Mike Trout home run daily: 20-20 vision

Today’s Mike Trout home run is one of his many (well, eight in all) long balls against Felix Hernandez of the Mariners. Though King Felix was able to get the last laugh in this one.

On August 15, 2016 the Angels hosted the Mariners on a Monday night in Anaheim, with Ricky Nolasco pitching for the Mariners.

Trout has eight career home runs against Hernandez in his career, his most against any pitcher, and he’s faced Hernandez 99 times, 38 more plate appearances than against any other pitcher.

In the first inning, Trout walked, and did the same thing in the third inning, only this time he stole second base. That gave Trout 20 steals on the season and his third 20-20 season, along with 2012-13. He also did the same in 2017-18, giving him five such years, tied with Ian Desmond for the most 20-20 seasons in MLB during that time.

In the 59-year franchise history of the Angels, there have been only seven other 20-20 seasons. Don Baylor, with three, is the only other player with more than one year.

Trout already had 22 home runs when he stole his 20th base, but two innings later added another homer, a shot over the hedges in center field:

It was Trout’s 162nd career home run, and cut the Angels deficit to 3-2. But Hernandez pitched into the seventh and didn’t allow another run, helping Seattle hold on for the one-run victory.