Los Angeles Angels' Mike Trout (34) is returning from injury.
Major League Baseball's official media outlet MLB.com reported on the 30th (Korea time) that 'Mike Trout is coming back. The Angels star is expected to return from the 10-day injured list during the series against Cleveland on Friday (31st). Outfielder Matt Thaiss has been sent down to Triple-A Salt Lake.'
Trout is a superstar who has recorded a batting average of .297 (1,667 hits in 5,617 at-bats), 387 home runs, 972 RBIs, 1,137 runs scored, and 214 stolen bases over a career total of 1,547 games in Major League Baseball. He boasts an impressive award history, including the 2012 American League Rookie of the Year, 11 All-Star selections, 9 Silver Slugger awards, and 3 Most Valuable Player awards. He solidified his status as a franchise star in 2019 by signing a 12-year, $426.5 million (approximately 5.873 trillion won) extension with the Angels.
However, following the contract extension, Trout began to struggle with various injuries. In 2019, he achieved a batting average of .291 (137 hits in 470 at-bats), 45 home runs, 104 RBIs, 110 runs scored, 11 stolen bases, and an OPS of 1.083, winning the MVP award. However, he has played in over 100 games in only one season (119 games in 2022) over the last five years. His overall hitting performance has also declined.
This season, Trout has recorded a batting average of .179 (19 hits in 106 at-bats), 9 home runs, 18 RBIs, 14 runs scored, 2 stolen bases, and an OPS of .726. He also sustained a bone bruise on his left knee and has not played since the game against Seattle on the 1st.
Once considered one of the greatest players in Major League history, Trout has now fallen into the image of being injury-prone. The title of the best player in Major League Baseball has already shifted to Aaron Judge (Yankees) and Shohei Ohtani (Dodgers). Notably, Shohei Ohtani, who played alongside Trout from 2018 to 2023, left the Angels for the Dodgers and immediately succeeded in winning the World Series, making Trout's situation even more lamentable.
Nevertheless, Trout remains one of the Angels' key players. MLB.com noted, 'Before going on the injured list, Trout was hitting just .179 with an OPS of .726. However, he hit 9 home runs in 29 games,' adding that 'Trout could be a significant force for the Angels, who experienced a 5-game losing streak after an 8-game winning streak. He will join the lineup led by shortstop Zach Neto and catcher Logan O'Hoppe, and be expected to contribute as a power hitter.'
While Trout has been absent, the Angels have managed a respectable record of 25 wins and 30 losses, holding a winning percentage of .455, currently ranking 4th in the American League. They are 4.5 games behind division leader Seattle (30 wins and 24 losses, .556 winning percentage) and Houston (30 wins and 26 losses, .536 winning percentage), with the same gap for the 3rd spot in the American League Wild Card race also trailing Houston. There is still a lot of season left, so it is not yet time to give up on playoff hopes.
Aside from making the American League Division Series in 2014 just once, Trout has no experience in postseason play. Attention is now on whether he can return from injury this year and make another bid for the postseason.
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