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Clips

(March 27, 2017)

March 27, 2017 Page 2 of 16

Today’s Clips Contents

FROM LOS ANGELES TIMES (Page 3)

 Watch and Clayton Kershaw lead off MLB's 2017 ad campaign

 Albert Pujols is taking care to ensure he stays in Angels lineup

 Angels let victory slip away vs. Royals

FROM THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER (Page 6)

 Angels' hoping '85 percent mindset' can be key to a healthy, successful season

 Mike Trout stays hot but Angels fall to Royals

FROM ANGELS.COM (Page 8)

 Efficiency key for Richards' successful return

 Winter additions calculate to better defense

 Marte, Trout double in loss

FROM CBS SPORTS (Page 12)

 Mike Trout came up with a great idea to help MLB umpires in

FROM SPORTS ILLUSTRATED (Page 13)

 The New Testament: An oral history of Mike Trout's greatest moments to date

March 27, 2017 Page 3 of 16

FROM THE LOS ANGELES TIMES .

Watch Mike Trout and Clayton Kershaw lead off MLB's 2017 ad campaign

By Bill Shaikin

Mike Trout and Clayton Kershaw as the faces of ?

Trout, the Angels’ center fielder and two-time most valuable player, and Kershaw, the Dodgers’ ace and three-time Cy Young Award winner, are the first two players you see in the commercial spot that launches the 2017 advertising campaign.

The spots are designed to showcase “the suspense, twist and turns and must-see moments that can be recapped, teased and talked about like a season of the most entertaining show on television,” according to the league. MLB is expected to formally release this spot on Monday.

“This season on baseball, Mike Trout goes to work,” the spot starts, as viewers see Trout grimacing through a workout routine that includes lifting a tire.

“Clayton’s mad, and he’s throwing like it,” the spot continues, as viewers see Kershaw firing a fastball for which the radar gun reading is “DANG.”

The spot features some of baseball’s brightest young personalities, including Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo of the , Mookie Betts of the , Carlos Correa of the and Francisco Lindor of the Cleveland Indians.

However, the first face viewers see is that of a grizzled veteran: beloved Angels athletic trainer Rick Smith, in his 40th season on the team’s training staff.

Albert Pujols is taking care to ensure he stays in Angels lineup

By Pedro Moura

Albert Pujols is 37 and about to begin his third season after an off-season spent recovering from surgery. His life has become an annual cycle of playing through pain, recuperation, and convincing himself he might someday feel great again.

“I feel better,” Pujols said over the weekend at , where the Angels are wrapping up spring training. “I don’t feel 100%.”

Halfway through his 10-year contract with the Angels, he underwent December surgery on the plantar fascia in his right foot. He beat the prognosis, began playing in games March 10 and has hit .323 with two home runs in the Cactus League. Asked whether he retained hope of reaching 100% this season, Pujols said it was his goal. March 27, 2017 Page 4 of 16

“I’m pretty excited with where I’m at right now, I can tell you,” the Angels designated hitter said. “I’m putting good swings on the ball. Timing-wise, it’s not there, but we’ve got still a handful of games here before the season starts. Sometimes it’s just one at-bat when it clicks, for me.”

Pujols’ pregame hitting routine remains the same as it has always been in spring training.

“Why would you fix something that’s working?” he said.

He has adjusted his weightlifting regimen, he said, reducing the sheer weight and adding plyometrics, aiming to reduce his risk of another injury.

“This game is already hard. Imagine playing it with injuries,” he said. “Unfortunately, the last couple years, that’s how I’ve been. The thing is that you can’t prevent injuries. All you can do is just work yourself and train yourself. But then after you cross that white line, man, eventually, injuries happen.”

The Angels’ general stance is that Pujols is an asset playing first base, but more so at the plate, and starting him at first base threatens his utility as a hitter. That’s why he played a career-low 28 games at first last season.

That approach will be challenged in the season’s first week, when the Angels open in Oakland. In recent seasons, Pujols has played the field more there than in other cities because of the batting-cage arrangement at the old ballpark. Getting to them requires a trek from the visiting clubhouse, making designated hitting an unpleasant experience.

Pujols said he felt good enough to take the field during that four-game series, but stopped short of committing he would.

He received new orthotics for 2017 that he has broken in this spring. By now, he’s used to the process, although his foot did flare in pain when he used a set that were not properly prepared last August.

“Remember, anytime you do any work on your feet, your feet change, so I can’t now be using the same orthotics that I used last year,” he said. “You have to mold yourself pretty much every year because the shape of your foot’s not the same.”

In September, before he knew he’d need surgery, Pujols said he did not heed the aches and pains of his body enough. He also expressed doubt he’d ever do so.

“It’s hard for me now to try to switch that, because that’s how I grew up,” he said then.

He hit 31 home runs and drove in 119 runs last season, and he was proud of those figures. But his .780 on-base-plus-slugging percentage was nearly the worst of his career, second only to his injury-shortened 2013. He knows his rate statistics could improve if he rested more often.

“It is important, man,” Pujols said of occasional sitting. “One day is worth 10 days, like 10 good days. But it’s just so hard when you have eight guys out there and you feel so guilty when you know you can be March 27, 2017 Page 5 of 16

out there. Even if you know you’re not 100% that day, when you care so much about something. And I care about this organization. I care about winning a championship for the city of Anaheim.

“Sometimes that drives you even when your body’s telling you that you need it, because your brain is saying, ‘I want to be out there with my guys.’ ”

He was then asked what the long-term solution might be.

“I don’t know,” Pujols said. “We’ll see how it feels during the season and go from there.”

Short hops

In a back-field game Sunday at the Angels complex, right-hander Garrett Richards threw six innings against minor leaguers. He did not walk anyone and threw 69 pitches. His fastball was most often clocked at 94 mph. The Angels informed Richards he’ll start Friday in the Freeway Series, which makes their presumed but unconfirmed choice for the coveted opening-day start. “I’m not the only one that doesn’t know what’s going on. We’re all kind of up in the air," said Richards, the club’s 2016 opening-day starter. "Everything’s a secret." .. .On Sunday evening, the Angels held a meeting to discuss the composition of their roster.

Angels let victory slip away vs. Royals

By Pedro Moura

The Angels lost, 8-7, to Kansas City on Sunday at Tempe Diablo Stadium. They took the lead in the fifth, then ceded it in the ninth and are now 16-13 in the Cactus League.

Royals 8, Angels 7

AT THE PLATE: Yunel Escobar singled and Mike Trout doubled to produce a first-inning run, and the Angels rallied for six runs in the fifth. They strung together four singles, a hit-by-pitch, a walk, and then a three-run double by Jefry Marte. … Escobar and Trout logged two hits apiece. … Martin Maldonado struck out in his lone at-bat and has hit 4-for-40 this spring. All four of his hits have been singles. He has worked five walks.

ON THE MOUND: Right-hander J.C. Ramirez cruised through his first three innings before encountering trouble in the fourth. There, he yielded two singles and two homers for four runs, and another run in the fifth on back-to-back doubles and a hit-by-pitch. He said he went away from his fastball during his second time traversing the Royals’ order, and he regretted the decision. … Among relievers, right-hander Yusmeiro Petit recorded four outs without allowing a run, right-hander Jose Valdez gave up one run in his inning, and right-hander Austin Adams threw a scoreless inning. … Minor league right-hander Justin Anderson blew the save in the ninth.

EXTRA BASES: Albert Pujols stole second base amid the Angels’ fifth-inning rally. Royals second baseman Raul A. Mondesi gave him a hug at the base. … The Angels on Sunday reassigned infielder Matt Williams March 27, 2017 Page 6 of 16

to minor league camp. Their roster stands at 40 men. Fifteen must be removed in the next week, but most of the extras will travel to Southern California for the Freeway Series that begins Thursday.

UP NEXT: Angels vs. Arizona Diamondbacks, 1 p.m. Monday at Salt River Fields. TV: FSW; Radio: 830.

FROM THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER .

Angels' Garrett Richards hoping '85 percent mindset' can be key to a healthy, successful season

By JEFF FLETCHER

TEMPE, Ariz. — Garrett Richards has admitted that when he was in college, and even early in his minor league career, he had a pretty simple approach.

Throw the ball as hard as possible.

Now, with the wisdom of experience and the necessity of a freshly repaired ligament in his elbow, the Angels’ right-hander is new and improved.

He calls it the “85 percent mindset.”

After Richards tossed six innings on 69 pitches in a minor-league game on Sunday, he said he’s happy the way he’s been more efficient, and more in control, now that he isn’t airing it out quite like he used to. The velocity is still at his normal level, though. He's been throwing his fastball from 94-98 mph this spring.

“If I can throw at 85 percent, I’m able to repeat my mechanics better,” he said. “I’m able to keep everything moving downhill toward the catcher. Because I throw across my body, direction is a big thing for me. If I can eliminate a little bit of effort and keep everything moving in a straight line, it’s going to help me.”

Richards is also looking to throw more two-seam fastballs this season. He started to throw a last year, but he believes that’s part of what led to his elbow injury. Now he’s going to focus mostly on just the two fastballs, along with a .

“I got some good ground balls with (the two-seamer) today,” he said. “I got some double play balls. I feel confident throwing it to right- and left-handed hitters. It’s just something I’m going to keep building off. The feel of it is coming back like it was in ’14.”

His four-seam fastball breaks in to right-handers, and the two-seamer breaks more down and away, making it good for inducing ground balls. If he can have them both start toward the middle of the plate, hitters will have trouble distinguishing the two and have a tough time. March 27, 2017 Page 7 of 16

“If I’ve got ‘em both going, I’m splitting plates with it,” said Richards, who added that his goal is to simply “fill up the zone and letting the ball play in the zone.”

Throwing strikes is always important, but there is even more of a premium on it now for Richards.

After undergoing stem-cell therapy instead of having surgery to repair his damaged ulnar collateral ligament, Richards is something of a medical experiment. The Angels are likely going to be careful with him, keeping his pitch count around 100 or fewer. In order to get deep in games with that number of pitches, he’ll need to throw strikes and avoid walks.

When that regular season will begin remains uncertain, although it becomes less of a mystery the closer the Angels get to .

Richards said he is scheduled to make his next appearance on Friday against the Dodgers at Angel Stadium. Because that game is just three days before the April 3 opener at Oakland, it seems a safe assumption that Richards won’t be starting the Angels first game of the season, as had been presumed heading into spring training.

Currently, the Angels have Matt Shoemaker in line to start the opener, with Richards going in the third game.

Richards shrugged his shoulders at the speculation about the season-opening rotation.

“I’m up in the air like you guys are,” he told reporters. “Everything’s a secret. I guess we’ll all know together.”

NOTES

Scioscia said there’s “a possibility” that Albert Pujols will play some first base in the season opening series in Oakland, even though he hasn’t played it in a game this spring. The Coliseum has no batting cage accessible to the visiting team during games, so Pujols doesn't like to DH there. Scioscia said seems inclined to keep Pujols at DH, though. “We’re not going to jeopardize what he’s doing in the batter’s box to play first base,” he said, “but Oakland is more of a challenge than some other places.”

C.J. Cron has shown some improvement at first base this spring, including impressive plays on Friday and Saturday. He dove for a ball Friday and charged and turned a bunt into a double play on Saturday. “He’s moving well and that’s encouraging,” Scioscia said…

The Angels sent infielder Matt Williams to minor league camp on Sunday morning…

Craig Gentry, who missed most of the Angels season because of what the team called a “personal medical situation” revealed to the Baltimore Sun that it was related to his recovery from the sixth concussion of his career, in 2015. Gentry played just more with the Angels before going on the disabled list, then he was released in August.

March 27, 2017 Page 8 of 16

Mike Trout stays hot but Angels fall to Royals

By JEFF FLETCHER

THE GAME: The Angels lost a back-and-forth game to the Kanasas City Royals, 8-7, on Sunday afternoon at Tempe Diablo Stadium. The Angels came back from a 5-1 deficit to take a 7-5 lead, but they gave up two runs in the ninth to lose.

PITCHING REPORT: RH J.C. Ramirez worked three outstanding innings to start the game, allowing just two hits and facing one batter over the minimum. However, he gave up a pair of two-run homers in the fourth inning and another run in the fifth. Ramirez said he went away from his fastball in the second time through the lineup, which was a mistake… Yusmeiro Petit worked 1 1/3 scoreless innings. Petit, who seems to be safe to make the opening day bullpen, has allowed one run in 12 innings this spring with the Angels. He had a rough outing during the World Baseball Classic with Venezuela, but he said it was partly because of the high altitude in Jalisco, Mexico… The Royals scored the go-ahead runs against minor league RH Justin Anderson.

HITTING REPORT: CF Mike Trout hit three hard shots to the right side, a double, a single and a lineout. He is now 9 for 18 with four doubles and a homer in his last seven games. “He feels good,” Mike Scioscia said. “I think he’s ready to go. We’re going to finish strong this week and make sure he keeps his edge.”… DH Albert Pujols drove in a run with a single and then he stole second. Pujols took off for second with Trout at third, likely to induce a throw that would allow Trout to score, but the Royals instead threw to third, and Trout got back safely… 1B Jefry Marte drove in three runs, including two on a double just inside the left-field line.

DEFENSE REPORT: LF Cameron Maybin stayed with a tough fly ball in the sun to make the catch… 3B Yunel Escobar made a diving stop and got up and made an accurate throw… CF Eric Young Jr. made a diving catch to save at least one run in the ninth inning. Young then got robbed of a hit on a diving play by Kansas City’s Raul Mondesi. Young then tipped his cap to Mondesi.

UP NEXT: Angels (Jesse Chavez) vs. Diamondbacks (TBA), 1 p.m. PT, Salt River Fields, Fox Sports West, KLAA (830 AM).

FROM ANGELS.COM .

Efficiency key for Richards' successful return

By Maria Guardado / MLB.com

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Angels right-hander Garrett Richards pitched six innings in his Minor League start against the Rockies on Sunday, and said he's pleased with where he stands heading into the final week of Spring Training. March 27, 2017 Page 9 of 16

Richards allowed two runs (one earned) on six hits while walking none and striking out four in the 69- pitch outing.

"Everything was pretty sharp today," Richards said. "I'm just trying to carry some momentum into the season. My arm feels pretty good right now, and I'm bouncing back nicely. I'm starting to be able to repeat innings, so I'm just kind of carrying that momentum into the year."

Richards, who is coming off stem-cell therapy to treat a damaged ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, is expected to face workload restrictions in his first season back from injury, which has prompted him to focus on becoming more efficient this spring. He said he is now throwing at 85 percent effort, and has managed to remain effective.

"I feel like I still have the same life on my ball and everything is still the same, but I'm more efficient," Richards said. "I'm ahead, 0-1, 0-2, 1-2, a lot more than I usually am, and I'm not walking anybody.

"If I throw at 85 percent, I'm able to repeat my mechanics better," he added. "I'm able to keep everything moving down the hill toward the catcher. Because I throw across my body, direction is a big thing for me. If I can eliminate a little bit of effort and keep everything moving in a straight line, it's going to be good for me."

Richards said he will make his final exhibition start Friday against the Dodgers in the Freeway Series, which means he is unlikely to be on the mound when the Angels face the host A's on April 3 in their season opener.

The Opening Day nod is traditionally reserved for a team's top starter, but the Angels do not seem to be following convention this year.

The Halos have not officially set their rotation for the first week of the regular season, but right- hander Matt Shoemaker is currently lined up to start on Opening Day, followed by , Richards, Jesse Chavez and .

Richards, 28, said he does not know his pitching schedule beyond Friday.

"I'm not the only one that doesn't know what's going on," Richards said. "We're all kind of up in the air. I don't know anything as of right now, but I'm scheduled to throw on Friday."

Worth noting

• The Angels reassigned infielder Matt Williams to Minor League camp Sunday. They now have 40 active players in Major League camp.

March 27, 2017 Page 10 of 16

Winter additions calculate to better defense

By Maria Guardado / MLB.com

TEMPE, Ariz. -- By at least one metric, the Angels fielded the fourth-best defensive team in the Majors last season. But they're poised to potentially be even better in that realm in 2017 after adding a trio of strong defenders to their squad during the offseason.

General manager has made a concerted effort to upgrade the Angels' defense since taking over the front office in October 2015. Eppler inherited a pair of elite inMike Trout and Kole Calhoun, but he significantly strengthened the middle of the infield by acquiring Andrelton Simmons -- widely considered the best defensive shortstop in the game -- from the Braves in one of his first big moves as general manager.

Even with holes at second base and left field, the Angels collectively recorded 45.5 Defensive Runs Above Average (DEF) in 2016, according to Fangraphs.com, behind only the Cubs (69), Giants (53.7) and Royals (46.5).

The Angels continued to bolster their defense in the winter by trading for second baseman Danny Espinosa, Cameron Maybin and catcher Martin Maldonado, giving the Halos above-average defenders at virtually all the premium positions on the field.

"This is probably the best all-around defensive team we've had here," manager Mike Scioscia said last week. "I think that's going to be really important in making the plays you should make, and limiting extra pitches for , and things like that. I think Billy Eppler made a focused effort to upgrade defensively, and we have."

Espinosa primarily played shortstop for the Nationals last year, but he has extensive experience at second, and is known for his strong arm. Maybin played center field for the Tigers in 2016, and was rated well there by defensive metrics, but he is expected to start in left field for the Angels for the first time in his career. Despite his limited experience at the position, the Angels believe Maybin is athletic enough to handle the transition with ease.

Maldonado, meanwhile, has a cannon for a throwing arm, and a reputation as an elite pitch-framer.

The Angels hope that an elite defensive unit will help them consistently make routine plays, and by extension, limit the amount of extra pitches by their hurlers. That benefit will be key for the Halos, particularly with key members of their rotation, specifically Garrett Richards and Tyler Skaggs, likely facing workload restrictions this season.

"I think our ability to turn ground balls and make more routine outs with the range we have is going to show up," Scioscia said. "I expect that to be a big part of the way we support our pitching is to make those plays."

March 27, 2017 Page 11 of 16

Marte, Trout double in loss

By Maria Guardado / MLB.com

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Wander Franco capped a two-run rally in the ninth to lift the Royals to an 8-7 victory over the Angels on Sunday at Tempe Diablo Stadium. Franco, in his first game with the big league club, hit a flare to left-center to score pinch-runner Logan Moon for the victory.

Terrance Gore started the rally when he singled on a ground ball to right, moved to third onBrayan Pena's hard hit single, and scored on Salvador Perez's ground out to short to tie the score at 7. Paulo Orlando and Brandon Moss slugged two-run home runs for the Royals in the fourth inning.

"Mossy was really seeing it today," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "Three knocks. He made a little adjustment with his head in his stance, and it helped today."

The Angels opened the scoring on Albert Pujols' run-scoring groundout in the first, but the Royals seized a 4-1 lead when Orlando and Moss homered off right-hander JC Ramirez. Whit Merrifield's RBI double made it 5-1 in the fifth, but the Angels erased the deficit with a six-run outburst in the bottom half of the inning, capped by Jefry Marte's go-ahead, bases-clearing double. The Royals pulled within one on Pena's RBI single in the seventh, setting the table for Franco's ninth-inning heroics.

Royals second baseman Cheslor Cuthbert departed the game after being drilled in the lower back by a pitch from Ramirez in the fifth. The Royals indicated Cuthbert suffered a lower back contusion and is day to day.

Kansas City starter Jason Hammel allowed seven runs on eight hits while walking two and striking out three over six innings in his fifth start of the spring.

Ramirez tossed three scoreless innings before unraveling in the fourth and fifth. He surrendered five runs on eight hits, including two homers, with six over 4 2/3 innings. The Angels had hoped Ramirez would be able to pitch into the sixth inning. Ramirez now appears likely to open the season in the bullpen, where the Angels could deploy him as a multi-inning reliever.

"He got to 90 pitches, the only thing is you want to see a starter's stamina," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "He was still throwing the ball hard, but his two-seamer was a little flat today, and those were the ones some guys caught up with. But for the most part, he showed some great stuff the first three innings."

Royals Up Next: Left-hander Jason Vargas, the No. 4 starter, will get his last start of the Cactus League as the Royals travel to Mesa on Monday to take on the A's in a 3:05 p.m. CT game. Closer Kelvin Herrera and Chris Young will pitch behind Vargas.

Angels Up Next: Right-hander Jesse Chavez will return to Cactus League action Monday when the Angels head to Salt River Fields to face the D-backs at 1:10 p.m. PT live on MLB.TV. Chavez, projected to be the club's fifth starter, has made Minor League starts in his last two turns in the rotation. March 27, 2017 Page 12 of 16

FROM CBS SPORTS .

Mike Trout came up with a great idea to help MLB umpires in spring training

By Mike Axisa

Opening Day is now less than one week away, and I know I’m not alone in saying: thank goodness for that! The World Baseball Classic was tremendous and spring training games are fun in their own way, but I think we’re all ready for some meaningful regular season baseball.

Alas, there are still six days of Grapefruit League and Cactus League games to go. Players are going to use this week as one final tune-up for the regular season while coaches and general managers evaluate their talent and make decisions about the final roster spots. That’s how it works the final week of every spring.

Players and coaches aren’t the only ones working during spring through, however. The umpires are working too. They’re getting themselves back into game shape, meaning tracking pitches behind the plate and sharpening their eyes and ears for bang-bang plays. These guys don’t just roll out of bed and call games, you know.

Angels wunderkind Mike Trout, the undisputed best player in baseball, has a pretty good idea for helping umpires in spring training. Here’s what he told ESPN’s Buster Olney over the weekend:

It was during one of those chats with a veteran umpire earlier this spring that Trout offered a thought: As the experienced umpires work their way back into game shape in spring training, just as the players do, why not have them work five or six innings and turn over the last innings to umpires who would normally work minor league games on back fields?

The idea is simple, but it has a lot of helpful layers, beyond allowing an older plate umpire a little more time to work into condition to see 350 or so pitches in a given game. It is extraordinarily difficult for young umpires to advance in the industry because there is little annual turnover among umpires in the big leagues. For a young umpire slated for Class A or AA to get a few innings in a major league exhibition -- with the packed ballpark and major league players -- would be something of a reward, as it is for the minor league players.

As an added bonus, MLB’s executives would get a chance to evaluate up-and-coming young umpires in games that more closely resemble major league competition. It’s one thing for a Double-A ump to blow a call and get some lip from minor leaguers. It’s another to botch a call in a spring training game and have a 10-year big league veteran (and his manager!) give you the business.

Aside from logistical issues (travel, expenses, etc.), it’s tough to come up with a negative to Trout’s idea. The players don’t jump right back into game action, meaning full nine-inning games day after day after day, so why should umpires? Anything that can help them better prepare for the season is a-okay with me. March 27, 2017 Page 13 of 16

FROM SPORTS ILLUSTRATED

The New Testament: An oral history of Mike Trout's greatest moments to date

By Ben Reiter

Half a decade into the Mike Trout era, this much is clear: He can do most anything he puts his mind to. At 25, the Angels' centerfielder has won two American League MVP awards, in 2014 and '16, and could easily own five. (He has three second-place finishes.) Last fall, FanGraphs writer August Fagerstrom determined that Trout just completed the ninth-best five-year stretch, by Wins Above Replacement (WAR), of any position player in history. Of course, the eight above him were credited for their peak years, while Trout theoretically has yet to reach his physical prime.

One thing in which Trout is not interested is discussing his own burgeoning legacy. He's notoriously laconic on the subject. Luckily, those who know him are not. Cooperstown is still perhaps 20 years away, but why wait to appreciate his greatness? SI asked coaches, teammates and other insiders for their perspectives on a legend whose best days are not locked in history but are still in front of him—and of us.

The Millville Meteor

Roy Hallenbeck, Millville (N.J.) Senior High Baseball Coach: He was a Little League legend, but when he got to us, he was small. The only tool that jumped out was speed. His first year, we had an opening in the infield and decided to give him a look. His heart was going so fast. We run simple four-corner fungo drills, and he's throwing the ball against the backstop. I said to the coaches, "This kid may not be emotionally ready for this." We were going to send him to the freshman group in a day or two if he didn't turn it around. Yeah, Mike Trout was two days from not making the team his freshman year.

Greg Morhardt, Angels Scout, '07–14: In high school Mike pulled most balls, because he could. You don't have to use the opposite field in high school if you're physically dominating and guys aren't throwing hard. Once during a showcase I said, "Hey, Mike, could you hit one down to the rightfield corner?" First one, didn't hit it great. Second one, stroked it right down the line on a rope, 10 feet fair. "O.K., that's good. Just go back to where you were." You wanted to know Mike could do it—but you don't want anybody else to know.

Kenny Williams, Millville Assistant Coach: Mike had verbally committed to East Carolina the summer before his senior year. One night Billy Godwin, the coach there, was here when we were playing our local rival. There are 30 scouts in the stands. Mike hits a moonshot, and everyone thinks it's going out. The centerfielder runs back, then realizes it's going to drop in front of him. Mike's flying. He was 3.8, 3.9 seconds home to first from the right side, which is ridiculous. He crosses the plate standing up before the ball gets back to the infield. Thirty scouts' stopwatches drop. Thirty cellphones pop up. Godwin comes walking along the backstop, kicking the ground, and says, "He's the best bleeping high school player I've ever seen. There's no way he's coming to East Carolina." March 27, 2017 Page 14 of 16

Becoming An Angel

Morhardt: We had two straight first-round picks that year, and at 24 we take a righthanded high school outfielder: , out of Texas. I'm stunned. I text someone in our draft room: "What's going on? Mayday, mayday!" Four minutes go by. I get a text: We're taking Trout at 25.

Scott Servais, Rangers Director Of Player Development, 2006–11: I remember in our draft room the question was, "Why would the Angels take two high school outfielders back-to-back?" Other clubs will say they were on him, but they always say that after the fact.

Brian Cashman, Yankees General Manager: This is real: He was No. 2 on our draft board. was No. 1. We were picking toward the back, No. 29, but we didn't think anybody was on him. He came off the board before us, and that's that.

Jeff Mathis, Diamondbacks Catcher; Angels Catcher, 2005–11: I was at Angel Stadium right after they drafted him. They brought him in to see the stadium and take BP. He didn't have a bat, so I gave him mine. He steps into the cage, and he starts hitting these deep bombs to right center, one after the other. My bat never sounded like that. He was 17 years old.

An Earth-Shaking Debut

Dino Ebel, Angels Bench Coach: His rookie year [in 2012], we're sitting on the plane together. I said, "You know that guy Jeter over there with the Yankees? That's you."

Jon Daniels, Rangers President Of Baseball Operations: The thing that always stood out is he has a body just entirely made for baseball. He's built like nobody else. There were questions about his arm and his defense early on, and as great as he was on Day One, he's made himself a better player.

Albert Pujols, Angels First Baseman: The thing that impresses me most, for a big guy like he is, is how well he runs. When he goes around the bases, it's like a freaking linebacker running.

Ebel: I coached third [when Trout broke in], and when he was coming around, it was like a train. I made sure I got out of his way. I'm 165 pounds; he's gonna knock my block off. His steps make a different sound. Just heavy, hard, like something powerful's coming at you.

Rick Smith, Angels Trainer: He probably goes anywhere from 235 to 240 pounds. His speed, quickness, explosiveness—from zero to 60—are just amazing to me. And his spatial awareness: when to get to the fence, when to time the jump to catch a ball that's three feet over the fence. Where does it come from? It comes from God.

New Superpowers

Jeff Fletcher, Angels Beat Writer: Early in 2014 he was striking out a lot. Once in Toronto, in May, he struck out four times. I was in the clubhouse, waiting to tactfully ask him why he stunk so much, basically. Which is not the sort of thing he's used to hearing. He just looked at me and was like, March 27, 2017 Page 15 of 16

"C'mon, Fletch, I know you want to ask me about strikeouts. Just get over here. Let's do it." He won MVP that year, by the way.

Ebel: In [June] 2014 he hit a game-tying off in the eighth. I asked him, "What were you thinking when you walked up to the plate?" He said, "I hit the on deck." In the on-deck circle he was visualizing what he was going to do. Then he did it.

C.J. Cron, Angels First Baseman: The play that sticks out is when he robbed the Mariners' Jesus Montero, at home in September 2015. I've seen people rob homers before, but the way he climbed the wall, hung up there and just snagged it, it was something I've never seen before.

Kole Calhoun, Angels Rightfielder: Half his body was literally over the fence. He made it look easy. I said to him, "Greatest catch I've ever seen." He just kinda shook it off and kept playing.

Garrett Richards, Angels Starting : It's crazy: He's pretty decent at everything he does. He figures things out really quick. Video games. Cribbage. When Torii Hunter was here, we played a lot of dominoes, and he got good. He'll shoot in the mid-70s in golf, no problem, and we'll really only play during spring training, and sometimes on off days during the season.

Gary Disarcina, Angels Coach, 2013–16: Once [Angels coach] Paul Sorrento and I were beating him and [Angels pitcher] on the last hole, and Mike was about 180 yards off the fairway in the woods. Paul had shot 15 feet from the pin. We're whooping it up. Trout hit a five-iron off the tree trunks, landed 25–30 feet from the pole. Me and Paul were dancing. Paul misses his putt. Mikey drained a 25-footer to win. Ran around celebrating like a little kid.

Calhoun: One time I had a teammate, C.J. Wilson, take a picture of Trout parking. His parking job was crooked—didn't care, tried to get to the clubhouse quick. C.J. goes, "Here's the only thing that Trout's not the best at."

Mike Butcher, Angels Pitching Coach, 2007–15: Mike loves video games, and he used to play my son in an online game called Clash of Clans. Mike was winning, and my son asked him why he had so many weapons and tools. Mike said, "You've got to spend some money if you want to play with the big boys. Use your dad's account." The next day I get a receipt that shows $1,500 in charges. Fifteen hundred dollars! I thought somebody hacked my account. I go to my son, "What is this all about?" And he says, "Mike Trout said I needed these." I see Mike later that day, and he's just laughing. He's really this great big kid who's always having fun. He hasn't changed a bit.

Calhoun: Besides his unbelievable ability, he's the luckiest human I've ever met. We have this charity raffle that all the MLB guys participate in for a scholarship foundation. A few years ago the grand prize was a Rolex. It's probably thousands of tickets sold leaguewide. Guess whose ticket wins? A Rolex. He's lucky, man. March 27, 2017 Page 16 of 16

The Legend Continues

Kris Bryant, Cubs Third Baseman, 2016 NL MVP: If you had no clue about baseball and were just talking to him, you'd be like, This guy is a cool guy. Just a normal human being who happens to be able to do amazing things on the field.

Tim Mead, Angels V.P. Of Communications: There was a family in New Jersey that had a fire in their house at Christmastime in 2015. Lost their tree, presents, everything. Mike heard about it. On his own he picked up gifts for them—they were strangers—and dropped by the house. He low-keyed all of it. If the family had not said anything to anybody about it, it would have gone unnoticed. That's Mike.

Richards: This is going to be our eighth year living together during the season, going back to A ball. Being able to watch him this whole time, I feel like he doesn't get enough credit, because he's on the West Coast. They don't see what he does on a nightly basis.

Cron: He signs autographs for kids every day, probably hundreds of them. Always. Before the game, after the game, wherever the kids are gathered. You just don't see superstars doing that.

Richards: He doesn't like the spotlight off the field. He likes to sit in a deer stand. He likes to hang out with friends. I got married this off-season, and he's engaged. The four of us all live together. The girls are best friends. Mike's impatient when it comes to cooking. He wants stuff to be done fast. Barbecuing, he turns everything up to high heat and watches it until it's done. You can't do that.

Daniels: He's the best in the game—that any of us have ever seen, really. I look forward to when he's a free agent and signs with an East Coast team.

Jim Leyland, MLB Manager, 1986–2013: I'm not a guy who likes to compare one player to another. I'm not going to compare Mike to anybody else. But I will say this: People will try to compare other players to Mike Trout for a long time.