Angels News: Mike Trout Didn’t Make the USA Baseball Team in High School, Seriously

One of baseball's greatest players didn't even catch the eye of Team USA back in the early 2000's.

Despite hitting .531 with 18 homers in 81 at-bats in his senior year of high school, surprisingly enough, Mike Trout wasn't selected to play for Team USA.

He shares the story and what it means to him to be able to represent his country in the World Baseball Classic this spring:

“In high school, I didn’t make the team, believe it or not," Trout said. "That kind of left a little salty taste in my mouth. But I’m getting another opportunity here, and I’m very humbled for the opportunity.”

"I'm extremely excited and very humbled to wear that USA across my chest."

Team USA captain @MikeTrout spoke about getting to represent his country after missing out in 2017 (and the big game on Sunday!)@Angels | @USABaseball | #WorldBaseballClassic pic.twitter.com/IWr3YNgNmq

— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) February 9, 2023

The three-time AL MVP is recognized as one of baseball's best players to this day, but it didn't seem to come as too much of a shock to those who knew him prior to his major league debut.

Before he became the All-Star outfielder he is now, he split his time as a pitcher and shortstop in high school. He even threw an 18-strikeout no-hitter to set a New Jersey high school record. 

Later that year, he was named to the All-American high school team but was left off the Team USA roster.

Along with his impressive batting average, he also holds the record in nearly every category at his high school in New Jersey which led him to get drafted straight out of high school in 2009.

In the first televised MLB Draft, Trout was selected by the Los Angeles Angels as the 29th pick right behind his teammate, Randal Grichuck who was also named an All-American that year.

That year, Trout emerged as the No. 1 Baseball Prospect and made his major league debut in 2011 as a 23-year-old. He's already one of baseball's greatest players of all-time, and is bound to land his name in the Hall of Fame one day.

And despite not getting the chance to represent Team USA in high school or in the previous World Baseball Classic back in 2017, Trout will captain the 2023 team before heading into his 13th season in the major leagues.