Los Angeles Angels superstar Mike Trout has not been on the field for the team since late April as he recovers from two meniscus tears in his left knee. However, that hasn’t stopped him from being a force off the field and in the community. That led to him being the Angels’ nominee for the 2024 Roberto Clemente Award.
The Roberto Clemente Award recognizes the MLB player who best represents the game through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions, both on and off the field.
Each year, one nominee is named from each of the 30 MLB teams and fans are given the opportunity to vote for who they feel should win the award. The fan vote accounts for one vote in the final tally put together by a blue-ribbon panel of experts.
Trout was nominated for his work with both children battling terminal illnesses and suicide prevention. And he spoke about what it means for him to be up for one of baseball’s most prestigious and sought-after MLB honors, via Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com:
“It means a lot,” Trout said. “It was a special moment Sunday going on the field. Just being in the same conversation with everybody across the league that was nominated, it’s just a special thing. I’ve always tried to give back to the community every chance I get. So it’s a special, special award.”
The league-wide winner of the Roberto Clemente Award will be announced at the 2024 World Series after a selection by a blue-ribbon panel that includes representatives from the Commissioner’s Office, MLB-affiliated networks, the Baseball Hall of Fame, MLB.com and the Clemente family.
Fans can also vote for the Roberto Clemente Award at MLB.com/community/roberto-clemente-award (in both English and Spanish). The site, which has bios of each nominee, allows fans to vote through Sunday, Sept. 29.
Mike Trout not closing door on position change
Trout has been the team’s starting center fielder since midway through the 2011 season, when they handed the reigns to their top prospect and he became one of the greatest players the game of baseball has ever seen.
But injuries have derailed the last four years of his no-doubt Hall of Fame career. At the end of 2024, he will have played in only 41.0% of possible games since 2021, appearing in 266 of 648. Injuries to his hand, back, calf and knee have done him in. And now, entering the 2025 season, he has a new goal in mind.
Trout has often rebuffed the idea of a position change, but with the injuries piling up and him entering his age-33 season, he may have to show an openness to playing in a corner outfield spot or as a designated hitter.