For Trout, thank you? :)
OK, I'm cheating, I know.
Just a reminder about lifetime OPS+ numbers: Kaline 134, Killebrew 143, Frank Robinson 154, Henry Aaron 155, Joe Dimaggio 155, Frank "The Big Hurt" Thomas 156, Willie Mays 156, Stan Musial 159, Micky Mantle 172, Mike Trout 172, Ted Williams 190.
Purposely leaving Barry Bonds off that list, mind you.
Gehrig was 179. Ruth 202. Back in the Jurassic.
Since the end of WWII, Trout ranks among the very greatest hitters of the era. That makes him one of the greatest hitters in the history of the game. As good as Nelson Cruz has been over the past three seasons ('17 included), Trout has been 15-25% better. And he's been a + defender in CF.
Starting in '54, the year Mays returned from the army (age 23), he ran OPS+'s of 175, 174, 146, 173, 165 & 156, over the next 6 years.
Starting in '12, his first fulltime year (age 21), Trout has gone 168, 179, 168, 176, 173, 233.
Mantle, the Boy Wonder, had numbers of 162, 144, 158, 180, 210, 221 for his first 6 full seasons.
I am really glad I get to experience the baseball glory of Mike Trout.
And Bryce Harper is pretty good, too. Sort of Trout-ish, in fact. Sort of. In his good seasons.
Getting back to the original question (sorry for the hijack, Doc), the M's are indeed loaded with positional youth. I am loving it.
We're dirt poor in rotational health, however.
Moore, anyone?