Trout debuts new Nike cleat in Cleveland

Celebrating the launch of the Nike Force Zoom Trout 6, Angels superstar Mike Trout visited the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland on Monday, one day before he’s set to start in the outfield for the American League at Progressive Field in the MLB All-Star Game presented by Mastercard.

Trout, the only active MLB player with his own signature Nike shoe, had a big hand in the design process. The Nike Force Zoom Trout 6 is 1.5 ounces lighter than the previous version, and it features a new midfoot strap as well as a pronounced toe cap, as requested by Trout. It also includes some personal touches, such as the area code of his hometown of Millville, N.J.

"I'm pretty fascinated with being able to go in the lab [at Nike’s headquarters in Beaverton, Ore.], all the testing they do for my feet and being able to put a cleat together that made it fit comfortable and obviously can help my performance on the field," Trout told MLB Network's Harold Reynolds and youngsters from the Major League Baseball Junior Home Run Derby on Monday.

"The look of it is unbelievable. The comfort is great. Each year, it's evolved. I went to Nike after [the Force Zoom Trout 5] and I said, 'I think I want to add a strap.' I was a big strap guy growing up. I got a lot of feedback from the guys across Major League Baseball. … I thought it was a pretty cool little feature."

Trout debuted his new signature shoe in grand fashion during the Angels’ series against the Astros in Houston this past weekend, hitting .364 with three home runs.