Mike Trout, the star of the Angels, was placed on the 10-day disabled list prior to Friday’s game against the Tigers. Trout departed Wednesday’s 9-3 defeat to the Mariners after jamming his surgically repaired left knee during a run to first base in the third inning.
When Trout’s knee was tested, no structural damage was found. However, he has had trouble staying healthy in previous seasons, and a bone bruise was enough to put him on the injured list once more. However, Trout remained upbeat in his pregame interviews with media and thinks his time on the injured list would be brief.
“I feel much better,” Trout remarked. “I was quite sore yesterday. I’m not at all worried. It’s a huge improvement over last year’s events. According to the MRI, everything is structurally OK. The only bruises are around the bones. Simply allow it to settle down and be ready to go.
Minasian stated, “Hopefully, it’s better sooner rather than later.” In terms of time span, I’m clueless. That is most likely the first threshold until he is able to begin running. Once he begins running, we will have additional information.
Trout began the day on Wednesday going one for two. He had to stretch a little bit when lunging to the base after being trapped on a sinker from Emerson Hancock in the third inning and cueing it the opposite way. He then bounded down the line at 29.7 feet per second, which was his highest sprint pace of the season. According to Trout, the physicians told him that the bruises were caused by his knee bones colliding as he landed on the bag.
“After speaking with the doctors, I had my meniscus shaved down twice, and I just lunged for the bag and hit it perfectly on the bag,” Trout said. “I bruised both of them after they collided.”
In the fourth inning, with two on and two out, manager Ron Washington sent Jo Adell out to hit after Trout returned to right field for the bottom of the third.
Trout claimed that after the game, he felt OK returning to the dugout following the play, but that things became “weird” when he stepped out to right field.
Following the game, Trout had the opportunity to see a doctor and have some basic tests performed, all of which, according to Trout, came back negative. By the end of the game, Trout reported feeling better thanks to cold and pulsed electromagnetic field therapy, but it flared up again on Thursday.
Up until Thursday, the three-time MVP had participated in every game for the team and had a.179/.264/.462 slash line in 29 games this season. He is tied for fourth place in the Majors with nine home runs.
“I like Mike’s presence even though we were having trouble when he was there,” Washington remarked. As long as Mike has a history, I don’t give a damn about what he does. I just want him around.
To replace Trout, the Angels summoned up Niko Kavadas, their No. 30 prospect, from Triple-A Salt Lake as an outfielder and first baseman. The guy most likely to get time at right field in Trout’s absence is Jorge Soler, who began there on Thursday. There is also depth added by Gustavo Campero, who was brought up on Tuesday.
Washington remarked, “I hope the entire team steps up.” Trying to get guys to step up has been our problem. I want to see everyone stand up here because, for whatever reason, everyone has been engaged in our small funk
Trout, who has only made it to 100 games in one of the last four seasons, is having an unfortunate injury scare. A torn meniscus in his left knee ended his explosive start to the 2024 season exactly one year and one day ago. He recovered enough to start a rehab assignment in July, but he only played two innings before experiencing more discomfort, and additional testing revealed a second tear that ended his season.
