Former Kernel Mike Trout Named American League MVP While in Iowa
Former Cedar Rapids Kernel Mike Trout reached elite status in Major League Baseball Thursday night when he was award the American League MVP award for the third time. Trout, who plays center field for the Los Angeles Angels, wasn't in California when he got the word. No, he was in Iowa.
According to Rhett Bollinger, the Angels beat writer for MLB, Trout was with his agent, brother, dad, and some friends on an Iowa hunting trip when he got the good news. It allowed Trout to do the interviews afterward as a family affair.
The 28-year-old Trout hit .291 in 2019 with 45 home runs and 104 runs batted in. He scored 110 runs and had 5 outfield assists. He did all of it, despite dealing with an injured foot that sidelined him for the final three weeks of the year.
Trout also won the A.L. MVP award in 2014 and 2016. He is one of only 10 players in the history of baseball that have won the MVP award at least three times. All these players have been named MVP three times:
- Mike Trout
- Albert Pujols
- Mike Schmidt
- Mickey Mantle
- Yogi Berra
- Roy Campanella
- Stan Musial
- Joe DiMaggio
- Jimmie Foxx
Only one player in history has won more than three MVP awards... Barry Bonds, who won seven.
Mike Trout played with the Cedar Rapids Kernels in 2009 and 2010. When he was promoted from the Kernels after 81 games in 2010, he was hitting .362 with 45 stolen bases. He arrived in the major league's the very next season.
In nine seasons in the major league's, Trout has hit .305. He also has 285 home runs, 752 runs batted in, 903 runs scored, and has stolen 200 bases. Many believe he's the best player in the history of the game.
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