On Tuesday night Mike Trout left the Los Angeles Angels game early with a groin injury. The injury is not supposed to be serious and he is projected to be back on Friday if he is 100 percent. But groin injuries can linger and it could be devastating for the Angels if he misses more time than expected. Here is what this could mean for the Angels and their plans for the season.
ANAHEIM, CA – SEPTEMBER 28: Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim looks to the Angels dugout as Trout walks back to second base during the fifth inning of the MLB game against the Oakland Athletics at Angel Stadium on September 28, 2018 in Anaheim, California. The Angels defeated the Athletics 8-5. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images). Image courtesy of Time Magazine.
The Angels started the season off slowly, going 1-6. Since then, they have won five straight to bring their record to 6-6. This is due to Trout’s hot start. He is hitting .406 with five home runs, 12 RBI and an OPS of 1.529. He is living up to his $430 million extension. But an early-season injury could derail Trout and the Angels plans of making it back to the playoffs for the first time since 2014.
Here is what Trout had to say on his injury. “I felt it running to second base in the first inning. I wasn’t worried about it. Then I got in the dugout, I still felt it a little bit. I went in the outfield, started getting a little worse. Just didn’t want to push it. Obviously, I wanted to go out there pretty bad, just go back out there, but it’s better to take time now than it is if you go out there and blow it out.”
The Angels and Trout know he is essential to the team making the playoffs and it is not worth it for him to risk a more serious injury. Trout expects to be back Friday but, if his groin injury lingers this could be detrimental to the Angels playoff hopes. The Red Sox and Yankees are struggling and one of them, if not both are gonna be vying for a wildcard spot. The Angels don’t have the depth and talent those teams have, so they need every win they can get. Boston and New York are going to turn it around and become the juggernauts they are.
Until then, now is the Angels chance to build some ground between them for the wildcard spot. The Angels offense is already missing Shohei Ohtani and Justin Upton to injuries. They cannot afford for Trout’s injury to linger. While it is still early in the season, losing Trout could push the Angels into a hole they may not be able to get out of.
At the same time, Trout could return Friday as planned, and continue his path toward a third MVP award. Only time will tell.
Feature Image From the Washington Post.
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