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Mike Trout Voted Angels’ Face of the Franchise

By Brian Helberg

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MLB Network is currently in the midst of conducting 30 separate polls to determine each team’s “Face of the Franchise”. Starting on January 15, 2015, MLB Network will replicate the NCAA Basketball Tournament by pitting players against one another until a champion is crowned. The winner will be branded the “Face of Major League Baseball” for the entire 2015 season.

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The voting is run through social media. One can cast their vote via Twitter or Facebook using specified hashtags that correlate directly to individual players. Every time someone tweets the hashtag, or uses it on Facebook, a vote is cast for that player. As with any poll, the candidate with the highest number of votes wins.

It was the Angels’ fans turn to vote earlier this week. While the Halos have many plausible options on their roster, the decision was an easy one. After the season Mike Trout had in 2014, fans had little choice but to anoint him as the club’s “Face of the Franchise.” On December 29th, MLB Network officially named Mike Trout the Angels’ “Face of the Franchise” for the third consecutive year.

Mike Trout took home his first American League Most Valuable Player Award in 2014. Trouty hit .287, with 36 home runs, 111 RBI’s and 16 stolen bases this past season with the Halos. Trout led the Angels to the postseason for the first time during his tenure in Anaheim. Trout’s 111 runs batted in and 115 runs scored both led the Major Leagues. Trout patrolled centerfield effectively for the Halos this season, making more than a few highlight reel grabs. Trout solidified his superstar status in 2014, and is well on his way to earning a plaque in Cooperstown one day.

The Angels are blessed to have a number of players who may have been voted the “Face of the Franchise” for other clubs. Albert Pujols comes to mind as a player deserving of being in the tournament. Pujols is one of the best first basemen in the history of the sport, and is coming off a very impressive season in Anaheim. Josh Hamilton struggled this past season, but he would have been in the conversation for the Rangers “Face of the Franchise” in previous years. Angels’ fans could have also made a case for Jered Weaver in the past.

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New York Mets third baseman David Wright took home the title last year after edging out Oakland A’s second baseman Eric Sogard. Logically, the competition’s results would be based on merit, but it can quickly turn into a popularity contest because of the social media involvement. Sogard is something of a cult icon to the bespectacled population, and the campaign launched by his supporters was epic. In the end, the passion of the team’s fan base determines the ultimate winner.

Mike Trout will face off against Adrian Beltre of the Texas Rangers in the first round of the competition. While it may not be a cakewalk to get past Beltre, Trouty should advance. However, the second round is shaping up to be quite a contentious battle. It appears the second round will have a distinctly Los Angeles feel to it, with Clayton Kershaw of the Dodgers likely to be Trout’s opponent.

Make sure you get the word out to vote for Mike Trout this January on Facebook and Twitter. It is up to the fans to give Trouty the title he deserves. Trout is the best player in baseball, and there is no reason why he should not be named the “Face of Major League Baseball.”

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Next: Where Should Mike Trout Bat in 2015?

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