"Even the foul balls, Mike Trout runs" - When Albert Pujols showed his admiration for then-Angels teammate
Mike Trout has cemented himself as one of the best players in MLB history, although his lack of playoff experience and success have held him back in the greatest of all-time rankings. That being said, there is no denying the outfielder's unbelievable talent when he is on the field and healthy.
Despite this perhaps holding him back in the eyes of some fans and analysts, when it comes to those who have played with or against Mike Trout, they often speak of his greatness. One such time came back in 2019 when Albert Pujols appeared on an episode of "In Depth" with Graham Bensinger.
During the interview, Pujols spoke about his experience playing alongside Trout and the greatness and passion he brings to every game. Above all else, Pujols also spoke about Trout's desire to continually improve, even after winning multiple MVP Awards.
"Best player in the game. It's just amazing. Young kid who wants to get better, which is scary. Really humble, great teammate, comes from a great family, and has the same heart that I have. And just wants to win... It's pretty special. I am thankful and blessed to wear the same uniform that Mike Trout is wearing [0:08]," Pujols said.
A St. Louis Cardinals legend, Albert Pujols made the high-profile, big-money move to the Los Angeles Angels in 2012, the same year that Trout became a full-time player with the club. Even though Pujols was one of Trout's mentors, he is proud of the player that the outfielder became.
"He's just a fun person. Just a great, great kid and I enjoy it. He's really smiling every day. He plays the game the right way, even the foul balls he runs... I'm thankful, I will tell my grand kids when he's in the Hall of Fame, I played with that kid [1:41]," Pujols continued.
Mike Trout's future with the Los Angeles Angels has become a topic of discussion over the past few seasons
Even though Trout has the resume to find himself inducted into the Hall of Fame, now that he is 33 years old and the Los Angeles Angels are far from contending, some believe that he needs to leave. At this rate, and given his struggles with his health, there is a chance that Mike Trout's only way to return to the postseason is to move to another club.
One of the teams most heavily linked to Mike Trout has been the Philadelphia Phillies. Given his fandom of Philadelphia sports teams, as well as the Phillies championship window being open makes it an intriguing fit. Could this be the year that Trout finally wears a different uniform, or will he remain loyal to the only team he has played for?