Los Angeles Angels’ star center fielder Mike Trout is out for the rest of the 2024 season due to a torn meniscus in his left knee, as confirmed by general manager Perry Minasian on Thursday.
Trout expressed his disappointment, saying, "Since my initial surgery on May 3rd to repair my meniscus, my rehabilitation proved longer and more difficult than anticipated. 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 this season. 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. I will continue to help my team and teammates from the dugout as we press forward into the second half of the season. Thank you for your support."
Last Tuesday, Trout began a minor-league rehab stint with Salt Lake Bees but had to leave after just one at-bat due to knee soreness. He was supposed to play five innings but returned home for another MRI which initially seemed fine.
Injury Woes Continue:
Before this setback, Trout played in 29 games with stats showing .220/.325/.541 and hitting 10 home runs. From 2021-24, various injuries limited him to only 266 out of a possible 648 games—around 41%. Since then he has managed only 41 games post-All-Star break over those four years.
Here’s a quick look at his injury timeline since August 2018:
- Wrist inflammation: missed 18 days
- Calf strain: missed 139 days
- Back issues: missed 35 days
- Fractured hamate: missed 89 days
- Meniscus tear/retear: missed (and missing) significant time
Fans might feel like they are missing out on seeing one of baseball’s greats at his peak.
If there’s any silver lining here, it’s that Trout has enough time before next spring training to recover fully. According to Baseball Prospectus Recovery Database, players with similar injuries usually miss about 67 days on average.
Despite these setbacks not affecting his Hall of Fame chances—he’s still seen as a first-ballot Hall of Famer—these injuries have certainly impacted how much more he could have achieved by now. By age-28 in 2020, he had hit an impressive total of 302 home runs and accumulated a WAR (Wins Above Replacement) score of 74.3. Since then though? Only an additional 76 homers and an added WAR value of just under twelve.
Fans might wonder if reaching milestones like hitting over five hundred home runs or achieving one hundred WAR points—a feat only thirty-two players have ever accomplished—is still within reach given these recurring injuries each year without any chronic pattern emerging yet.
Trout turns thirty-three next week; he’s batted .299/.410/.581 across fourteen seasons while earning accolades such as three MVP titles (in ’14,’16,’19), being runner-up four times (’12,’13,’15,’18), along with eleven All-Star selections making him arguably among top-tier players if not the best among peers despite frequent health setbacks.
This marks year six into his twelve-year $426 million contract extension signed back in March ’19 where Angels owe him around $35 million annually through till end-of-decade (2030).
What do you think about all these injuries affecting Trout’s career?
