Dad strength! Trout HRs in first AB back

Angels superstar Mike Trout returned to the club on Tuesday with a new role in his life -- a father for the first time. But he also did something very familiar, as he homered yet again in a 5-3 win over the Mariners.

After missing four games to attend the birth of his son, Beckham Aaron, with his wife, Jessica, on Thursday, Trout rejoined the Angels for the opening game in Seattle and wasted no time getting back in action with a solo home run in his first at-bat, a 407-foot shot to center field. Trout now has 42 homers against Seattle, his most against one club, while his 25 homers are a record for visiting players at T-Mobile Park.

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"I was hoping now that Trout was a dad, the 'dad bod' might have snuck up on him," Mariners manager Scott Servias said. "But obviously that was not the case."

Before the game, Trout said he hadn't gotten much sleep since the birth but was proud to report that Jessica and the baby are both doing well.

“Pretty incredible,” Trout said. “A lot of emotions going into it. I didn't really know what to expect but, once I got to see him and hold him with Jess and seeing how she was feeling, what we went through to have a child. It's pretty amazing.”

Trout, a three-time AL MVP and eight-time All-Star, said the toughest part was leaving his wife and son behind in Southern California to rejoin the Angels, but he estimated he had Facetimed with his wife at least 30 times by the time he arrived at the ballpark. He was the only one allowed in the delivery room on Thursday but he made sure to share photos with family members and friends.

“She's a champ,” Trout said. “I don't know If I could have went through that. How brave she was and how strong she was, it’s pretty incredible.”

Trout also elaborated on the baby’s name, although he didn’t give an exact reason for why the baby was named Beckham, outside of simply liking the way that Beckham Aaron sounded. The initials B.A.T. were also a coincidence but the middle name of Aaron means a lot to both Trout and his wife’s families, as the baby was named after Jessica’s brother, Aaron Cox, a former Angels Minor Leaguer who committed suicide in August 2018. The Trouts have made suicide awareness and prevention one of their major causes.

"I think with all the stuff that happened and knowing when we first found out Jess was pregnant, knowing that the due date was around his birthday and just how special that was,” Trout said. “We knew the whole time that his middle name was going to be Aaron and it means a lot to me, obviously Jess and her family. Beckham Aaron's got a great ring to it. He's definitely watching over us and he's part of him for sure.”

Trout also reiterated that he remains committed to playing this season amid the COVID-19 pandemic because he believes the Angels have been taking the protocols seriously both at the ballpark and away from it. He currently has no plans to voluntarily not play this season.

"It's tough to see what's going on with the Cardinals and the Marlins," Trout said. "Obviously, it's all happening on the East Coast. A lot of things were flying through my head, obviously Jess was worried. What I've been doing, this team, we've been safe. I feel safe here. Everybody's being accountable, staying in the hotel room, doing the right things and making the right choices. And until something happens, I feel like it's been good so far.”