Mike Trout holds the All-Star Game MVP trophy. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Los Angeles Angels CF Mike Trout was named MVP of the 2014 MLB All-Star Game after going 2-for-3 with a triple and a double — both of which drove in runs for the American League.
Trout, 22, is the second-youngest player to be named the All-Star Game MVP. Ken Griffey Jr. was 106 days younger when he won the award in 1992. Trout, Griffey and Ted Williams are the only players to have multiple extra-base hits in an All-Star Game before turning 23.
Trout also is the second player in All-Star Game history with a double, a triple and two RBI in an All-Star Game. (The other was Cleveland Indians OF Earl Averill in 1934.)
Although Trout finished second to Detroit Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera for the AL MVP Award the past two seasons, this is not his first MVP award. He was named the Midwest League MVP and Prospect of the Year in 2010 after hitting .362 with 6 HR, 39 RBI and 45 SB in 81 games with the Cedar Rapids Kernels.
Cabrera — also a Midwest League alumnus — hit a 2-run homer in the first inning of the All-Star Game. He batted .268 with 7 HR and 66 RBI in 110 games with the 2001 Kane County Cougars.
Minnesota Twins LHP Glen Perkins pitched a perfect 9th inning in front of his hometown crowd to earn the save in the American League’s 5-3 win at Target Field. The Twin Cities native started nine games for the 2004 Quad City River Bandits, going 2-1 with a 1.30 ERA and 49 strikeouts in 48.1 IP.
Jones pays tribute to Gwynn
FOX Sports is taking a lot of heat for not mentioning the recent passing of 15-time All-Star Tony Gwynn during its broadcast of the Midsummer Classic — as it should, considering the absurd amount of airtime it spent on New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter, who is retiring after this season.
Gwynn was not forgotten by Baltimore Orioles CF Adam Jones. As seen in the photo below (tweeted by reporter Ken Rosenthal), Jones wrote “TG 19” on his cap to honor Gwynn, who wore No. 19 during his long career with the San Diego Padres.
Jones, a San Diego native, played for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers in 2004, hitting .267 with 11 HR and 72 RBI in 130 games.
Gwynn died June 16 after battling salivary gland cancer. He was 54.
