Angels manager Ron Washington has a big headache in his first season. Reason? The Angels have not seen much action from Mike Trout, who has been going through a series of injuries since April 2024. The 32-year-old Angels suffered a knee injury on April 29, 2024, against the Boston Red Sox. On May 3, Trout underwent surgery for the torn meniscus in his left knee. The rehab time is between one to two months. Still, Mike has been sidelined for nearly three months with a return that might look bleak at the moment. 

However, while recovering from his injury, Trout was removed from the rehab game at the Triple-A on Tuesday. Although looking good during the recovery phase, Mike struck out in his game outing and played only two innings out of five. With the potential injury yet again, Trout’s return to Ron Washington’s rotation might be questionable. Hence, reflecting on Mike Trout’s struggles and a potential return, Angels GM Perry Minasian had some valuable insights on the veteran hitter. 

Angels GM Perry Minasian shared his insights on Mike Trout’s return

After striking out against pitcher Carl Edwards Jr, Mike Trout was immediately removed in the second inning. Later, it came out to be knee soreness, and Trout was officially listed in the day-to-day regime. Reflecting on his injury, GM Perry Minasian remarked, “We’re going to shut down his rehab in general. He’s going to get re-evaluated. He still doesn’t feel good, so we’ll see where that goes.” Perhaps, after experiencing knee soreness, Trout disengaged from his rehab in Salt Lake. He flew back to Southern California and underwent a knee scan. Fortunately, the MRI reports came out to be clean after the evaluation. 

The 11-time All-Star player has not played more than 119 games in the recent five MLB seasons. Before the injury, Trout batted at .220/.325/.541 with 10 home runs and 14 RBIs in his 29 games of the 2024 season. On the field, he stole six bases, all of which helped the Angels to start the 2024 MLB season on a high note. However, since the departure of Trout, the Angels have been experiencing a downfall, especially in the 2024 Major League baseball season. 

In the AL West leaderboard, the team stands at the fifth spot with a winning percentage of just .439. Also, their record of 47-60 is among the worst, shying just a few games away from the Oakland Athletics. Speaking about the Angels record, especially during Trout’s absence, it has been a mediocre 35-42. As much as the Angels have struggled without Mike Trout, his talent has also been overcast by his past injury woes. 

Trout’s touchwood talent was overshadowed by four years of injuries

The three-time MVP award winner enjoyed his silver time until May 2017, when he nursed a thump ligament while sliding into the second base. Less than seven years after his first injury, Trout fought four injuries in the last four seasons. Explaining his frustrations on the series of injuries, Trout noted, “It’s just frustrating, But we’ll get through it. I play the game hard, and (stuff) happens.” 

Also, when Trout won the first MVP award in 2019, he had 285 career home runs since then. However, since the 2019 season, Trout’s form dripped due to a series of injuries. Post-injury, he managed to hit only 93 homers, making his total hit numbers just 324 from 1,324. Additionally, he posted a batting average of just .277 and an OPS of .958, which is well below his career records. 

Then came the 2021 season, where he missed 36 games due to a strained calf. In 2022, he missed five weeks due to a back injury but scored 40 home runs during his tenure. While the consecutive knee surgeries added up to Mike Trout’s injury woes, he seems confident to bounce back. With the medical staff and GM Perry Minasian making the final call, will Mike Trout be able to play again in the 2024 MLB season? What do you think? Share your take in the comments below!