Commentary: Mike Trout hit his 400th career home run. Here's an appreciation, not a lament

"In his first performance at Angel Stadium, his magic was on display: beating out an infield single, turning a routine single into a double on sheer hustle, forcing two errors with his speed on ground balls that could have been scored as hits. He was not selected the most valuable player of the game. Fifteen years later, does he remember who was? He thought about it for a second. Then his eyes lit up. "Hank Conger," Trout said."

"In 2012, when he and Trout each started the season at triple-A Salt Lake, Conger realized there were top prospects, and then there was Trout. Trout was 20. He played 20 games, batted .403, and the Angels summoned him to the major leagues for good. "He goes off, gets called up, misses almost a month," Conger said, "and still becomes the rookie of the year.""

"On Saturday night in the eighth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field, Trout hit his 400th home run, a milestone the oft-laconic Trout readily put into perspective. "Definitely one to sit on, just to look back and reflect how quick it's gone," he said last month. "It seems like yesterday I just got drafted. Now I have two kids, and I've been here 14 years.""

Mike Trout introduced himself at the 2010 Futures Game with hustle plays, beating an infield single, forcing two errors, and turning a routine hit into extra bases. He remembered Hank Conger as that game's MVP. Both were first-round Angels picks. Of the 29 position players, Trout remains the only one still playing. In 2012 in Triple-A Trout batted .403 in 20 games, earned a promotion, and became the unanimous American League Rookie of the Year. Trout has won three MVP awards, finished top five in MVP voting nine straight years, and hit his 400th home run; he is 34.

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