Watch: Angels’ Mike Trout Celebrates 26th Birthday With 1,000th Career Hit

by Pablo MenaAugust 8, 2017, 3:07 pmDaily Digest, News, Z-Home Slider >

Mike Trout had quite the 26th birthday.

Mike Trout 1,000th Hit News

The Los Angeles Angels center fielder celebrated his big day on Monday by recording his 1,000th career hit in a 6-2 home loss to the Baltimore Orioles.

Trout — who made his major league debut in 2011 after the Angels selected him as a first-round draft pick in 2009 — lined a leadoff double off Orioles right-hander Dylan Bundy in the fourth inning to reach the milestone. The crowd of 34,142 at Angel Stadium gave Trout a standing ovation as he reached third base on Albert Pujol’s groundout and scored the game’s first run on a sacrifice fly from Kole Calhoun.

“It felt pretty good,” Trout said. “I just wanted to get it over with. A lot of people talking about it. But I got a pitch to hit and hit a double.”

Trout, a six-time All-Star, is only the fourth player in MLB history to record 1,000 hits, 500 runs and 500 walks in his age-26 season or younger, joining Hall of Famers Mel Ott, Jimmie Fox and Mickey Mantle.

Following the game, Trout’s teammates found quite a messy yet amusing way to congratulate him on his milestone: with baby powder, raw eggs and a whole bunch of liquids.

Among Trout’s other accomplishments thus far in his six-year pro career are winning the 2012 American League Rookie of the Year Award and the AL MVP Award in 2014 and 2016.

The Vineland, New Jersey native is enjoying a breakout year. Thus far this season, he is batting .346 with a 1.180 OPS, 23 home runs and 52 RBIs in 68 games.

“Every time Mike does something, you just shake your head,” manager Mike Scioscia said. “For us to experience a player of his magnitude, doing so many things at such a young age, it’s exciting. Hopefully we’ll get a chance to see it for a long time.”

In the top of the third inning on Monday, a group of fans in the right-center-field bleachers at Angel Stadium sang “Happy Birthday” to him as he surveilled center field and waved handmade signs with more well wishes.

Trout added his 23rd homer of the season in the sixth to tie the game at 2-2.

ANAHEIM, CA – AUGUST 07: Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim runs to second base after hitting a double during the fourth inning of a game against the Baltimore Orioles at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on August 7, 2017 in Anaheim, California. The hit marks his one thousandth hit of his career. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)