From 2012 Rookie of the Year to 2014 MVP, Mike Trout has quickly become a dominant power throughout the entire baseball league. Since Trout’s rookie season in 2012, he has boasted an average of .312 and has ranked amongst the top of the league in runs, RBI’s, stolen bases and OPS. As a result of these unprecedented early career statistics, Trout has become the basis for comparison among young players. So, only one question remains regarding the legacy which Trout has quickly created. Is Mike Trout on track to become the best player who has ever played the game of baseball?
Mike Trout’s rookie season was unlike any other compared to those of the game’s greats. In Trout’s rookie year he hit .326 (second in the AL), scored 129 runs (first in the AL), stole 49 bases (first in the AL), amounted a .963 OPS (second in the AL) and stole 49 bases (first in the AL). ESPN compiled a list of the best 100 players ever to play baseball, titled ESPN’s Hall of 100. In this list the top five ranked players are Babe Ruth, Willie Mays, Barry Bonds, Ted Williams and Hank Aaron. Mike Trout’s statistics in comparison to ESPN’s top five player’s rookie seasons are monumental. The only player who came even close to these rookie season statistics was Ted Williams—whose rookie season was very similar with a batting average of .327, 145 runs driven in and 131 runs scored. Ruth, Mays, Bonds and Aaron all posted mediocre statistics in their rookie seasons, with only Babe Ruth surpassing the .300 marker with a .315 batting average—although this came with only 103 plate appearances compared to Trout’s 639.
However, one statistic that really catches my eye is Mike Trout’s unparalleled Wins Above Replacement statistic this early into his career. According to many sources, an average WAR is between three and four. Anything above that is of all-star status. Mike Trout not only has exceeded a WAR of four since his rookie season but he has also blown past all of his competition. In 2012, Trout’s WAR was 10.8, in 2013, 8.9, in 2014, 7.9. These numbers are unprecedented in comparison to that of other top player’s early-career ratings. For instance, Ted Williams, who we compared to Trout before, had a WAR of only 6.7 and 6.3 in his first two seasons. Trout’s rookie season WAR ranks second all-time among first year players. The only player to top his WAR of 10.8 was Russ Ford with a WAR of 11.0.
Finally, in my opinion, a big factor in naming someone the best has to do with his character, and the standards to which he holds himself on and off the field. Mike Trout works like none other; his work ethic has been praised, and his dedication and appreciation for the game is unrivaled. In combining the numbers which Trout has put up this early into his career, and the dedication and work ethic which he possesses, there should be no doubt that his success should continue into the future. At the rate at which he is playing now, one day Mike Trout will become the best player to have ever played baseball.
