Trout joining Shohei as All-Star Game starters

ANAHEIM -- Angels superstar Mike Trout is an All-Star yet again.

The center fielder was the leading vote-getter among American League outfielders in Phase 2 of the balloting for the All-Star Game, which is set for July 11 at Seattle’s T-Mobile Park. Trout earned 23 percent of the votes for AL outfielders and was elected to his 11th Midsummer Classic, as announced on Thursday on ESPN.

It also put Trout in rare company, as he became just the ninth player to be elected by the fans as an All-Star Game starter for 10 straight seasons, joining Hall of Famers Rod Carew, Cal Ripken Jr., George Brett, Ken Griffey Jr., Willie Mays, Johnny Bench, Ozzie Smith and Wade Boggs. He's also just the fourth AL player to be voted in by the fans 10 times with one club, joining Ripken Jr., Brett and Griffey Jr.

“It’s real special,” Trout said. “It’s for the fans. It’s a fun time. You see the guys who [you] normally don’t play with. And now I have a son [2-year-old Beckham], and he enjoys it, too. So I’m really looking forward to it.”

Trout, a three-time AL MVP, joins his teammate Shohei Ohtani as an All-Star, as Ohtani already secured his spot after leading the AL in votes in Phase 1 of the balloting. It marks the third straight year that Trout and Ohtani are All-Stars together.

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But Trout hasn’t played in a Midsummer Classic since 2019. The ‘20 edition was canceled due to the pandemic, and he missed the game with injuries in both ’21 (strained left calf) and ’22 (back spasms). So Trout said he’s especially excited about this year’s contest, as he wants to finally play in the same All-Star Game as Ohtani, who will be the AL's starting designated hitter and could also pitch.

“It means a lot being healthy,” Trout said. “Now I get to play and be out there with the guys. It’s a fun couple days, and I enjoy every bit of it.”

Trout, 31, has stayed healthy throughout the season and is hitting .260/.367/.491 with 17 homers, 14 doubles and 42 RBIs in 77 games. His .858 OPS is down from his incredible career OPS of .994, which leads all active players, but manager Phil Nevin said he believes Trout is still elite.

“I still think he's one of the best players in the game, one of the best players in the world,” Nevin said. “He hasn’t had Mike Trout numbers, if you will, but I still think he's a game-changing player. And we keep saying, ‘This is not like Mike Trout numbers,’ but look at the board. I mean, he still has an OPS in the .850s and 17 homers. And he's a game-changer in a lot of different ways.”

Trout, the All-Star Game MVP in both 2014 and ’15, has also improved his defense, as advanced metrics rank him as one of the Majors’ best center fielders. It was evident on Thursday, as he robbed White Sox first baseman Andrew Vaughn of a homer with a leaping catch at the wall.

“I just was out there trying to help us win a ballgame,” Trout said. “It worked out. It was a fun day.”

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Nevin said Trout and Ohtani lead the way and set the tone for the Angels, but he believes both All-Stars are having more fun this year because of the way the team has been playing. The Halos are 44-39 and remain firmly in playoff contention while already making key trades for veteran infielders Eduardo Escobar and Mike Moustakas.

“It's fun to watch them play and have a smile on their face and really come in and buy into what we're doing as far as the winning process, and the other players are following suit with them,” Nevin said. “So I think that's what's most important to [Trout], but I certainly believe he's deserving of being an 11-time All Star.”

Trout and Ohtani will have to wait until Sunday to find out if they will have any other teammates joining them in Seattle. Closer Carlos Estévez is a top candidate, as he’s posted a 1.91 ERA while going 20-for-20 in save chances. Infielder Brandon Drury also has a case with 14 homers, 45 RBIs and an .822 OPS in 75 games. Among all AL second basemen, Drury ranks second behind the Rangers’ Marcus Semien with a 1.8 WAR, per FanGraphs.

“You have to pull for Drury because he’s doing unbelievable,” Trout said. “And Estévez is 20-for-20 -- and I don’t want to jinx him, but that’s pretty good.”