Trout resumes game play for Angels following his injury hiatus, now stationed in a fresh lineup position.
Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout, a three-time American League MVP, made an earlier-than-anticipated return to the lineup on Friday night against the Cleveland Guardians. Trout had been sidelined for 26 games due to soreness in his left knee that was eventually diagnosed as a bone bruise.
Originally slated to return to the Angels' lineup on Monday in Boston, Trout was activated off the injured list before the game on Friday. Trout had undergone two operations last year on his left knee after tearing his meniscus.
Before the game, Trout expressed his eagerness to get back on the field, stating that he felt good after testing his knee by running bases the previous day. "I'm just itching to get out there," Trout said.
In a departure from his usual positions batting second or third, Trout was placed in the fifth spot in the lineup. This will be the first time in 1,532 starts that he has hit fifth in his 15-year career.
Cleveland Guardians manager Stephen Vogt noted that Trout's new batting position wouldn't change his impact on the game. "We know where Mike Trout is in the order. It doesn't matter where he is hitting, he could be hitting ninth," Vogt said.
Angels' Manager Ron Washington expressed his happiness at Trout's return, stating that Trout had not rushed back and was not yet ready to return to his normal batting spots. "He hasn't seen anything. So when you look at what we have, that's where he sits," Washington said. "It doesn't make sense for him to protect (Logan) O'Hoppe. So I'll put Mike behind him to protect O'Hoppe."
Trout entered the game as the designated hitter for the weekend series against the Guardians. He will shift to right field when the team travels to Boston on Monday.
In seven games this season, Trout has performed well as a designated hitter, batting .286 with six home runs and nine RBIs. However, he has shied away from wanting to remain in this role long-term, stating that "bone bruises are tricky" and that he would need to be cautious, especially in his first couple of games back.
The Angels currently find themselves on a five-game losing streak after an eight-game winning streak that included a three-game sweep of the defending World Series champion Dodgers. As they continue their season, the team and their fans will undoubtedly be eager to see Trout back in action and contributing to their efforts on the field.
Trout has missed 404 games out of the Angels' 664 games since May 17, 2021, due to various injuries. This represents almost 61% of the games he has been unavailable for the team. This year marks the fifth consecutive season in which Trout has had a stint of at least 25 games on the injured list.
- Despite his recent injury-related absence in 26 games, Mike Trout, the torchbearer of the Angels' offensive lineup, resumed his artistry in baseball on Friday night in Toronto against the Cleveland Guardians.
- In the world of sports news, Trout's return to the field marked a significant event, as he adjusted his batting position to the fifth spot in the lineup for the first time in his illustrious 15-year career.
- As the Angels' season progresses amid a five-game losing streak, the Toronto sports headlines are now filled with the optimistic return of Trout, whose influence extends beyond his usual batting positions in the news-worthy MLB.
