Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout, 32, has been ruled out for the remainder of the season. The outfielder has missed three consecutive years of regular-season at-bats, making his record-breaking contract increasingly irrelevant.
On Aug. 25,캡틴토토 local media outlets, including MLB.com, reported that Trout is officially out for the season. With their postseason hopes dashed, the Angels placed Trout on the 60-day disabled list with just seven games remaining in the season.
Trout was sidelined with a fractured left fibula after fouling off a pitch in the eighth inning against the San Diego Padres on July 4. He underwent surgery, recovered and returned to the field against the Cincinnati Reds on July 23, but was placed back on the disabled list when the pain returned.
He was effectively out for the season, which was made official today against the Minnesota Twins. Angels manager Phil Nevin said, “It’s unfortunate for Trout. He’s feeling better as he resumes swinging, but he still has some issues,” said Angels manager Phil Nevin.
“The important thing is that he started swinging and he’s going into the offseason in a much better, more comfortable place, and he’ll be fine for next year,” Nevin said. “It’s disappointing, but I’m not disappointed in him. Everybody wants to see him play. No one wants to see him play more than we do. He’s one of the greatest baseball players of all time,” he said, adding that he expects a healthy return next season.
In 82 games this year, Trout finished with a .367 batting average, .490 on-base percentage, .858 OPS, 18 home runs, and 44 RBIs in 308 at-bats. It’s a career-low season, with every stat line a personal low since 2012, when he became a full-time starter.
For the third straight year, Trout has been sidelined by injury. In 2021, he was lost for the season after 36 games after suffering a calf injury in mid-May. It was initially expected to take eight weeks to rehabilitate, but his recovery was slow and he was eventually ruled out for the season in late September. Last year, groin pain and rib dysfunction limited him to 119 games, three short of the required number of plate appearances.
This year, he missed half the season as well, playing in just 82 games. Over the last three years, he’s played in 237 games and missed 249, less than half the time. Injuries have continued to plague him as he enters his 30s, and he has become a glass house. His strikeout rate has risen to 28.7%, the highest of his career, and he’s lost his edge as a top hitter.
The three-time MVP, nine-time Silver Slugger, and 11-time All-Star signed a 12-year, $426.5 million extension with the Angels in March 2019. It’s the biggest contract in big league history, but his increasingly frequent injuries and poor performance have raised concerns. The Angels will be weakened next year when Shohei Ohtani departs. A resurgence in talent is all the more urgent.