Mike Trout sets Angels record with his 300th home run

Mike Trout is the first player ever to hit 300 home runs with the Angels. He became the all-time franchise leader in home runs on Saturday in the third inning of the first game of a doubleheader against the Astros.

It was a 1-2 pitch from Houston starter Brandon Bielak that Trout hit over the right field wall for the milestone home run.

Trout passed longtime Angels outfielder Tim Salmon, one day after tying him with his 299th career home run in Friday’s series opener. In addition to Salmon being a part of the Angels broadcast team, the two are also linked by current Angels manager Joe Maddon.

“I’m very happy to have been affiliated with both these guys. It’s pretty cool, right?,” Maddon said on a conference call Friday. “I was in the living room when Timmy signed. I was one of the signing scouts. Now I get to work with Trout, so I’m a pretty lucky guy.”

“At least I can pass the torch onto somebody in the family, another fish,” Salmon joked on the Fox Sports West broadcast.

Trout’s feat becomes even more impressive considering he hasn’t yet turned 30. He’s the 151st player in major league history to hit 300 home runs, and Trout is the 11th fastest by age, at 29 years, 29 days old on Saturday.

Saturday was Trout’s 1,235th career game. He’s the 18th-fastest to reach 300 homers by games.

Though Trout is the first to hit 300 home runs all with the Angels, he’s the third to hit his 300th home run while with the Halos. Lance Parrish was the first in 1991, and Justin Upton did so earlier this season.

Trout’s home run Saturday was also his 15th of the season, giving him sole possession of the major league lead. Trout has finished in the top four in the American League in home runs four times in his career, including second place last season. Maybe Trout can add another to his list of ever-growing baseball accomplishments.