This story was excerpted from Rhett Bollinger's Angels Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Team USA’s World Baseball Classic roster is absolutely stacked. It features 20 All-Stars and three MVP Award winners.

But only one of those players is the captain for Team USA, and that’s Angels superstar Mike Trout. Trout, a 10-time All-Star and three-time AL MVP, is the marquee player for Team USA, and Cardinals star Nolan Arenado didn’t hesitate in giving Trout the ultimate praise when asked what Trout brings to the club.

“He's bringing the best player in the world into the clubhouse,” Arenado said. “He's a great teammate, talking about the game. He's always willing to talk about hitting, and he works hard, man. This guy works his butt off. Now I know why he's the greatest.”

• USA 6, Great Britain 2

Trout, 31, has played in 12 seasons in the Majors, but this is his first time playing in the WBC. He was the first to commit to Team USA during a press conference at the All-Star Game at Dodger Stadium and served as an active recruiter as general manager Tony Reagins and manager Mark DeRosa built the roster.

Trout helped build perhaps the best roster in this year’s Classic with Team USA trying to defend its title from 2017. Trout said he’s embracing his role as a clubhouse leader but noted there are others, such as longtime Cardinals ace Adam Wainwright, who have been in the Majors longer than him.

“For sure,” Trout said when asked if he thought of himself as a leader. “But there are guys like Waino, who has been around a while. So I like to pick his brain, even as a pitcher. But really, it’s just a great group of guys.”

Trout added that he’s enjoyed a special bond with Dodgers superstar Mookie Betts. Trout and Betts are both signed long-term in the same market. Trout is signed through 2030 and Betts through ’32.

Trout was also looking forward to playing with Bryce Harper, who was the first player he called to join Team USA, before Harper underwent Tommy John surgery.

He’s also thrilled to be working with hitting coach Ken Griffey Jr., whom he idolized growing up. Trout would even mimic Griffey's legendary swing.

“I don’t think anybody who has played this game hasn’t watched him growing up or YouTubed him or looked him up somehow,” Trout said. “As a kid, I would try to emulate his swing even though I’m a righty. So I’d turn around and hit lefty. So it’s pretty special to have him on the staff.”

Trout said he’s looking forward to facing Angels lefty Patrick Sandoval, who is scheduled to start for Team Mexico against Team USA in a highly anticipated game at Chase Field on Sunday night. And he admitted the two engaged in a little trash talk early in spring.

“We were going back and forth a little bit before he left,” Trout said with a smile. “But what he did last year was impressive. Just to go out there and dominate like he did. He was obviously part of my team but now he’s the enemy.”

DeRosa has been impressed with the way Trout has carried himself with Team USA and also noted that one of Trout’s tools surprisingly stood out during team drills ahead of the Classic.

“Certainly, he'll go down as one of the greatest players of all time,” DeRosa said. “I'm in awe watching the ball come off his bat. He's got a better arm than I gave him credit for. We ran an old-school infield/outfield [drill] the other day because I wanted these guys to bond as a team defensively, but I wanted them to feel like, ‘Hey, I've got to show out a little here. I'm with the greatest players in the world. I'm going to let them know who I am.’ Watching him throw from center field, it's not something you see every day -- I was [thinking], ‘Whew, he's got a better arm than I gave credit to him for.’”