Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim outfielder Mike Trout has been voted American League Rookie of the Month for June. This marks the second consecutive monthly rookie honor for Trout, who also received the May honors. Trout becomes the first Angels rookie to win in consecutive months and the first A.L. rookie to accomplish the feat since Detroit Tigers outfielder Brennan Boesch in 2010 (May and June).
Trout batted .372 (42-for-113) with seven doubles, one triple, three home runs, 16 RBI, 27 runs scored and 14 stolen bases in 26 games. Among Major League players with a minimum of 81 plate appearances, the Vineland, New Jersey native finished first in hits, runs scored and stolen bases, was second behind Cincinnati’s Joey Votto in batting average and was fourth in the A.L. in on-base percentage (.419). Among Major League rookies, the 20-year-old led the way in at-bats, runs, hits, batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage (.531), was tied for first in doubles, tied for second in RBI and was fifth in walks. In addition, Trout led all Major Leaguers with 30 hits, 21 runs and 15 stolen bases in Interleague play. In a three-game set with the Texas Rangers to begin the month, Trout recorded a trio multi-hit games, batting .462 (6-for-13) with a double, triple, four RBI and two runs scored to help the Angels take two-of-three from the A.L. West-leading Rangers. On June 4th, the Angels’ first round pick in the 2009 First-Year Player Draft (25th overall) collected a career-high four hits, including a double, two RBI and a run scored, but the Angels dropped an 8-6 decision to the Seattle Mariners at Angel Stadium. In his first trip to Coors Field from June 8th-10th, the speedy Trout went a combined 8-for-14 (.571) in the series, including a pair of three-hit games, with eight runs scored to lead the Angels to a sweep of Colorado. In his first 10 games of June, the right-handed-hitting Trout hit a blistering .500 (21-for-42) with three doubles, one triple, one homer, 10 RBI and 14 runs scored, and was 7-for-8 in stolen bases to help the Halos to a 7-3 mark over the span. On June 19th against the San Francisco Giants, Trout again collected four hits, which included two doubles and four runs scored, as part of a 14-hit Angels attack as they defeated the Giants, 12-5, in Anaheim. Trout became the first Angels rookie since David Eckstein in 2001 to tally a pair of four-hit games in a season. On June 27th, Trout dazzled both on offense and defense as the Angels downed the Orioles, 13-1, in Baltimore. Trout went 4-for-6 with three runs scored on the night, and robbed J.J. Hardy of a first-inning home run with a leaping catch over the center field wall. Trout, who became the seventh-youngest position player in A.L. history to earn a spot in the Midsummer Classic on July 10th in Kansas City, currently leads the league in batting average (.339) and stolen bases (22) and is fourth in on-base percentage (.395).
Others receiving votes included Boston’s Will Middlebrooks (.288, 4 HR, 16 RBI, 12 R); Oakland’s Yoenis Cespedes (.343, 4 HR, 14 RBI) and Jarrod Parker (3-1, 2.18 ERA, 32 SO); and Robbie Ross (1-0, 0.00 ERA in 10 appearances) of the Rangers. In recognition of his American League Rookie of the Month Award, Mike Trout will receive a specially designed trophy, suitably engraved, for his accomplishment.