Mike Trout has come a long way since Little League.
The 21-year-old baseball star, who spent his childhood dreaming of becoming a professional player, was called up to join the Los Angeles Angels' roster last April.
"I wouldn't say I was nervous," Trout told Ryan Seacrest of his move to the big leagues, in an interview that aired Tuesday in TODAY's "On the Verge" series. "It's tough to do, but you just got to tell yourself, it's just another baseball game...Bigger stadium, bigger fans, a lot more fans obviously, but you know, you get an adrenaline rush the first couple games."
Trout quickly established himself as a force to be reckoned with, stealing 49 bases and driving in 83 runs. He won the Rookie of the Year award, which he calls "an amazing feeling."
Despite achieving success so early, his family says the New Jersey native hasn't let his newfound fame go to his head. "He hasn't changed a lot," his father Jeff told TODAY. "He's the same. Good guy."
"He is," his mother Debbie seconded, adding that her superstar son still "takes out the trash."
"Occasionally," Jeff corrected.
While it's tough to adjust to the surge of attention he's received, Trout deals with the spotlight by remaining focused on the game. "For me, it's just, let's go out there and play and don't worry about that stuff," he said.
And it looks like his approach is paying off. "The big leagues is everything what I expected and more," he said. "It's a dream come true."
Here's what's on Mike Trout's iPod, in his man-cave, and more.
On his iPod: "Everything, mainly country, early before the game," he said. "And then I'll turn to, you know, the hip-hop and get excited."
Onhim at all times: His headphones and iPad.
In his man-cave: "Ping-pong, darts. All the XBox, PS3 games you want. Big flat-screen TV, couch, just all the gadgets you can think of down there."
Biggest inspiration (besides his Dad, who played in the minor leagues): Derek Jeter, who Trout met at the All-Star game last year. "He tells me to come over, sit next to him. It was a pretty cool feeling," Trout said. As he stepped up to the plate, Jeter gave him this advice: "'My first game in the big leagues, I was real nervous, and it's all right to be nervous.'"
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