Looking back on some of Mike's most absurd and (Tr)outstanding catches so far
Some players are just on another level. Those who watch Mike Trout are reminded day in and day out that he's in his own realm on both sides of the diamond, fully committed to doing things others might think impossible -- and making them look really easy.
He did that again in the Angels-Mariners game on Sunday, robbing Leonys Martin of a grand slam with this effort:
The timing of Trout's dazzling play was especially perfect considering the M's just toasted Ken Griffey Jr. on Saturday night by retiring his No. 24 jersey and paying tribute to his amazing Hall of Fame career -- which featured plenty of highlight-reel catches throughout his time in the league.
And did we mention Sunday was Trout's 25th birthday, too? Talk about a good day on the job.
Considering Trout just reminded us all of his otherworldly skills with the glove, it's time for a refresher of some of his most memorable defensive exploits from the past few years. Remember: Trout is only now 25 years old, so we can look forward to enjoying even more of these for at least a decade to come.
5. April 30, 2015: Ike Davis is denied
The sun at the Coliseum can wreak havoc on outfielders. Day games are no picnic for defenders on fly balls.
That's no matter for Trout, though, who literally saved the game for the Angels last season when Davis cracked a two-out, bases-loaded line drive deep to center in the bottom of the ninth. Tracking the ball all the way, Trout reeled it in with a last-second stretch of the glove that bailed Huston Street out of imminent doom and prevented the A's from staging a dramatic comeback.
4. Sept. 26, 2014: A full-sprint, no-look grab on Kendrys Morales
Poor Kendrys. The Mariners' slugger thought he had a hit, having smoked a 94-mph offering from Yoslan Herrera to center field -- but there was that man Trout again, crushing dreams and dropping jaws with an absurd full-sprint reach-up play.
3. Aug. 16, 2015: Forcing extras, robbing Royals
Another game-saving catch, this time denying the Royals' Paulo Orlando from being a walk-off hero for the Royals at Kauffman Stadium. With runners on the corners and two outs, Trout ranged far into the gap in right-center to rob Orlando of a base hit, RBI and subsequent Gatorade bath.
Street must thoroughly enjoy having Trout in center when he takes the hill ...
2. Sept. 26, 2015: No homer for you, Jesus Montero
Jesus Montero was pretty sure he had cracked a homer to left-center. The trajectory was there, the ball sailed toward the rock formation at the Big A, Montero had begun his trot ... but then again, there was Trout.
Sure enough, Trout tracked the ball to the wall, leapt up, used his right arm for support and hung there waiting to make the kind of play so good it warranted its own commemorative Topps card. Yep, that happened.
1. June 27, 2012: Sorry, Hardy
This catch, delivered in Trout's first full season in the Angels' lineup, was probably the play that announced his arrival to everybody that didn't already watch the Halos on an everyday basis.
Trout showed off his hops with an unbelievable leaping catch that robbed J.J. Hardy of a sure homer and put the league on notice that, "I'm here and I do this sort of thing all the time, so get used to it."
So far, he's backed up that promise -- and then some.