This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The talent that Mike Trout brought to the Salt Lake Bees for a month this spring easily translated to the big league level.
In a historic first season, the 21-year-old rookie with the Los Angeles Angels finished the season ranked among the top five among American League hitters in batting average, .326 (second); runs scored, 129 (first); stolen bases, 49 (first); slugging percentage, .564 (third); and on-base percentage, .399 (third).
Baseball America selected Trout as its 2012 Player of the Year as well as its Rookie of the Year , the first player to win both awards in the same season, and the first Angel to win either award.
Trout was the first player in Major League history to steal 45 bases, score 125 runs and hit 30 home runs in a single season. Additionally, he is the only player to hit .320 or above with 30 homers and 45 steals in a single season.
He was also the first rookie ever to record 30 home runs and 40 stolen bases in a single season.
The New Jersey native was named the A.L. Rookie of the Month in May, June, July and August, the first player to claim the award in four consecutive months.
Trout becomes just the third outfielder to win Player of the Year honors, joining Barry Bonds (2001, 2003, 2004) and Matt Kemp (2011). He is the fourth outfielder capture the Rookie of the Year, joining Raul Mondesi (1994), Carlos Beltran (1999) and Andrew McCutchen (2009).
The only other player to have captured both awards is Albert Pujols, who was named Baseball America's Rookie of the Year in 2001 and Player of the Year in 2005.