Mike Trout, the three-time MVP of Anaheim baseball, has been confirmed to miss the rest of the 2024 season due to a second meniscus tear in his left knee. The news was announced by the team and later confirmed by Trout himself. The player had originally undergone surgery for a meniscus tear on May 3rd, and after a longer than anticipated recovery, had commenced on a rehab assignment at Triple A. Unfortunately, this assignment lasted just two innings before Trout experienced discomfort and an MRI revealed that he required further surgery.
There is considerable speculation about how Trout tore his meniscus again. The player had reported feeling significant pain on the following Monday with follow-up imaging revealing the tear. Los Angeles Angels general manager, Perry Minasian, was unable to offer clarity on any incident leading to Trout’s re-injury, asserting that the player had not been indulging in high-risk activities. Minasian asserted the player’s commitment to recovery while acknowledging the frustration and disappointment of the developments.
Minasian spoke emphatically about the emotional toll of the situation, firmly iterated his belief in Trout’s potential for comeback and praised his dedication to the Los Angeles Angels, stating that “No one cares about this building, this fan base, this team, more than he does”. Despite this optimism, Trout’s durability has been called into question, given that he will only have completed an average of 66.5 games per season over the past four years. Trout has suffered various injuries over the past seasons including a calf strain, back injury, hamate fracture and persistent knee issues.
These continued setbacks raise questions about Trout’s future position, potential changes to his role and the necessary management of his body. Trout, an established superstar, is contracted to the Angels for the next six years and is entitled to over $210 million. Therefore, the team will likely need to carefully manage his workload and frequency of play. Manager Ron Washington expressed hope for Trout’s recovery but the frequency of the player’s injuries suggests that they may need to approach his role with caution.
Speculation about possible changes to Trout’s swing have been discussed in recent weeks. Trout himself seemed excited about these changes before his injury. However, despite these adaptations, Trout’s on-field performance has noticeably declined. This season, Trout hit just .220 with an .867 OPS, a significant decrease from his career averages.
This is a difficult time for Mike Trout, who has clearly weathered a drastic shift from being a nine-year long, consistently healthy, top performer to battling recurring injuries over the past seasons. Despite this, the Angels remain optimistic about Trout’s potential to become an MVP in the future. As Angels catcher Logan O’Hoppe commented, the news has been met with universal disappointment, spurring widespread empathy for Trout and his family as the team faces the harsh reality of the upcoming season without him.
