ARLINGTON -- Five years ago Friday, Angels slugger Michael Trout was called up from the Minor Leagues for the last time.
His accomplishments since then are as extraordinary as the first half-decade of nearly any Hall of Famer's career: American League Rookie of the Year Award. Two AL Most Valuable Player Awards. Five AL All-Star appearances. First in the AL in Offensive WAR each season, including this one.
"I'm having fun up here," Trout said. "It's been a quick five years."
Chalk up one more homer for Trout, too, a crucial two-run shot in a 6-3 victory over the Rangers at Globe Life Park. Trout's sixth-inning round-tripper helped chase a previously dominant Nick Martinez, the Rangers' starter who had retired 10 in a row before Kole Calhoun's single and Trout's subsequent blast to center off a high slider.
"Maybe the wrong location to throw that pitch," Martinez said. "He was able to get on top of that. He hits the low ball fairly well. It seems to be his strength. We got him out earlier in the game up in the zone, and he was able to get on top of that one."
Trout said he wasn't sure what Martinez threw him, but he hit it a Statcast-estimated 420 feet from home plate.
"I felt like I put a pretty good swing on it," Trout said.
After Trout put the Angels up 3-1, the Rangers tied the game in the bottom of the inning, but the Angels bounced back in the eighth when Calhoun singled, Trout walked and Jose Pujols walloped a three-run homer to left.
Trout dazzled with his defense, too. In the seventh, Rangers catcher Jonathan Lucroy hit a ball deep to left-center field -- a long run for Trout -- but the center fielder made a leaping catch on the track, banging into the wall as he landed. The ball traveled 402 feet, according to Statcast™, but Trout still managed to track it down.

"I knew he hit it good," Trout said. "I was playing the other way on him. It was a big part of the game. I've got to try and catch it. It just got to a point I knew I had to jump and the wall was there, and I just caught it."
By Friday's end, it was just another routine night for Trout: 3-for-4 with a walk, two runs scored, two RBIs, a homer and a slick catch in center.
"He's been spectacular," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "But the beauty of Mike is, he's not chasing numbers, he's not doing anything but playing baseball. I think that for him to just go out there every day and do everything he can -- whether it's on the defensive side, running the bases, the batter's box -- he wants to help us win. That's why it's so great to be around him."