Angels: How much better is Mike Trout than the rest of his draft class?

Trout famously fell to the Los Angeles Angels with the 25th overall pick of the 2009 MLB Draft, but what has become of the other players in that draft?

Consolation prizes are not necessarily what any team looks to take home when it sets out on any endeavor, especially in the world of sports. However, one such award may have been the biggest prize of them all. That being the Angels drafting of Mike Trout.

In July 2008, the Angels made a midseason splash, landing Mark Teixeira to bolster their playoff chances. After he hit .358/.449/.632 with 13 home runs and 43 RBI down the stretch, the team was hoping to re-sign the slugger heading into the 2008-09 offseason. However, the Angels ended up retracting their offer when Teixeira made it known he preferred to play on the East Coast and eventually signed an 8-year, $180 million with the New York Yankees.

At the time Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times said of Teixeira, “he will be virtually impossible to replace next season.” He would be wrong about that, in the near-term, as Kendrys Morales turned in a career season in 2009. In regards to the long-term, that’s where the aforementioned consolation prize comes in.

Back in 2008, it didn’t matter if a player was a rental player or not. If he signed with another organization, the team that lost him would be awarded a compensation pick, with the quality of the pick being based on what bracket the free agent landed in.  After losing Teixeira to free agency and the Yankees, the Angels were awarded the 25th pick of the draft as compensation.

And who did they use that pick on? None other than Mike Trout.

Trout was part of a memorable draft class for the Angels, who made the Vineland, NJ outfielder their second selection of the draft. He was one of five picks for the team in the first round of the 2009 draft, including supplemental picks.

Needless to say, the Angels came out pretty good despite losing their ultimate target that winter. Trout has developed into the best player in baseball and is well on his way toward a Hall of Fame career.

However, with Mike Trout falling to the 25th overall pick, one has to wonder about the rest of the 2009 draft class. How did the Angels’ other selections work out? What about the players drafted before Trout? And what of the ones that fell in later rounds?

Let’s take a look at how Mike Trout stacks up against the rest of the 2009 MLB Draft class.