A big Philly sports fan, Mike Trout talks possibility of coming home to play for Phillies

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Mike Trout can't become a free agent until the 2021 season, but the Delaware Valley is already itching for him to come home and play for the Phillies.

Trout, a Millville, New Jersey, native and passionate Philly sports fan, is probably asked often about the possibility.

So, how does he answer it?

"Obviously I have a couple more years on my contract," Trout said Wednesday in a pregame interview with Phillies broadcaster Gregg Murphy. "Growing up as a kid, you always want to play for your team, but I love it in Anaheim. I can't say enough about this organization, I was brought up here and we'll see what happens."

Trout's Angels are currently taking on the Phillies in a three-game series this week. While the two-time AL MVP is focused on winning ballgames for his team, he's always keeping tabs on the Eagles, his favorite football team across the country. The 25-year-old superstar is an Eagles season-ticket holder and has gotten to know some of the players, especially quarterback Carson Wentz.

"I got to meet him last offseason, spent some time with him, went over his house a couple of times, went hunting and fishing with him," Trout said. "He's a great person, good friend. We kept in touch all the time throughout the season. Obviously he's going through camp right now.

"I talked to him yesterday, I had a cleat come out with some deer-hunting stuff on it. I sent it to him and we had a laugh about it. But like I said, I'm very passionate about the Eagles, and meeting a guy like Carson, him coming up as a rookie, seeing what he did last year — he's a great dude."

Last season, Trout was frequently seen donning midnight green at Eagles games once his 2016 campaign ended in early October. At one game, Wentz handed Trout a ball after an Eagles touchdown.

"Going to the games, seeing the guys and just cheering them on," Trout said. "I know how passionate the fans are in Philly and I want to be right here with them.

"When I go there and fans recognize me, I think it's pretty cool. Now that I know some of the guys on the team, I think it's a little bit different. You're cheering for guys that you know and you know the people they are, how good of a person they are. Just being able to go to games with my family, it means a lot to me."

If Trout's season runs long and the Angels make the playoffs — they entered Wednesday 3½ games out of the AL's second wild-card spot — he shouldn't have any problem finding takers for his seats.

"My family knows that I have season tickets and they know that I won't be able to go, so they're always hitting me up for the tickets," Trout said with a smile.

And it's not just the Eagles for Trout. He is a well-publicized Processer and even joined the LeBron James-to-Sixers push not long ago. Out in California, people know his allegiances back home.

"You can ask any of the guys in the clubhouse," Trout said, "Sixers and Eagles, it's what I talk about all the time."

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