MLB

For Mets, phenom was big fish that got away

Angels phenom Mike Trout — a Millville, N.J., native — grew up a Phillies fan, taunting his high school baseball coach and his father, both of whom were suffering Mets fans. It turns out the Mets were fans out Trout, and might have wanted to draft him in 2009, but didn’t have a first-round pick.

The Amazin’s invited Trout, along with parents, Jeff and Debbie, to New York during the lead-in to the draft, but the Angels — flush with picks acquired from the Mets and Yankees— ended up getting Trout.

“In the pre-draft, right beforehand, we got invited up [to New York],” Debbie Trout said.“The Mets were very interested in Mike, but they didn’t think they had a pick that close. But they invited us up, had pizza with him and we talked with them. It was a fun day, they showed a video of Mike doing different things. It was nice. They were interested, but they didn’t have a [high enough] pick.’’

The Mets had given up their No. 24 pick as compensation for signing closer Francisco Rodriguez, and the Yankees had surrendered the 25th selection for having inked first baseman Mark Teixeira. The Angels took Trout with the 25th pick, and four years later, he will be a starter in Tuesday’s All-Star Game at Citi Field.

“It’s going to be great,’’ Jeff Trout said. “He grew up watching the Mets and the Phillies — obviously more Phillies — and certainly a Yankee fan. I was a Mets fan, his head coach is a Mets fan, so there’s a connection there. We’re just tickled it’ll be close.’’