Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout has been sidelined once more due to a meniscus tear in his surgically repaired left knee, ending his season prematurely. This setback adds to a series of injuries that have plagued the star athlete in recent years.
In a heartfelt social media post on Thursday, Trout revealed, “An MRI from the previous day showed a tear in my meniscus that will require surgery again—dashing my hopes of returning this season.”
Trout, who turns 33 on Wednesday, initially tore his meniscus on April 29 and underwent surgery shortly after. Optimistically, he aimed to return in four to six weeks, but the rehab process stretched over 11 weeks. When he finally resumed play on July 23, discomfort in his knee forced him to exit after just one plate appearance and two innings in center field. Continued pain led him to withdraw from his rehab assignment and seek further evaluation in Southern California. Although a subsequent MRI initially appeared clean, persistent discomfort prompted another scan, which revealed a new tear in a different part of the knee.
Expressing his disappointment, Trout wrote, “Playing and competing is a huge part of my life. This is equally 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.”
Despite the challenging prognosis, Angels general manager Perry Minasian remains optimistic about Trout’s future. “I believe it’s going to turn,” Minasian told ESPN. “He’s going to play. My call is he hits 70 homers and wins the MVP. I believe it. Looking at the look on his face, he might have the best year he’s ever had next year.”
Trout’s career has been nothing short of extraordinary. In his first eight full seasons, he finished within the top two in American League MVP voting seven times, winning three MVPs, eight Silver Slugger Awards, and making eight All-Star Game appearances. His 73 FanGraphs wins above replacement (fWAR) from 2012 to 2020 far outpaced any other player, with Max Scherzer trailing at 50.4 fWAR.
However, injuries have severely limited Trout’s playing time since 2021. By the end of this season, he will have participated in only about 41% of the Angels’ games from 2021 to 2024. A series of injuries—including a calf injury in 2021, a back issue in 2022, and a hand injury in 2023—have kept him off the field for extended periods.
Trout remains committed to supporting his team despite his absence. “I will continue to help my team and teammates from the dugout as we press forward into the second half of the season,” he assured fans in his statement. “Thank you for your support.”
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