Trout Advice for Texas Rangers Prospect Following Rough Outing for Canada

Texas Rangers pitching prospect Mitch Bratt couldn't get out of the first inning against Team USA's star-studded lineup Monday night.

Team USA superstar Mike Trout had some reassuring words for Team Canada starter Mitch Bratt after the Texas Rangers prospect was pummeled Monday night in the World Baseball Classic.

The Americans won 12-1, with nine runs coming in the first inning. Bratt, making his first start in the WBC, gave up six earned and recorded just one out before being pulled.

“Everybody in this game is going to go through a rough stretch,” said Trout, one of three former MVPs that Bratt faced. “It’s how you come out of it. You’ve got to have that mentality to come out of it.

“I think I look back and when I first came up, I struggled, but I learned from it. And … it’s a tough task for a young kid. I think he’s, what, 19 years old? He’s going to go out there against our lineup.”

Team USA came into the game with something to prove after losing to Mexico 11-5 on Sunday. Bratt, who has never pitched above Low Class-A ball in the Rangers system, took the brunt of that American fury.

“Faced a tough lineup, but he competed,” Team USA second baseman Tim Anderson said. “And we competed as well. And we just had the upper hand on him.”

Bratt walked Anderson, a two-time All-Star, along with former MVPs Trout and Paul Goldschmidt. The 2021 fifth-round pick also gave up hits to former MVP Mookie Betts, seven-time All-Star Nolan Arenado and three-time All-Star J.T. Realmuto.

Bratt was visibly emotional when replaced by Canadian manager Ernie Whitt. Team Canada first baseman Freddie Freeman tried to console Bratt.

An emotional Mitch Bratt gets pulled from the game pic.twitter.com/F4wjXik7nJ

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) March 14, 2023

Team USA manager Mark DeRosa couldn’t imagine being 19 and facing his lineup.

“No, I can’t. I can’t, honestly,” said DeRosa, who played for the Rangers from 2005-06. “It’s a big ask. I’m just glad the guys settled down. He was a little erratic in the first inning.”

Whitt did shoulder the blame for putting Bratt in a nearly impossible spot.

“I put him in a tough situation,” Whitt said. “So I’ll take the heat for that. But he’s going to be fine. He’ll be fine.

“His attitude was if I get him out, it’s a bonus. If I don’t, well, that’s an All-Star team over there. And he knows that he’s got work to do.”

Trout, who’s experienced his share of personal highs with the Los Angeles Angels, pointed out that Bratt’s outing, however rocky, is part of the learning curve for a young player.

“Like I said, just try to get through it,” Trout said. “Learn from it. And next time he gets in a situation like that, try to be better.”

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