Sports
Angels’ Mike Trout was devastated to miss the rest of the season with a new meniscus tear
ANAHEIM, Calif. – For the third time in the past four seasons, Mike Trout’s year has ended prematurely due to injury.
The three-time MVP will miss the remainder of 2024 due to a second meniscus tear in his left knee, the team announced and later confirmed.
“After months of hard work, I was devastated (Wednesday) when an MRI showed a tear in my meniscus that will require further surgery,” Trout wrote on X. “Playing and competing is a big part of my life. This is as heartbreaking and frustrating for me as it is for you, the fans.”
The circumstances under which Trout tore his meniscus again are unclear. He initially underwent surgery for a tear on May 3 and after a longer-than-normal recovery, he began a rehabilitation assignment with Triple A last week.
His rehab assignment lasted only two innings and he returned to Anaheim for further evaluation after some discomfort. An MRI came back clean and Trout said he expected an imminent restart of his rehabilitation process.
However, on Monday he began feeling significant pain, Los Angeles Angels general manager Perry Minasian said. Follow-up investigation revealed the crack. It is unclear whether there was a specific incident that caused him to be injured again.
— Mike Trout (@MikeTrout) August 1, 2024
“I’m not the emotional type, but it was tough being in the room with him and hearing the news,” Minasian said. “No one wants to play more, no one cares more about this building, this fan base, this team than him. He’s coming back… he’s going to win the MVP, and he’s going to hit 70 home runs. Book It.”
The meniscus tear was in a different location, Minasian said. So it wasn’t necessarily a recurrence of his initial injury.
“There’s no event,” he said. “This is not someone who plays one-on-one basketball. You know how committed this man is to coming back. I know everyone is saying, ‘What happened? Why?’ I understand. I have the same questions. That said, sometimes things happen. And sometimes that is the answer.”
Minasian added that the Angels haven’t discussed moving Trout out of center field or how to handle his body. At this point, though, Trout’s durability is a legitimate concern. Over the past four years, he has played an average of 66.5 games per season.
Trout missed the last four months of 2021 due to a calf injury. He missed a month in 2022 with a back injury. He missed the second half of the season due to a hamate fracture. And now, in 2024, the knee problems have persisted.
“The injuries are real. I understand,” Minasian said. “Those are facts. I also know that this is someone who will do everything he can to get back on the field. We have to make contingency plans for everyone on the roster.”
The reality, however, is that Trout is not just anyone. He is an all-time superstar under contract for the next six seasons and is owed more than $210 million. There may need to be notable changes in how the Angels handle his workload and how often he is on the field.
“No, there are a lot of people who have had meniscus surgery,” manager Ron Washington said when asked if they should approach Trout differently next year. “It’s just a shame that it broke again. He’s going to come strong, he’s going to start spring training, he’s going to prepare for a season and we look forward to his return.”
Minasian said the team had already discussed possible swing changes with Trout in recent weeks. The GM said Trout was “really excited” about implementing it upon his return.
In addition to Trout’s injuries, his on-field performance when healthy was not the same as during his prime. He hit just .220 this season with an .867 OPS, well below career average.
It’s a difficult time for Trout, who turns 33 on August 7. After nine years of virtually no health problems – nine years in which he was undeniably the game’s best offensive player – the past four seasons have brought about a drastic change.
The Angels still believe Trout can be an MVP in the future. The present, however, offers much bleaker prospects.
“It leaves us all speechless,” said Angels catcher Logan O’Hoppe, who served as team leader for the past year. “I feel more for him than for anyone else. I also feel for his family. Beckham (Trout) likes to come and watch his father play ball, just like us. So yes, it is frustrating news.”
(Photo by Mike Trout: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
