Mike Trout has played for the Los Angeles Angels on the west coast for his entire career. But Trout recently revealed his favorite player and team growing up both stemmed from the east coast. 

“I was a Derek Jeter fan,” Trout stated in response to being asked who his favorite players were growing up. “When I grew up I was a Phillies fan, so I watched Scott Rolen, Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins, Doug Glanville in center field. Those are the guys I watched. But I was a Jeter fan growing up.”

 

Trout, who is from New Jersey, unsurprisingly grew up as a Phillies fan. He is also a die hard Philadelphia Eagles fan and is not shy about discussing it.

His admiration for Derek Jeter is also not all that shocking given the fact that Jeter was the face of baseball in the 2000’s. Almost every MLB fan during that time period liked Jeter. Even Red Sox fans respected “The Captain.”

Trout's east coast roots made many believe that he would sign with the Phillies in free agency a few years ago. There were even stories about Trout planning to join Bryce Harper in Philadelphia. But the Angels’ superstar instead inked a massive 12-year, $426,500,000 million dollar extension to stay in Anaheim. His loyalty ultimately outweighed his childhood fandom. 

Mike Trout and the Angels are aiming to make the postseason this year for the first time since 2014. Trout has posted MVP caliber numbers through the first month and change of the 2022 campaign as well.