Locals aren't surprised by Trout's rise to major league stardom

CEDAR RAPIDS - They still keep in touch with him. Mike Trout might be the hottest thing going in baseball right now, but he's not big leaguing anyone.

At least not his old housing parents here in Cedar Rapids.

"I just texted him today," said Robin Grawe, before last night's Cedar Rapids Kernels' 5-3 loss to Peoria at Memorial Stadium. "I'll talk to him about once every two weeks or so. When I see him make an awesome catch or something, I'll text him. He'll always text back, ‘Thanks, love you." Or "Thanks, miss you.'"

Don and Robin Grawe hit the jackpot, so to speak, when it came to housing Kernels players in 2010. They got pitcher Tyler Skaggs, who is one of the top minor-league prospects for the Arizona Diamondbacks.

And they got a then 18-year-old first-round draft pick outfielder from Millville, N.J., with a big smile and even bigger game.

Less than a year after playing for the Kernels, Trout was in the major leagues. Less than two years later, he's the talk of the baseball world, a major league all-star and in the midseason conversation for American League Most Valuable Player.

He went into Saturday leading the A.L. in hitting (.347), with 11 home runs, 39 RBIs and 26 stolen bases in just 62 games. It's been an incredible ascension, but one that doesn't completely surprise many Kernels fans.

"He's so fun to watch," said partial season-ticket holder John Moore, wearing a custom-made Trout Angels jersey at a recent game. "We'd bid on his jerseys when he was here, but those things would be up to $400 or $500 sometimes. Because people knew. People knew how good he was. He's not just a good player. He went from here to the Angels in 364 days. Less than a year by one day."

When Trout played for the Kernels, General Manager Jack Roeder - a huge Yankees fan - said Trout reminded him of Mickey Mantle. Roeder was asked again Saturday about that comparison.

"Yeah, he reminds me more of Mickey Mantle, huh?" Roeder laughed. "I just remember he played here at the very end of the 2009 season as a 17-year-old. (Housing director) Lanny Peterson and I picked him up at the airport and took him to Ruby Tuesday's to eat. I thought to myself, ‘He physically looks just like a young Mickey Mantle.' He had the same body type, the same hair style, the same smile. Then when I watched him play, the similarities ... his speed is unbelievable."

That speed is the cornerstone of Trout's game. His physical tools are off the charts, as is his maturity, which helped him reached the heights he has reached in such a short time.

"I think a lot of it is his parents (Jeff and Debbie)," said Angels minor-league field coordinator Gary DiSarcina, a longtime major league shortstop. "His dad is a school teacher who played up in Double-A for Minnesota. They're very humble people. If you talk to Mike, he's 20 years old, but if you're around him, he acts 26, 27, 28. I think that's his upbringing. There's no doubt in my mind. He wouldn't be where he's at right now without his parents."

The Grawes still talk to Jeff and Debbie Trout quite a bit, too. They've met them for spring training in Arizona the last two years.

"They're just genuine people," Don Grawe said.

As is their son.

"Mike is Mike," Robin Grawe said. "To us, Mike and Tyler are still just 18-year-old kids playing video games in the basement."

Yasiel Balaguert hit a three-run home run in the eighth inning to give Peoria (6-10 second half) the win. Eric Stamets had three hits, two doubles, for the Kernels (5-11 second half, 37-49 overall).

Frazier Hall flew out deep to left-center with two on to end the game.

The teams play again Sunday afternoon at 2:05. Former Detroit Tigers pitcher Denny McLain (the major's last 30-game winner) will make an appearance to promote a book he recently wrote about his life.

Here is the game boxscore: