Let’s Go Prospecting: Trout Doesn’t Waste Time

Mike Trout didn’t have the best spring. He actually didn’t have much of a spring at all. Baseball’s top prospect (or at worst third best) lost playing time and weight dueling with the dreaded flu-like symptoms for much of the training season and then dealt with shoulder tendinitis. It was no surprise, disappointing perhaps, when the Angels sent Trout to Triple-A Salt Lake to begin his 2012 campaign.

Trout wasted no time showing he has nothing to prove in the minors. While continuing to deal with shoulder soreness, Trout served as the Bee’s DH and led off. He lined the fifth pitch he saw into center for a single. Trout singled again in the 3rd and 7th finishing 3-5 with two runs scored. He did strikeout once and get caught stealing. After the game, the 20-year-old spoke about his game like a true professional…

"“I feel great right now,” Trout said. “I’m going to DH for a little bit, though, until everything’s right. I threw [180 to 200 feet] for 10 minutes earlier today. After I’ve done that for a few days here, I’ll be able to head back out there.”snip“I kind of expected to be sent down after the spring I had,” he said. “Staying healthy is what I want to focus on now. Getting my arm strong, getting some good swings, getting into it more, all that stuff is what I’m hoping to do over here.”"

How long can Vernon Wells hold off that kid? Unrelated question, how many turkey sandwiches can Bobby Abreu eat in a two hour sitting? I hope to learn the answer to both this season.

–Garrett Richards gave up two runs on four hits over seven strong innings. He struck out seven without allowing a free pass. I’d suggest Jerome Williams should be watching his back but he’d probably tear a hamstring doing so.

-Third base prospect Luis Jiminez went 0-4. That’s right, FOUR strikeouts for the early golden sombrero. Ole!

–Austin Wood struck out 10 in five innings in his professional debut with Single-A Cedar Rapids.

-Another, better, third base prospect, Kaleb Cowart, went 4-5 with a double and a triple for Cedar Rapids.