ANAHEIM, Calif. — Mike Trout decided that undergoing surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee was a better alternative than postponing the procedure and being a designated hitter the rest of the season.
“It was an option they put there,” the Los Angeles Angels slugger said before Thursday night's 10-4 loss to the Kansas City Royals. “It would have been just maintaining the pain level. The day I had the MRI and it showed [a tear]I was in a lot of pain, so it would have been a tough road for the rest of the year to endure. “I felt like the best option for me was to do well and be completely healthy to come back soon.”
Trout has also struggled as a designated hitter. In 1,518 career games, he has been a designated hitter only 81 times and has a .214 batting average.
Trout, who is sidelined with a serious injury for the fourth consecutive season, said he still doesn't know when the last one occurred. The knee pain worsened during an April 29 game against the Philadelphia Phillies, and an MRI the next day revealed the tear. He underwent surgery last Friday as the Angels began a six-game road trip.
“It wasn't one particular play that did it. I felt a little sore and I woke up the next day and couldn't walk,” he said.
Baseball players who have had a similar injury and surgery have an average recovery time of four to eight weeks, but Trout has yet to have a set. He said the only thing he has been able to do after surgery is stretch and try to strengthen the quadriceps muscle and the area around it.
The three-time American League Most Valuable Player led the majors with 10 home runs at the time of the injury. He was also hitting .220 with 14 RBIs and six stolen bases.
While Trout is expected to return this season, the timeline for his return is still unclear.
“It's hard because I felt very good [to begin the season], but things just happen. “I'm doing everything I can to get back on the field,” Trout said. “I want to go as fast as I can, but I don't want to push it.”
The Angels fell to 14-24 with Thursday's loss.
Manager Ron Washington said he was glad to see Trout still in good spirits, but he was happier to see him in the hitters' huddle before the Angels began batting practice.
“No one is asking Mike to be in those meetings. Mike is in the stadium because he wants to be around his teammates,” Washington said. “Anything he can give you while he's here would be welcome.”
Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.
