Mike Trout Could Join Rare Home Run Club with Power Surge in 2017

Los Angeles Angels superstar outfielder Mike Trout enters 2017 with an opportunity to join an elite home run club.

Trout has amassed 168 home runs through the first six seasons of his career at the top level, posting his best campaign of 41 long balls in 2015. Should he manage to hit another 32 over the fence prior to Aug. 7, he would become just the eighth player in MLB history to top 200 career homers before turning 26, per MLB.com.

Of the seven players to previously achieve the feat, Hall of Famer Mel Ott was the youngest at 24 years and 144 days in 1934. Trout has already surpassed Ott's age, but Ott started playing at the major league level when he was just 17 years old and had a November birthday that granted him nine full seasons before turning 26.

Following the retirement of Alex Rodriguez during the 2016 campaign, Albert Pujols is the only active player to reach the total. In fact, five of the seven on the list made accomplished the endeavor prior to 1961.

The AL MVP in 2014 and 2016, Trout possesses a rare blend of power and speed but has topped 32 bombs just twice in an MLB season, doing so in 2014 and 2015.

Trout remains under team control through the 2020 season, but it wouldn't be surprising if the Angels attempt to extend their star prior to the contract's expiration.