Los Angeles Angels superstar Mike Trout is not returning for the rest of the season, manager Phil Nevin said Sunday. Here’s what you need to know:
- The Angels moved Trout to the 60-day injured list and called up right-handed pitcher Carson Fulmer in a corresponding move.
- Since Trout was already on the IL, his move to the 60-day list doesn’t count against the team’s 40-man roster.
- Trout suffered a hamate bone fracture on July 3 and returned for a single game on Aug. 22 before returning to the IL with hand discomfort.
- The MLB regular season ends Oct. 1.
The Athletic’s instant analysis:
Why this isn’t surprising
This isn’t exactly surprising news. There had been no serious indication that Trout was progressing toward a return this season. And the Angels are long eliminated from postseason contention.
Trout’s injury occurred in early July, and the typical recovery for a hamate fracture is four to eight weeks. However, aside from his one game back in August, Trout will have missed 12 weeks. — Blum
Should the Angels be worried about Trout’s health?
Trout’s durability is definitely an issue at this point. He missed most of the 2021 season with a calf injury and a month last year with a back injury. Now, he misses half of this year with a long recovery from his hamate injury. When he was on the field, it was his worst offensive season. It was still a good year by almost anyone else’s standards, but he struggled to catch up to fastballs.
The Angels have Trout under contract through 2030, and keeping him healthy and productive is going to be critical. — Blum
Required reading
(Photo: Gary A. Vasquez / USA Today)
