Los Angeles Angels Superstar Mike Trout Hits 1st Home Run of MLB Opening Day 2024

One of baseball's biggest stars, Mike Trout, delivered the first home run on U.S. soil this season, giving the Los Angeles Angels an early lead over the Baltimore Orioles.

May 15, 2023; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout (27) warms up before playing the Baltimore Orioles. / Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Mere moments after Opening Day got underway, one of baseball's biggest stars delivered an early addition to the highlight reel.

Thursday's showdown between the Los Angeles Angels and Baltimore Orioles technically wasn't the first regular season action of 2024 – the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres played two games in Seoul, Korea, last week – but it was the first actual game in an MLB ballpark this year. And once the Halos and O's got things rolling at Camden Yards, it didn't take long for Mike Trout to leave his mark on the contest.

The three-time AL MVP and 11-time All-Star was due up third in the top of the first. After two of his teammates struck out swinging, Trout worked his way to a 1-1 count against former NL Cy Young winner Corbin Burnes.

Then, Trout unleashed a missile to left-center.

With an exit velocity of 102.5 miles per hour and a launch angle of 37 degrees, Trout sent the ball flying 402 feet, just clearing the fence in the process.

The first #OpeningDay homer belongs to @MikeTrout 💪 pic.twitter.com/vcod7DKCrc

— MLB (@MLB) March 28, 2024

As noted by MLB.com's Sarah Langs, Trout now has four Opening Day home runs in his career, which moves him out of a tie with Joe Rudi and Tim Salmon for the most in Angels franchise history.

With two-time AL MVP Shohei Ohtani signing with the Dodgers in December, Trout is once again the lone face of the Angels. His hardware and career stats make him one of the most decorated active players in the game, and it doesn't seem like he's ready to slow down just yet.

Trout has missed over half of Los Angeles' games since 2021, knocking him off pace for many of the records he had been shooting for earlier in his career. Still just 32 years old, though, Trout made sure to make up for lost time with an explosive start to 2024.

The Angels' early lead was short-lived as the Orioles immediately answered with two runs in the bottom of the first. Baltimore currently leads 5-1 through two innings.

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