Millville High School centerfielder Mike Trout has signed a contract with the Los Angeles Angels and will be introduced to the media tomorrow in Anaheim before a game against the Baltimore Orioles.
Neither the Angels nor Trout, the 25th overall pick in the recent draft, released terms of the contract. But a source close to the situation said that Trout will receive a bonus of about $1.21 million.
The Angels, the source said, have agreed to pay for eight semesters of college courses for Trout, who signed with East Carolina University before turning pro.
As a high school senior, Trout was The Inquirer's South Jersey player of the year after hitting .531 with a South Jersey record 18 home runs and 45 RBIs. At 6-foot-1 and 205 pounds, Trout has a combination of power and speed that made him one of the top high school players in the country.
Trout has been assigned to the Angels' rookie league team in Tempe, Ariz. After spending yesterday and today in Tempe, he is to fly to Anaheim tomorrow for the news conference and to take batting practice with the Angels.
"He will play center field every day, and the team wants to move him up quickly, and they think he can be a big-leaguer soon," said Jeff Trout, Mike's father. "The Angels are a great organization, and we couldn't be happier."
Contact staff writer Marc Narducci at 854-779-3225 or mnarducci@phillynews.com.
