Playing in just 82 games this season, Mike Trout made his return to the Los Angeles Angels earlier this week after missing over a month while recovering from a hamate fracture.
Trout underwent a successful surgery and rehab, which put him on track to have a solid run of games before season’s end. Without much to play for, the Angels were cautious enough to both temper expectations, while understanding his desire to get back on the field.
Unfortunately, Angels general manager Perry Minasian revealed Trout would need to return to the injured list after feeling discomfort when swinging a bat. With the timing of his setback coinciding with a tough spot in the season, Trout’s frustration is at an all-time high, via Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com:
“He’s dying to play, but it’s pain in his hands and you need your hands to hit,” Minasian said. “It’s a significant injury he’s coming back from. The last thing we want to do is have him start compensating and it affects other parts. So we’re going to give it at least 10 days to calm down.”
It wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibility that the Angels shut Trout down for the remainder of the season. Frankly, it would be the outright smart decision to ensure a full recovery.
Zach Neto to join Angels soon
Rookie shortstop Zach Neto has been out of action since early August, marking the second time in recent months that he missed games with a back ailment. In mid-June, the 22-year-old was put on the 10-day IL with a strained oblique, which followed an ailing lower back he dealt with in recent weeks.
The rookie had been solid in his first bit of big league action, posting a .726 on-base plus slugging, but his promising upside and potential are what have made the Angels extremely excited.
The Angels revealed that he is pain-free, and will be traveling with the team on their East Coast road trip.
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