Mike Trout homers in 1st inning, completes All-Star 1st-AB cycle

Mike Trout has been the best player in baseball almost since his arrival, and certainly since the start of his 2012 campaign. This is Trout's fourth full season, and his fourth All-Star Game, and his first at-bat progression has been interesting to follow.

In 2012, Trout singled to center field to open the sixth inning against R.A. Dickey, who won the National League Cy Young Award.

In 2013, Trout doubled to right field to lead off the first inning against Matt Harvey, who finished fourth in Cy Young voting and would have finished higher were he not injured in August.

In 2014, batting second, Trout tripled to right field to score Derek Jeter against Adam Wainwright, who finished third in Cy Young voting.

On Tuesday, leading off the first inning, Trout homered to right field against Zack Greinke to give the American League a 1-0 lead.

That makes a first at-bat cycle for Trout in his four All-Star Games.

At the very least, that should bode well for Greinke's Cy Young Award hopes this season.