Mike Trout on choosing knee surgery over DH-only role: 'It would have been a tough road for the rest of the year'
Mike Trout could have played through the torn meniscus in his left knee that currently has him sidelined indefinitely. But the Los Angeles Angels outfielder chose surgery over staying on the field because being slotted only as a designated hitter would've had him playing through pain.
"It was an option they put out there [to have surgery in the offseason]," Trout said on Thursday via the Associated Press. "It would have been just maintaining the pain level of it. The day I got the MRI and it showed [a tear], I was in a lot of pain, so it would have been a tough road for the rest of the year to bear that. I felt the best option for me was to get it right and be fully healthy to come back soon."
When it was announced in late April that Trout would have surgery, the three-time AL MVP was tied for the MLB lead in home runs with 10 and hitting .220/.325/.541.
Injuries have, unfortunately, become a regular disturbance in Trout's career. He has played 266 out of a possible 523 games since 2020. He missed the final four months of 2021 due to a calf strain, missed more than a month of 2022 due to a back issue and sat out half of 2023 after fracturing his hand.
Trout underwent surgery to repair the torn meniscus last week and is still not sure how or when he sustained the injury. The team has not announced an official timeline for his return, but for now, the 32-year-old says he is feeling good.
“Surgery went well. Just taking it day by day and feeling better every day, so it’s been good. No timeline. Just come in, rehab and hopefully it feels better every single day, see how it feels the next day and go from there.”
Historically, Trout has not enjoyed being a DH. He has been in that role for 81 games in his career and has a .214 batting average.
Players who undergo a similar surgery have returned anywhere between four and eight weeks later in the past. Given Trout's injury history, however, the Angels would be wise to be extra cautious before declaring him ready to return.
"It's tough because I felt real good [to begin the season], but things just happen. I'm doing everything I can to get back on the field," Trout said. "I want to go as fast as I can, but I don't want to push it."
