ANAHEIM, Calif. — Angels star Mike Trout needs a second surgery for a torn meniscus in his left knee, ending another injury-marred campaign for the three-time MVP.
Trout said Thursday in a social media post that an MRI revealed the new meniscus tear. He previously had surgery on May 3 to repair the meniscus and had been working toward a return before his rehab was shut down on Tuesday.
“After months of hard work, I was devastated (Wednesday) when an MRI showed a tear in my meniscus that will require surgery again — ending my hopes of returning this season,” Trout posted.
“Playing and competing is a huge part of my life. This is equally as heartbreaking and frustrating for me as it is for you, the fans. I understand that I may have disappointed many, but believe me, I will do everything I can to come back even stronger.”
Trout batted .220 with 10 homers and 14 RBIs in 29 games this season for the Angels, who are fourth in the AL West with little chance at a playoff berth.
“It’s unfortunate what has happened again, but no doubt he has a chance to get that leg extremely well and he doesn’t have to have anything on his mind but getting ready for February,” Angels manager Ron Washington said.
The AL MVP in 2014, 2016 and 2019 and an 11-time All-Star, the 32-year-old Trout has been limited by a series of injuries over the past four years. He hasn’t played more than 119 games in any of the past five seasons. He was limited to 36 games in 2021 and 82 last year.
“He’s devastated,” Angels general manager Perry Minasian told reporters. “I was, too, to be honest with you. I’m not the emotional type but being in the room and hearing the news with him was tough. Nobody wants to play more. Nobody cares about this building, this fan base, this team more than he does.”
Trout is making $37.1 million in the sixth year of a 12-year, $426.5 million contract and will earn that salary in each of the next six seasons.
“He’s gonna come back next year, win the MVP, hit 70 home runs,” Minasian said. “Book it.”
The Angels were 10-18 to open the season with Trout, then went 10-17 in May, their first full month without him. The club went 15-11 in June, when outfielder Jo Adell hit seven home runs. Young players including Zach Neto, Nolan Schanuel and Logan O’Hoppe have been productive, even as the team slipped to 11-14 in July.
“It we had (Trout) on the field, (Anthony) Rendon on the field and (Brandon) Drury on the field it would have made a big difference,” Washington said. “But we had an opportunity to watch our kids grow and I have been very impressed with that group.”
The Los Angeles Angels received some devastating news recently as their star player, Mike Trout, will miss the remainder of the season due to a second meniscus tear injury. This is a major blow to the team as Trout is widely regarded as one of the best players in baseball and a key contributor to the Angels’ success.
Trout initially suffered a meniscus tear in his right knee earlier in the season, which required surgery and forced him to miss several weeks of play. Unfortunately, it seems that the injury has flared up again, leading to the decision to shut him down for the rest of the year.
Trout’s absence will undoubtedly be felt by the Angels, as he is not only a phenomenal hitter but also a strong defensive player. In his 10-year career, Trout has won three American League MVP awards and has been selected to numerous All-Star games. His presence on the field is irreplaceable, and the Angels will have to find a way to make up for his absence in the lineup.
Despite this setback, Trout remains optimistic about his recovery and is looking forward to returning to the field next season. In a statement released by the team, Trout expressed his disappointment at not being able to finish out the season but emphasized his commitment to getting healthy and coming back stronger than ever.
In the meantime, the Angels will have to rely on their other players to step up and fill the void left by Trout’s absence. While it will be a challenge to replace his production, the team is confident in their ability to compete and finish out the season strong.
Overall, losing Mike Trout for the remainder of the season is a tough blow for the Angels, but they remain hopeful that he will make a full recovery and be back on the field next year. In the meantime, fans will have to wait patiently for his return and continue to support the team as they push forward without their star player.