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Trout saw Altuve’s potential back in Minors
- Updated: July 23, 2016
HOUSTON — Angels center fielder Mike Trout first played against Astros second baseman Jose Altuve in Double-A five years ago, when Altuve — still 5-foot-6, but probably a little less filled out — torched through the Texas League with a .361 batting average.
“They couldn’t get him out,” Trout said. “I knew he was going to be good.”
The two have since sparred as division rivals and have played together on four All-Star teams, growing a little closer each time.
Down the stretch they could go head-to-head for the American League’s Most Valuable Player Award.
Trout entered Friday’s series opener at Minute Maid Park leading Major League position players with a 5.9 Wins Above Replacement, per FanGraphs. Altuve ranked third, at 5.1, trailing only Trout and reigning AL MVP Josh Donaldson (5.8).
Trout and Altuve are each in the top five in the AL in batting average, on-base percentage and slugging.
Trout — who finished in the top two in AL MVP voting each of the last four years — has basically remained steady, batting .320/.425/.566 with 19 home runs and 17 stolen bases. Altuve, who hasn’t finished any higher than 10th in voting, is having a breakout year, batting .357/.427/.563 with an AL-leading 25 steals and 15 homers, which already equals his career high.
“He hits …
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