Trout is Nike’s main MLB endorser, but in general does not take part in many promotional campaginsGETTY IMAGES
It might be a while before an MLB player can “become a crossover star” if Angels CF Mike Trout cannot do it, according to ESPN’s Bomani Jones. No MLB players were on ESPN’s recent World Fame 100, and while Trout is “really, really good,” Jones said, “You can put Mike Trout and two other people on ‘To Tell The Truth’ and all I could do is guess which one was the best baseball player of his generation.” ESPN’s Pablo Torre noted Trout “plays a cool position” and does “fun baseball stuff.” But Torre said, “If he walks in here right now and he’s wearing a Mike Trout jersey, you know what I’m going to say? ‘Wow, I’ve never seen anybody wearing a Mike Trout jersey before.’” Torre said MLB needs to “figure out something” for Trout to promote or endorse on a national level because he is “too good to waste like this” (“High Noon,” ESPN, 6/19). ESPN’s Rick Sutcliffe said Trout has succeeded Ken Griffey Jr. as Nike’s main MLB endorser, but he added Trout “doesn’t promote a whole lot of things.” Sutcliffe: “He spends all of his time hunting or watching the Philadelphia Eagles or playing baseball” (“D-backs-Angels,” ESPN, 6/19). Trout in April '17 was named the most marketable player in MLB according to a survey conducted by THE DAILY. He currently endorses Nike, BodyArmor, Topps and J&J Snack Foods, among others (THE DAILY).
STAYING OUT OF THE SPOTLIGHT: CBS Sports Network’s Adam Schein noted Trout said he has “no interest” in participating in MLB’s Home Run Derby. He asked, “Wouldn’t it be nice if baseball had the ability to market Mike Trout the way the NBA markets LeBron or what the NFL does with Tom Brady or Aaron Rodgers?” ("Time to Schein,” CBSSN, 6/19). Schein added Trout "should have the popularity" of NBA and NFL stars but "baseball has failed" him ("Time to Schein,” CBSSN, 6/20). The L.A. Times' Bill Plaschke said MLB "does a terrible, terrible job marketing these teams and marketing players." If Trout "were in the NBA, he'd be a superstar." ESPN's Clinton Yates said it "would be unfortunate" if Trout's career is "wasted because he played in a second city in a big market." But Trout is "not the only" great baseball player. Yates: "I'm tired of them using the excuse that their best players are boring as a reason why they aren't more popular regionally and nationally" ("Around The Horn," ESPN, 6/20).
BAD TIMING? ESPN's Tony Kornheiser said a big problem for Trout is that the Angels play "in the western time zone, so three quarters of the country, the population doesn't get to see him on a regular basis." ESPN's Keith Olbermann said, "He's not getting enough exposure. People will not appreciate him. They say, 'He's not colorful enough.' No. He's not on TV in October, which is what made Mantle and what made Jeter in an entirely different era" ("PTI," ESPN, 6/20).
ANOTHER LOST OPPORTUNITY: In N.Y., Ken Davidoff notes Yankees 2B Gleyber Torres also will "pass on competing in the Home Run Derby next month," which "goes down as a loss for baseball." While there had been "no known contact between MLB and Torres about his Derby participation, the baseball folks surely would have been intrigued had Torres expressed interest." The event should "not feature the season’s top eight homer leaders." It "should prioritize entertainment -- and entertaining narratives -- over ensuring statistical fairness." That is why MLB "absolutely should invite" Ichiro Suzuki "to be an entry," as Mariners Manager Scott Servais contended to MLB Network Radio yesterday (N.Y. POST, 6/21).
