Angels' Mike Trout sets franchise record with 300th career home run

Mike Trout hit his 300th career home run in the first game of a doubleheader against the Houston Astros on Saturday, surpassing Tim Salmon for the franchise record at just 29 years old.

"It means a lot," said Trout, who also doubled twice and finished 3-for-3 with two RBIs and four runs scored in a 10-9 win. "Once I got within five I started to think about it, and when I got No. 299 last night I was definitely thinking about it."

Trout, who entered the game with 201 career stolen bases, is the fastest to amass 300 home runs and 200 stolen bases in his career, according to research by the Elias Sports Bureau. Trout did it in his 1,235th game; Willie Mays, who is second, got there in 1,295 games.

Trout's home run, an opposite-field line drive off Brandon Bielak in the third inning, gave him 15 on the year, passing San Diego Padres shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. and Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Teoscar Hernandez for the major league lead.

Trout is the 151st member of the 300-home run club and just the 16th to reach the mark before turning 30 years old, according to research by ESPN Stats & Information.

Salmon played his entire 14-year career with the Angels from 1992 to 2006 and was part of their only World Series championship in 2002. He is part of the team's broadcast crew and was at Saturday's game.

"I knew the day he signed the extension that he was going to pass it," Salmon said on Fox Sports West after Trout broke the record. "All records are meant to be broken."

In March 2019, Trout signed a 12-year contract worth $426.5 million. Trout saw Salmon in the broadcast booth and acknowledged him between innings.

"That was special," Trout said. "I knew he was up there watching."

In the nightcap, Trout went 1-for-2 with a double and two runs scored in the Angels' 7-6 win.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.