Mike Trout is widely considered to be one of the best players in Major League Baseball (MLB). He has achieved remarkable success in his career, and his statistics reflect his greatness. One of the most important stats for measuring a player’s value is Wins Above Replacement (WAR). In this article, we will look at what WAR is, how it is calculated, and how Mike Trout’s WAR compares to other great players in MLB history.
What is Wins Above Replacement?
Wins Above Replacement (WAR) is a statistic used to measure a player’s overall contribution to their team. It is calculated by comparing a player’s performance to that of a “replacement-level” player, which is a theoretical player of average ability. The WAR statistic is used to measure a player’s offensive, defensive, and base-running contributions all at once.
The WAR statistic is expressed in terms of “wins”, which means that a player with a high WAR is more valuable to their team than a player with a lower WAR. A player with a WAR of 0 is considered to be a “replacement level” player. A player with a WAR of 1 is considered to be one win better than a replacement-level player. A player with a WAR of 2 is two wins better, and so on.
How is WAR Calculated?
WAR is calculated using a complex formula that takes into account a player’s offensive and defensive contributions, as well as their base-running ability. The formula is based on a number of factors, including runs created, runs allowed, runs saved, batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, base-stealing percentage, and more.
The formula takes into account the number of games a player has played, the number of innings they have pitched (if applicable), and the number of defensive chances they have had. It also takes into account the quality of the competition that a player has faced, as well as the park factors of the stadiums they have played in.
Mike Trout’s WAR
Mike Trout is widely considered to be one of the best players in MLB history. His career WAR is an astounding 72.1, which is the highest among all active players and the fourth-highest of all-time. He has led the league in WAR for the past five years, and he is on pace to become the all-time leader in the statistic.
Trout’s career WAR puts him in some elite company. He is currently tied with Barry Bonds for fourth all-time, and he is only behind Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, and Walter Johnson. His 72.1 WAR is more than double the second-best active player (Clayton Kershaw, 35.2), and he is ahead of some of the greatest players in MLB history, including Hank Aaron (68.3), Willie Mays (66.9), and Alex Rodriguez (65.3).
Conclusion
Mike Trout is one of the best players in MLB history, and his WAR reflects that. His career WAR of 72.1 is the highest among all active players and the fourth-highest of all-time, and he is on pace to become the all-time leader in the statistic. His performance on the field has been nothing short of remarkable, and he is rightly considered to be one of the greatest players of all time.