This story was excerpted from Rhett Bollinger’s Angels Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
ANAHEIM -- He’s Mike Trout. A generational superstar, a three-time American League MVP, 11-time All-Star, nine-time Silver Slugger winner and the 2012 AL Rookie of the Year. But at home, he’s just dad.
Trout, and his wife, Jessica, have two sons, Beckham, who turns five in July, and Jordy, who turns one later this month. And Trout, 33, said it’s changed his life for the better.
“It's the best,” Trout said. “It just puts its own perspective on everything. And it goes by quick. It seems like yesterday we had Beckham and now he’s turning five. So just trying to enjoy every moment of it and be present as much as I can when I'm home. Obviously being away on road trips is tough, but it's always good coming home from a road trip or coming home from the stadium and seeing them.”
Trout said being a dad has kept him grounded and humble but has also helped him as he’s dealt with setbacks such as injuries in recent years. Trout dealt with a right calf strain ’21, a back issue in ’22, a left hamate fracture in ’23, a torn meniscus in his left knee in ’24 and a bone bruise in his left knee this season.
“This game can drive you crazy sometimes,” Trout said. “But it doesn’t matter if you have a good road trip, bad road trip, or good game, bad game. You get home and you're wrestling on the bed or playing football or doing a puzzle. [Beckham] is into drawing and coloring now. There's nothing compared to that. And I think it's good for me too, as well, because it kind of brings me back to my younger days and things that I was interested in. It’s been fun.”
Trout said he’s patterned his fatherhood on his dad, Jeff, who was a Minor League infielder from 1983-86, but never reached the big leagues. Trout said his father was instrumental in helping him become a better baseball player, but even more importantly, a better person off the field. It’s clear by how down to earth Trout is and how he treats others that he was raised in a positive, loving environment in his native Millville, N.J.
“It meant a lot,” Trout said. “Growing up, I leaned on him for baseball questions. And I still do. We still talk every night, every day before the game. I think building that bond and that connection at a young age means a lot. They raised me the right way. I'm trying to do the same for my kids.”
Trout said he has a lot in common with his oldest son, who is already playing Little League baseball and loves watching the game. Trout said he can even quiz him on what jersey numbers his teammates wear.
“He knows so much about the game,” Trout said. “He's playing Tee-ball and coach pitch. And you can go up to him and ask him, and tell him a number on this team, and he knows their name. He's always watching it. He sits on the couch, eating sunflower seeds. He enjoys it. It's cool stuff to be a part of it. And when I go home and do all that stuff with them as a family, it just brings back a lot of memories.”
Trout also shares in interest in collecting baseball cards with Beckham, as the two love the thrill of opening up packs. They memorably picked one of Trout’s rookie cards last year and it’s something they bond over.
“He loves to collect,” Trout said. “He loves Angels players and the guys he sees on TV. It’s more team orientated. Like his Little League team is the Rockies so when we open up packs, he’ll be like, “Hey dad, give me that Rockies player.’ Or if like he’s playing the Reds or Marlins, he’ll want those players.”
Trout is also excited to be back on the field, as he returned from his bone bruise on May 30 after missing a month with the injury. He’s not quite ready to play right field, but he has fared well as the designated hitter, batting .333 with a homer, a double and seven RBIs in 12 games since his return.
“It feels good,” Trout said. “It feels a lot better just to be at DH and be in the lineup. We started mixing some [pregame outfield] activity, but just got a little sore on me. We’re just trying to be smart about keeping me in the lineup. Once we go through a couple days where I feel like it feels good and not achy after games, I’ll be back out there.”