Mental Wellness Ambassador role 'means a lot' to Trout

ANAHEIM -- Angels superstar Mike Trout knows all too well about the importance of mental health.

Trout lost his brother-in-law Aaron Cox to suicide in 2018 at age 24, which opened his eyes about mental health issues. And as a result, Trout and his wife, Jessica, have made it their mission to help others struggling with mental wellness.

Trout, a three-time AL MVP and 10-time All-Star, took to Twitter on Sunday to announce he's going to serve as a Mental Wellness Ambassador as part of Major League Baseball’s MLB Together platform. He spoke to MLB.com on Tuesday about why it means so much to him.

“I lost somebody really close to me and went through it with my brother-in-law Aaron,” Trout said. “It was obviously a tough situation. But I just felt it was a great opportunity for me to use my platform. A lot of people look up to me. So to be able to say that and talk to them and give them some help, and let people know they’re not alone, it means a lot to me.”

Trout and his wife previously partnered with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and the apparel company Tiny Turnip in 2020, creating the "Your game isn't over yet;" campaign to honor Cox. It coincided with Jessica’s pregnancy, as she gave birth to their son, Beckham, on July 30, 2020.

But Trout wanted to do even more to create awareness about mental health and erase any stigmas about those who suffer from issues such as anxiety or depression. So he decided to partner with Major League Baseball and help lead their efforts.

“I just thought it was a great opportunity for me to just be the head guy,” Trout said. “There are a lot of guys across the league who struggle with all this and it's a big part of our game. So for me to be able to represent this means a lot to me.”

Trout said players deal with mental issues more than people realize, but now some players have become more comfortable talking about it. That includes A’s reliever Trevor May, who was placed on the injured list with anxiety earlier this season and candidly spoke about his struggles with mental health. Trout’s former teammates Andrelton Simmons and Andrew Heaney have also opened up about mental health struggles in the past.

“You really don't see it when the guys are out there just playing, especially on a baseball field playing the game we love,” Trout said. “You don't know what's happening at home. You don't know what other guys are going through. It’s just about being able to just reach out and talk to people. I think it makes you feel comfortable. And to be able to get help is a big thing.”

Trout said communication is key and he responded to several fans on Twitter who reached out to him about their mental wellness struggles. He said talking with his teammates and his wife helps him personally, but added that getting professional help is important. He said baseball being a game of failure and all of the pressure that comes with it can add to those struggles.

“You gotta stay positive,” Trout said. “The mental side of the game, people don't really realize it's a big part of it. You go 4-for-4 and you feel like you’re on top of the world. And the next night, you go 0-for-4 with three punchouts. So it's an emotional game. Just the way you deal with it, and how you can get better at dealing with it, is big. I just try to stay positive and talk to people. Just being able to get things off my chest, whether I’m talking to my teammates or my wife. I think that’s always key.”

Trout, 31, said being a father has also helped him because he doesn’t dwell on the negative things as much because being around his son brings him so much joy.

“I think before I had my son, baseball was everything,” Trout said. “It changes your perspective. Like if I go 4-for-4 or 0-for-4, when he sees me after the game, he’s still going to be a happy kid.”