Mike Trout can be counted among those who would like to see stiffer penalties for first-time performance-enhancing drug users.
While in New York on Monday morning, the Angels star revealed during a radio interview that he believes first-time users should be banned for life.
“To me, personally, I think you should be out of the game if you get caught,” Trout told WFAN’s Boomer Esiason and Craig Carton. “It takes away from the guys that are working hard every day and doing it all-natural.”
As the Joint Drug Agreement stands currently, third offenses are punishable by a lifetime ban, but the 2012 American League Rookie of the Year wants to forego second chances and get those players out of the game sooner.
“Some people just are just trying to find that extra edge,” Trout told the radio station. “It’s tough as a guy that goes out there and plays hard every day and puts [in] 110 percent effort … to wake up, see there’s a list of guys that are on the list. It’s good that MLB caught them and they’re moving in the right direction with suspensions and stuff.”
The 22-year-old outfielder will see one of those names on that list Monday night as the Angels will take on Alex Rodriguez and the Yankees as they begin a four-game series.
