Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout will miss the remainder of the 2024 season with another meniscus tear. Angels general manager Perry Minasian broke the news to reporters Thursday afternoon. The news comes just after Trout’s rehab assignment was shut down. Trout, who turns 33-years-old next week has played in 29 games this year. He slashed .220/.325/.541 with 10 home runs, 14 RBI, and a .867 OPS. Injuries have plagued Trout the last four seasons, playing an average of 66.5 games during that span (2021-24).
2024 Injury Timeline
The Angels’ superstar initially went down on April 30, in a game against the Philadelphia Phillies. “It’s crazy because when I look back, I don’t even know when I did it,” Trout said. “In the third inning when I was going back to the dugout, I felt an ache, but just like a little ache.”
That ache would eventually lead to meniscus surgery on May 3. Trout was expected to return sometime this season. Later it was reported that after his surgery that he was given the alternative of postponing the surgery till after the season, and move to a full-time DH role. “It was an option they put out there. It would have been just maintaining the pain level of it,” Trout said.
In late May, Trout began the early stages of his rehab process with things seemingly to progress fairly well, returning to baseball activity in late June. That would fit into his initial timetable to make his return mid-season. On July 23, Trout exited his rehab game with Triple-A Salt Lake with left knee soreness. He was considered day-to-day, but ultimately will be sidelined going forward.
Trout’s Statement on Meniscus Tear
Tuesday afternoon, soon after the news broke, Trout took to X (formerly Twitter) to issue a statement. “Since my initial surgery on May 3rd to repair my meniscus, my rehabilitation proved longer and more difficult than anticipated,” Trout said. “After months of hard work, I was devastated yesterday when an MRI showed a tear in my meniscus that will require surgery again – ending my hopes of returning the season.”
Angels Path Moving Forward
The Angels currently sit in fourth place in the American League West with a 47–61 record. Trout being on the field is essential to the Angels even having a chance in the playoff race. Even with a healthy Trout, and two MVP seasons from Shohei Ohtani, the Angels have struggled to build a team around their stars. Trout has been public and upfront about his loyalty to the Angels organization. On March 20, 2019, the slugger inked a 12-year $426 million deal (the richest at the time), that has him under contract through the 2030 season.
The Angels struck out on the opportunity to trade Ohtani at last year’s deadline. Instead, they lost him for nothing to the rival Los Angeles Dodgers in the offseason. The window to trade Trout for a maximum haul back has since passed. Instead they have a hefty contract on the books for a player who will have missed 382 of his club’s 648 games.
More Los Angeles Angels Articles
More MLB Articles
Main Photo:
Embed from Getty Images
- Category
-
Los Angeles Angels
