MIAMI _ When Mike Trout won his MVP Award in the American League in 2014, Giancarlo Stanton was making a strong run for the same distinction in the National League before a beaning ended his season early that September.
With the two sluggers meeting this weekend in a series at Marlins Park for the first time, it is a reminder of how their careers have diverged since then.
Trout, the Angels' superstar, won a second MVP in 2016 and this season is putting together what could be one for the ages. Stanton, who signed a record $325 million contract over 13 years after 2014, is still known as the most powerful force in the game but has been unable to produce the overall dynamic numbers since the beaning and subsequently missing more than half of 2015 with a broken hand.
Nonetheless, admiration is mutual between Trout and Stanton, who could be trading swings for the fences in the Home Run Derby on July 10.
"Got to see him a little bit in the Derby last year, and obviously his power is unbelievable," Trout said as he watched Stanton hitting in batting practice before Friday's game. "I watch him on ESPN with the long homers he hits. Hopefully he don't hit some off us. He's a great player."
While Trout is not primarily known as a home run hitter, he came into the series tied for the lead in the AL with 15. That also equaled the most for the first 50 games of a season in Angels history.
He had seven in his previous 13 games. But the homers are just one aspect of the remarkable start to his season.
Trout was also leading the AL in average (.344), on-base plus slugging (1.214) and extra-base hits (31) and was third in RBIs (35).
Stanton has 11 homers and 31 RBIs while batting .269, but is not among the NL leaders in any major category.
"He's cool. Amazing player, of course," said Stanton, who has interacted with Trout at All-Star Games. "He's always had his set plan. He'll get you in a lot of ways offensively and defensively. You walk him, you try to avoid him, he'll steal second."
Trout said he has been looking forward to this visit to Marlins Park, the only major league venue he hadn't played in except for the Braves' SunTrust Park that opened this year in Atlanta.
"It's a beautiful stadium," Trout said as he sized up the home run sculpture in center field from the top step of the visitors' dugout, "It's pretty cool, pretty unique."
He made it clear he won't be taking aim at it this weekend: "Just trying to get on base. If I try to hit that thing I'm going to get out every time."
