 supported MLB.TV platforms, including the award-winning MLB.com At Bat app. MLB.com will provide extensive online coverage of the All-Star Week festivities, including the 2015 Gillette Home Run Derby presented by Head & Shoulders, part of Gatorade All-Star Workout Day on Monday, July 13. The Derby will feature a new format with brackets and timed rounds and will be broadcast live by ESPN and MLB.com beginning at 5 p.m. PT.
The 86th All-Star Game will be televised nationally by FOX Sports (4 p.m. PT air time, 5:15 first pitch), in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and RDS, and worldwide by partners in more than 160 countries. ESPN Radio and ESPN Radio Deportes will provide exclusive national radio coverage of the All-Star Game. MLB Network and SiriusXM will also provide comprehensive All-Star Week coverage. For more information, please visit allstargame.com.