Mike Trout, the 32-year-old star of the Los Angeles Angels, requires surgery for a torn meniscus in his left knee and will be sidelined for an indefinite period.
While the injury is not expected to end his season, it interrupts a promising start for Trout this year.
The news of Trout’s surgery was initially reported by ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez and Jeff Passan and later confirmed by Angels general manager Perry Minasian, according to Sam Blum of The Athletic.
This development is particularly disheartening for the Angels as they try to navigate the post-Shohei Ohtani era.
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Trout was making a strong comeback from a series of injury-ridden seasons and had shown impressive power early in the 2024 season, being the first MLB player to hit 10 home runs. Despite a batting average of .220 and an on-base percentage of .325, both lower than usual, his slugging percentage stood at .541 with a total of 1.2 WAR accumulated. His batting average on balls in play was unusually low at .194, indicating a streak of bad luck.
The Angels have struggled this season, entering Tuesday with an 11–18 record, trailing the Seattle Mariners by five games in the American League West. They rank 28th in ERA at 5.01 and 18th in OPS at .691. The combination of weak pitching and an inconsistent offense has hampered their performance.
Trout’s absence is a significant loss not only for the Angels but also for Major League Baseball, as the game thrives when one of its best players is active and performing at his best.
