1. Mike Trout – LAA
.318/.419/.573-38-12-40-7, wRC+ 167, 2.9 WAR
Mike Trout continues to produce, despite playing for a bad Angels team with a lack of talent surrounding him. While Albert Pujols is hitting .230, Trout has picked up the slack and leads his team in virtually all hitting categories.
From an AL standpoint, he’s in the top 15 in nearly almost every major statistical category, and he’s stealing more bases in 2016 as well. With seven right now and having been caught stealing only once, he’s well on his way to besting 2015’s output of 11.
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Trout’s day-in-day-out consistency feels like it’s starting to be taken for granted somewhat by baseball fans. If Los Angeles were ever to think about trading him to replenish their farm system, they could easily get a king’s ransom.
We aren’t just witnessing the development of a great baseball player by following Trout’s career — MLB fans are privileged to be watching what could very well be the greatest player of all-time — one that hasn’t even celebrated his 25th birthday yet.
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For any player since 1920 in their aged 20 through 24 seasons, Trout’s career WAR outpaces all who came before him. Mickey Mantle comes in second. The thing is, Trout still has four months to go in his age 24 season.