Mike Trout was dubbed the most valuable commodity in Major League Baseball because of his then-affordability. Apparently, this 31-year-old superstar was underpaid for years. As the currently third highest-paid athlete in the American league, just how much is Mike Trout net worth now?
Eight-time Silver Slugger awardee, three-time American League Most Valuable Player, two-time Hank Aaron awardee, and two-time MLB All-Star Game MVP. These are just some of Mike Trout’s biggest achievements. He presently plays center fielder for the Los Angeles Angels.
Unanimously voted as Rookie of the Year in 2012, Trout was the most promising recruit of his batch. Like NFL’s Ryan Tannehill, Mike was already expected to achieve great things even before the MLB draft of 2009.
How did he make it to his current accomplished and highly-compensated status? Let’s find out Mike Trout’s secret to baseball success.
Mike Trout Net Worth
In 2019, Mike Trout signed a 12-year contract extension worth $426 million and is currently placed third on the list of largest sports contracts. Patrick Mahomes is in second place, holding the record for the largest contract in NFL history, sums up to $503 million.
The world already knows that the soccer hall of Famer, Lionel Messi, still holds the top spot. The Argentine legend’s current contract with PSG is worth $675 million.
Mike Trout net worth is estimated at $60 million. He earns an average of $216 thousand per game and a minimum of $35.54 million per year.
Mike Trout – Short Bio
Mike Trout was born in Vineland, New Jersey, on August 7, 1991. Jeff and Debbie Trout are his parents, and he is the youngest of three siblings. Like the rest of the country, the family’s favorite pastime was watching baseball. Mike was obsessed with the Philadelphia Phillies.
It is possible that Mike took after his father’s sport. Jeff was a second baseman for the Minnesota Twins in the 80s and played four years of minor league baseball. Unfortunately, severe foot and recurring knee injuries ended Jeff’s career.
Still, his love for the sport never waned and was passed on to Mike.
Mike Trout’s Baseball Career
Mike’s childhood included running, tumbling around, and wearing a #2 jersey, in honor of his childhood hero, Derek Jeter of the New York Yankees. Mike eventually traded the number for a #1 jersey upon entering high school, but he continued to play as a shortstop as Jeter.
Mike Trout – Amateur Years
Mike started as shortstop and pitcher for his high school team. But come senior year, he was shifted to the outfield.
He graduated from Millville Senior High School in 2009, ending the year with 18 home runs, thus setting a New Jersey high school record.
Mike Trout – Professional Career
Mike’s professional baseball career kicked off right after graduating from high school. He joined the minor leagues with the Arizona Angels in 2009. He was almost named the MVP of the Arizona League during his first season, but the honor was given to Cody Decker.
Mike’s second season started with Cedar Rapids Kernels. He scored six home runs, 39 batted in, and 45 stolen bases from the 82 games he played with the team. Mike was able to establish his “cred” as a talented young athlete, and for that, he was chosen to play in that year’s All-Star Futures Game.
By July, Baseball America declared Mike Trout the second-best overall baseball prospect. Mike affirmed the magazine’s statement by winning the Topps Minor League Player of the Year Award. Mike Trout made his mark in baseball history as the youngest player to win the award at 19.
He played 75 games with the Arkansas Travelers during his third and final season in the minors. Afterward, Mike was promoted to the major leagues and finally joined the MLB Team Los Angeles Angels.
Los Angeles Angels
Mike Trout made his major league debut on July 8, 2011, as a center fielder in place of Peter Bourjos, who was temporarily taken out due to injury. On July 24th, Trout marked his first home run hit in the majors against Baltimore Orioles pitcher Mark Worrell. Mike was momentarily returned to Double-A Arkansas on August 1st, 2011.
Mike was back with the Angels by August 19 and smashed another home run. By August 30th, he set another record as the youngest Angel in the team’s history to hit two home runs in a single game. He scored the hits during the second and fourth innings.
In 2011, USA Today Sports Weekly reported that Mike Trout won the fan poll. He played 91 games that season. Baseball America named Trout Minor League Player of the Year for his stellar performance.
The following season, Trout was recalled to the majors to fill in for outfielder Bobby Abreu. Recorded from the 20 games against Salt Lake Bees, Mike’s updated stat at the time of the substitution was a solid .403 batting average, a .467 on-base percentage, and a .623 slugging percentage.
In the same season of 2012, Mike was in for his first MLB All-Star Game. The Angel’s rookie swung and persisted against experienced pitchers from the New York Mets during the 6th inning and the Cincinnati Reds in the 7th inning. He was chosen AL Player of the Month and AL Rookie of the Month for his tireless efforts in the field.
As the season continued, Trout left a trail of his excellence, leading from one game to the next. He took the glory from Chicago White Sox second baseman Gordon Beckham, on August 4th, by catching Beckham’s hit for a home run. The impressive display left a lasting impression on the opposing team.
In the same month, Mike set the record for the best rookie batting average to .344 through 100 games after a victorious match against the Boston Red Sox. By August, Mike was named AL Rookie of the Month for the fourth time. He tied with Suzuki Ichirou, who also received the same honor four times in a single season.
Here are some of Mike Trout’s most notable achievements early in his professional baseball career:
- At 21 years and 16 days old, Trout broke the 1972 record set by Houston Astros center fielder César Cedeño as the youngest player to hit no less than 20 home runs and 40 stolen bases in a single season.
- He became the second rookie of the club to score no less than 100 runs in a single season. Former MLB athlete Devon White still holds the top spot.
- In the game against the Detroit Tigers, Trout set another baseball history as the first player under 22 to hit a leadoff home run in back-to-back games.
- After smashing a home run in the 7th inning against the Texas Rangers, Trout became the youngest MLB player in American baseball history to join the elites of the 30-30 club.
- At the end of the season, Mike Trout was at the top of the American League overall leaderboards, coming second in batting average with .326 and third in slugging percentage at .564. Mike also took third in on-base percentage with .399, second in OPS at .963, 9th in hits set at 182, and first in OPS+ (171).
First American League MVP Award
2014 came in a big, flashy bundle, with Mike receiving his first American League MVP award. Still, before this impending glory, New York Mets pitcher Max Scherzer handed Trout his first Golden Sombrero, an inglorious award given for striking out four times in a single game.
Scherzer has been notorious for delivering impeccable throws since his rookie years with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He schooled Trout with a 0-4 strikeout, which didn’t come as too much of a surprise. But instead of getting shaken, Mike’s resolve seemed to have steeled from the harsh reality check.
Trout contributed a walk-off home run against the Tampa Bay Rays, ending in a 6-5 victory. He was named Most Valuable Player in his third official All-Star Game held at the Target Field stadium. On the 27th of June, Mike smashed the longest home run for 2014.
ESPN recorded the distance at 489 feet into the left-center field at Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri.
The Angels faced the Kansas City Royals for the third game of the season, which ended in a loss. Nonetheless, Trout marked his first postseason home run during the first inning of the game.
Trout’s drawbacks from the 2014 season came at the right time. He knew well that he was a top-tier baseball player, and the losses were timely reminders to keep his feet firmly planted on the ground.
From a fan’s standpoint, Mike Trout received two important things that year: his first AL MVP award and the important lesson that there is someone out there better than him. Passion, humility, and hard work should be taken as a bundle.
Again in 2016, Mike was given the award for a second time. The then 24-year-old fan fave was named the best active baseball player by Sporting News, racking up WAR values (Wins Above Replacements) or contributions more than any other baseball player since 1913.
Third MVP and Contract Extension
Mike signed the famed 12-year contract extension with the Los Angeles Angels worth $426 million on March 20, 2019. For a time, his deal was the most expensive contract in sports history until NFL’s Patrick Mahomes surpassed him in July 2020 with his renewed 10-year contract worth $503 million.
At 27, Trout became the youngest player to accumulate 200 home runs and 200 stolen bases, surpassing the previous holder, retired left-fielder Barry Bonds.
In October of 2019, Mike was voted by fans and members of the media for the Hank Aaron Award. The honor is presented yearly to the top hitters in MLB. And of course, he also received his third AL MP award.
Frequently Asked Questions – Mike Trout Net Worth
How Much Is Mike Trout Net Worth?
Mike Trout net worth is estimated at $60 million. He signed a 12-year contract extension with the Los Angeles Angels worth $426 million. He also signed endorsement deals with companies such as Nike, Subway, and Land Rover, among others, adding around $3 million from these contracts alone.
Is Mike Trout Underpaid?
According to FiveThirtyEight’s statistical analysis and Trout’s latest contract, a player with his caliber should have made $79 million in season 2018. This sum is based on Trout’s WAR values or contributions. His current contract only yields an average of $35.5 million per year.
Who Is the Richest MLB Player?
The richest MLB players are former Shortstop and Third baseman Alex Rodriguez, who played for the Mariners, Rangers, and the Yankees. His net worth is quoted at $350 million.
Final Thoughts – Mike Trout Net Worth
Mike was pretty much unstoppable after receiving his first major award. He slightly reminds you of Cristiano Ronaldo, who either takes second or third place when he fails to claim the top overall rank for himself. And for that, he still carries the expectations of millions of baseball fans worldwide.
During his career in the American League, Mike has either tied or broken historical records for the franchise and the sport. Another element that allows Mike to continue progressing is how he accepts his weaknesses and strives to conquer them.
Mike Trout is the most consistent baseball player in progress and performance, but a lot can happen in ten years. So the people protesting that the baseball superstar is underpaid believe that Mike Trout is surely aware of his situation.
There are numerous possible explanations for why Trout seems fine with his current rate. But onlookers are left to speculate for reasons unless Trout presents an explanation for his compliance. Our safest guess is that it may be for assurance that he can continue to play with no worry until 2031.
Securing work and stable income for the next twelve years is, in itself, priceless.
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