ST. LOUIS – Mike Trout, widely regarded as one of the greatest ballplayers of his generation, has rave reviews of St. Louis, especially for the city’s baseball culture and the long-lasting impact of Albert Pujols.
This week marks only Trout’s third visit to Busch Stadium over his illustrious 15-year career, a run that includes 11 All-Star selections, nine Silver Slugger awards, and three MVP honors, all with the Los Angeles Angels.
His first visit came in 2019, when the Cardinals welcomed back franchise legend and then-Trout teammate Albert Pujols for the first time since his emotional departure from St. Louis. Trout called that series “one of the cooler moments” of his career. He also referred to St. Louis as “Albert’s city” and says he circles St. Louis on his calendar every time the Angels are scheduled to visit.
With East Coast roots in Philadelphia and West Coast stardom in Los Angeles, the 33-year-old Trout holds a deep appreciation for passionate baseball cities across the country. And believe it or not, St. Louis is one that truly stands out to Trout, largely due to its rich baseball tradition and fan support.
In a one-on-one interview with FOX 2’s Joey Schneider and Kevin Ryans on Tuesday, Trout shared his admiration for St. Louis baseball, reflected on the influence of Albert Pujols, and offered his thoughts on the state of Major League Baseball.
FULL INTERVIEW
Watch FOX 2’s full interview with Mike Trout via YouTube.
Q&A
Question: What’s the experience like for you when you get to come to Busch Stadium?
Trout: “I love coming here. I love playing here. Obviously when Albert [Pujols] was here, he talked up so much about it. To be able to play here and experience it, the fans are unbelievable. They know baseball. They appreciate guys playing hard, and it’s good to see.”
Question: Since you don’t get to come to Busch Stadium very often, when you do, what do you feel about the atmosphere?
Trout: “When I saw the schedule come out and saw that St. Louis was on the schedule, I circled it. I always love coming here. The day that I came here with Albert last time it was awesome, the experience. Like I said, the fans, the fans are unbelievable. They enjoy a baseball game, and they appreciate you playing hard and playing hard. You feel that, you see it, and like I said, every time it’s on the schedule, I’m circling it, because I love coming back here.”
Question: What did you learn from your time as teammates with Albert Pujols? And what kind of impact did he have on you?
Trout: “He had a huge impact. My career wouldn’t be like this, how it is now, without having a mentor like him coming up. Get to know him a little bit, ask questions, he had all the answers. He experienced everything. It was fun playing with him, especially to come back and see the impact he had in St. Louis when he came back here. I still talk to him today. He’s great.”
Question: The bond between a baseball fanbase and a franchise player, when you saw Albert come to St. Louis in 2019 and get the curtain call, how special of a moment was that for you to take in?
Trout: “What he meant to this city, this organization, you felt it. As soon as you stepped out in the dugout, you felt it. Actually, as soon as you got off the plane. You can just tell this is Albert’s city. It was pretty cool to see. One of the cooler moments of my career to be able to experience that. And obviously it meant a lot to Albert as well, just to see the fans and the appreciation they have for him; it was awesome.”
Question: After a few years of navigating injuries, is there anything different about your mindset or approach for this year?
Trout: “Nothing’s changed. It’s just trying to get my body ready for the game. I feel fine. I feel great. Just try to maintain it throughout the whole season.”
Question: What continuously drives you to play ball at a high level? And how do you challenge yourself to keep evolving as a player?
Trout: “I enjoy this game. I love competing. I have fun doing it. Being with the guys, it’s like a second family to me. Seeing everybody compete, seeing everybody play together, it’s what it’s all about.”
Question: How do you feel about the state of Major League Baseball right now?
Trout: “Well, I guess the talk of baseball right now is about using the torpedo bats. But, personally, I haven’t seen them yet. I guess they’re coming here. You know, obviously, [I think] baseball is in a good spot, and it’s been exciting these first couple of weeks.”
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)
