Fantasy Baseball 2012: The Great American Breakout of 20-Year-Old Mike Trout

I may have undersold Mike Trout's fantasy ceiling last month when predicting the 20-year-old wunderkind would belt 20 homers and steal 20 bases this season—before earning a big-league promotion on April 27.

With a conservative estimate of 119 games played, Trout (five homers, 16 RBI, 21 runs, eight steals, .303 batting through 30 games) is currently on pace for 21 homers and 33 steals. That would put him among the top-15 outfielders by season's end; more importantly, it would likely entail a top-25 overall ranking heading into next year's roto drafts.

We have witnessed plenty of sophomore slumps in recent years; but given Trout's 40-game run with the Angels last season (keeping his "rookie" standing for 2012 intact), this is, in effect, his second go-round in the bigs.

And as the stats dictate, Trout (six steals, .323 batting since May 15) has had few difficulties adjusting to major-league pitching. He has also played a major role in L.A.'s recent surge (seven straight victories), complementing the statistical prowess of Albert Pujols, Mark Trumbo, Kendrys Morales, Jordan Walden, Jered Weaver, Jerome Williams and C.J. Wilson for the month of May.

Bottom line: Trout may not be a fantasy superstar just yet, but he's certainly not a sell-high commodity, either.

If you own Trout, just sit back and enjoy the lightning-fast adjustments to the majors. And if you're tracking him on the trade market...be prepared to pay through the nose for baseball's purest five-category prospect since Ryan Braun, circa 2007.

Jay Clemons can be reached on Twitter, day or night, at @ATL_JayClemons.