Mike Trout hits home runs and . There are few if any limitations to what he can do Mark Melancon Jersey on a baseball diamond.

But his stature as the games best player and Sporting News MLB Athlete of the Decade does not come from individual instances in which he amazes spectators. His greatne s instead arrives in a steady flow, always there.

I wouldnt say theres just one (standout) moment, Angels left-hander Andrew Heaney told Sporting News. But thats what makes him great. He doesnt have moments. He just does it every single day.

SNs ATHLETES OF THE DECADE | | | | | | | | | |

Over the past eight seasons, Trout has hit above .300 five times, finished with an on-base percentage of at least .430 five times and launched at least 35 home runs on four occasions. He haswon three MVPs and made an All-Star team in every full seasonof his career.

At 28, he has already established himself as his franchise's all-time greatest player,thoughthe Angels have not yet built a deservingcontender around him Bobby Cox Jersey .

Troutis the subject of immense appreciation and respect from those in the Angels clubhouse, including first basemanAlbert Pujols, who was perhaps MLB'sbest performer of the previous decade.

Im just thrilled to be able to play and wear the same uniform with him, Pujols told SN. Knowing that hes going topretty much do every night something special. Im just ble sed to have the opportunity.

Because Trout enjoys privacy and does not desire a public presence when he's notplaying, he's viewed by many as a quiet superstar. In fact, his introverted outlook at times has led to criticism .

Within his own ranks, though, theperspective is entirelypositive.

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Shortstop Andrelton Simmons became visibly Eddie Mathews Jersey frustrated thinkingabout any outsiders who might needle at Trouts personality. Simmons (and Heaney) brought up Trout's pa sion for the NFL's PhiladelphiaEagles, and how he uses his love for football as a way to rib teammates and get to know them better. They also mentioned the outfielder's vocal affinity for huntingand said they have appreciated the lack of arrogance in his day-to-day interactions among teammates.

The people that know him, they know who he is, Simmons told SN. They know how funny he can be, how despite how great of a player he is, how approachable he is to everybody."

It's a testament to Trout's productionthat he has become baseball's golden standarddespite reaching the postseason only once and preferring to remain relatively anonymous. He owned adecade of baseball on his own terms.

Not close to the conclusion ofhis career, his accomplishments are historic.

"If he literally stopped playing baseball tomorrow he Fred McGriff Jersey would still be a Hall of Famer," Heaney said. Youre just kind of in awe.

Bythenumbers

Mike Trout MLB ranks since 2010:

BAOPSHRAB/HRSBwRC+fWAR.305 (5th)1.000 (1st)285 (5th)15 (15th)200 (15th)172 (1st)73.4 (1st)

The difference in wins above replacement this decade between Trout and MLBs next-highest position player finisher, Buster Posey, is 20.1 WAR, equivalent to the entire career of two-time All-Star Marcell Ozuna.

What they're saying:

"He knows that hes the best player in the game, but I think the most (impre sive) Deion Sanders Jersey thing about Trout is that he wants to get better every year and doesnt take anything for granted."Angels first baseman Albert Pujols

People see the highlights, see the home runs, but they sometimes dont see the little things he does every day. How fast he is, how he covers ground in the outfield and the way he plays defense, the good at-bats he has and the walks he takes. Everything that Mike does, its incredible. Ive never seen a guy with (that) depth of talent.

The nextdecadebelongsto: Mike Trout

The greatest players of all time in every major U.S. sport produced much of their best work after turning 28. Tom Brady has won three Super Bowls, earned three MVPs and Atlanta Braves Jersey thrown 412 touchdown pa ses since reaching that age. Michael Jordan won four NBA championships and earned two MVPs over that span (and LeBron James has ama sed similar achievements). Wayne Gretsky registered 1,020 points. Barry Bonds hit 540 home runs. Hank Aaron hit 457.

Trout, then, is well-positioned to remain atop baseball for most of the 2020s and potentially make his case as the topplayer ever. He excels in every aspect of the game, and while some skills may erode with age, the totality of his talentsshould make it difficult for anyone to eclipse him.