Mike Trout
On April 17, 2015, Trout became the youngest player in MLB history to reach 100 home runs and 100 stolen bases. He was 23 years and 253 days old when he reached the milestone, passing the previous record-holder, Alex Rodriguez, who had achieved it at the age of 23 years and 309 days in 1999. Trout led off the 2015 MLB All-Star Game with a home run, becoming the fourth player in All-Star Game history to do so. For the second year in a row, Trout won the All-Star Game MVP Award, becoming the first player ever to win it in consecutive years. On September 22, Trout hit his 40th home run, becoming only the second Angels player to hit 40 home runs in a season. Trout led the AL in WAR for the fourth straight year.
Nick Koback
To fit Koback on the roster, Pirates general manager Branch Rickey released pitcher Bob Schultz. The official sum of his contract was not initially disclosed. However, his contract was later valued at US$20,000. Upon joining the Pittsburgh club, Koback went through a three-day training program with Pirates coaches. He made his MLB debut on July 29, without ever playing in the minor leagues, as a pinch hitter for catcher Mike Sandlock against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. In both of his at-bats he had over the night, Koback went hitless against St. Louis pitcher Harvey Haddix. Koback was the youngest Pittsburgh player ever at 18 years and 10 days old when he made his MLB debut. He got the first start of his career on July 31, against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. During that game, Koback caught the entire game, which was a complete game shutout by Pirates pitcher Murry Dickson. Koback got his first MLB hit that game against Cubs pitcher Paul Minner. In his next game on August 1, against the Cubs, Koback got his first career sacrifice hit. In mid-August, Pirates manager Fred Haney stated that Koback "is a good receiver but he's only a kid". During the first game of a doubleheader against the Milwaukee Braves on August 30, Koback served as a pinch hitter for pitcher Roger Bowman when he got his first career MLB triple off pitcher Johnny Antonelli. Koback's final game of the season came on September 26, against the New York Giants at Forbes Field. In that game, he started as the catcher going hitless in three at-bats.
After the 1953 season, Koback played amateur baseball on pitcher Spec Shea's traveling team. After returning to his home-town from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Kocack was asked if he felt any homesickness during the season, to which he replied, "Homesick? I was too busy and too excited to be homesick". While in Hartford for the off-season, Koback was the guest of honor at a Hartford Public High School sports rally. He gave a speech to local fire fighters, which was received positively according to "The Hartford Courant". In mid-January 1954, the Pittsburgh Pirates held a workout for incoming rookies and younger players, in which Koback took part. The 1954 season would be the last year he would be protected by the Bonus Rule. Before the start of the season, United Press International stated that Koback and his teammate Vic Janowicz were a problem for the Pirates because "neither [were] ready for full-time duty".