Mike Trout is currently in his 16th season as a member of the Los Angeles Angels. The 34-year-old veteran remains the face of the franchise and one of the greatest players of his generation.
Unfortunately for Trout, his individual excellence has not translated to team success. He is a three-time American League MVP, former AL Rookie of the Year, 11-time All-Star and nine-time Silver Slugger Award winner, yet he has never made it past the divisional round of the MLB playoffs.
Trout is doing everything he can to carry Los Angeles this year. Through his first nine games, he owns a .207 batting average, .439 on-base percentage, .853 OPS, two home runs and three RBIs.
He has also added two stolen bases while playing excellent defense in center field, showing he is as healthy as he has been in quite some time.
Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Mike Trout (27)Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
(Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images)
Injuries derailed much of Trout’s early 30s, but he was mostly available in 2025, a trend he hoped would continue in 2026. Unfortunately, that was not the case on Sunday during the series finale against the Seattle Mariners, when Trout was forced to exit the game early.
He was hit by a fastball from Mariners pitcher Casey Legumina on the left hand. It is the second time Trout has been drilled by a pitch during the series. After being examined by trainers, Trout left the game with Oswald Peraza pinch-running for him.
After the game, Angels manager Kurt Suzuki had an update on Trout’s status. “Mike Trout is day to day. Just a contusion. X-rays negative per Kurt Suzuki,” reported Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com.
This is good news for the Angels, who cannot afford to lose their best player for an extended period, especially with his strong start.
If Trout recovers well, his next chance to return for Los Angeles will come Monday in a series opener against the Atlanta Braves. But given his injury history, even though he will avoid an injured list stint, it may be best to play it safe and allow his left hand to fully recover before he steps back into the lineup.
Related: Braves Announce Trade With Angels After Spencer Strider News
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Apr 6, 2026, where it first appeared in the MLB section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.