Mike Trout Gets Hurt Again In First Game Back From Injury

Stop the presses: Mike Trout is hurt again.

Trout, the consensus best player in baseball when healthy, is, unfortunately, almost never healthy. In 2023, he dealt with back issues that limited him to 82 games. But entering 2024, he repeatedly said he was healthy and ready to play a full season for the first time since 2018. 

That lasted about a month. 

At the beginning of May, Trout had major knee surgery to repair a torn meniscus suffered in late April.

READ: Mike Trout Health Woes Continue, Now Needs Major Knee Surgery

After dealing with a lengthy recovery, Trout has been nearing a return, with the Los Angeles Angels hoping to have him in the majors by late-July. Well, had been nearing a return. The Angels announced late Tuesday evening that Trout was removed from his first minor league rehab game early with knee soreness.

It just never ends.

DUNEDIN, FLORIDA - APRIL 08: Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels runs to first base after hitting a double during the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays during the season home opener at TD Ballpark on April 08, 2021 in Dunedin, Florida. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)

Mike Trout Injury Woes Continue

Through the first 29 games of his season, Trout had once again showed why he's still an elite superstar, even into his early-30's.

Despite a depressed .194 batting average on balls in play, Trout had added over 6 runs above an average player on offense. His expected weighted on base average was over .400, which would put him in a tie for seventh in the major leagues this season.

Knee injuries are notoriously difficult to return from, but the progress seemed promising for an Angels team that needs any good news it can get. While the team still describes him as day-to-day, the soreness might delay his return even further. 

The Angels are effectively eliminated from postseason contention, as always, but Trout's return is good for baseball. And a few months of healthy performance could set Trout up for a potential trade later this season, assuming the franchise decides on a full teardown. 

Hopefully this isn't a significant setback. But with Trout, all too often, that's exactly what it is.