Always repping LA: USC running back Kind Miller grew up idolizing Mike Trout

Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels and King Miller of the USC Trojans pose for a photo before the game against the San Diego Padres at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on April 19, 2026 in Anaheim, California.

(Ric Tapia - The Sporting Tribune)

ANAHEIM -- When King Miller isn't scoring touchdowns and leading the USC Trojans in rushing, he's "Repping LA." and when he isn't doing that, he's cheering on his idol, Mike Trout.

Miller, a redshirt sophomore running back had the opportunity to throw out the first pitch in front of his idol, Mike Trout and a sold out crowd at Angel Stadium Sunday afternoon.

"Of course I'm gonna come," Miller said when he was asked to throw out the first pitch. "Especially being from LA, there's got to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

When Miller approached the mound, his teammates, Tobias Raymond, Tanook Himes, Nela Tupou, and Waymond Jordan, standing behind him, and the rest of the team sitting out in the stands, Miller seized the moment and executed it with perfection, nailing a perfect strike from the mound.

But while he was making the most of a moment, there was another opportunity that was on his mind.

That was of watching Trout.

Growing up in a family where your uncles are rap pioneer Dr. Dre and another rap icon Warren G, life can get busy. But when downtime came, the three of them would watch sports as a family, and would root for teams in the Los Angeles region.

Los Angeles might be one of the busiest sports markets in the country, featuring 11 professional sports teams. Trout was one in particuarlly they all enjoyed watching.

"We always watched online," Miller said when asked about watching the Angels. "My favorite player we always talked about was Mike Trout."

Trouts insipriation for Miller comes with good reason.

Since Trout debuted at 19-years old in 2011, he's always been considered one of the greatest players in the game of baseball and has a reputation for leading by example.