After continued positive building blocks surrounding the health of their star center fielder, the Los Angeles Angeles received some more good news with Mike Trout on Friday.
Trout hasn’t appeared in a game since July 12 after being pulled from the game with back spasms, but the rollercoaster following that has been, at least, a positive one from where it started.
Following the diagnosis of a rare back condition in late July, Trout has met with specialists who had assured him a return to the field isn’t far off, and in fact, is around the corner, via Jeff Fletcher of the O.C. Register:
Trout, who is out with rib cage inflammation, has been hitting soft toss in the cage and will take batting practice on the field on Saturday.
“It feels good,” Trout said. “I can’t give you a timeline. Sooner rather than later, I think.”
Head athletic trainer Mike Frostad added that “everything is going smoothly right now.”
The Angels are 11-14 since July 13 and remain 10.5 games out of a shot at a Wild Card slot. Trout has reiterated his personal goal after his diagnosis was to play again this season.
The 30-year-old was forced to miss the All-Star Game after being selected for the 10th time in his big league career.
Outlook for Trout
Given that the condition he has, costovertebral dysfunction at T5, Trout’s long-term outlook shouldn’t be to force a return due to the fact the Angels are 23.5 games out of first place and 10.5 back of a glimpse of the playoffs.
But if the doctors and Trout feel he won’t risk any ill effects by returning this soon then he will play again. However, with about a month and a half left in the 2022 regular season, the Angels won’t be eager to rush their franchise’s biggest investment back to the field if the risk outweighs the benefit.
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