Mike Trout returned to the line-up for the Los Angeles Angels on Friday. The superstar honored his late brother-in-law, Aaron Cox, with his Player’s Weekend nickname.
The Los Angeles Angels saw their superstar, Mike Trout, return to the field on Friday after missing nearly a month due to a wrist injury. With his return this weekend, Trout continued to show why there isn’t any other player like him in Major League Baseball.
Returning to his typical position of center field, Trout did not miss a beat in the Halos weekend series against the Houston Astros. While the Angels lost all three games, Trout picked up where he left off, going 4-11 with a triple in his first at-bat.
Even though the Angels’ superstar missed over three weeks of games, Trout still remains as one of the top American League MVP candidates. In 112 games, Trout has hit 30 home runs, drove in 60 runs, and is slashing .311/.458/.621 with an outstandingly high OPS+ of 195. That number leads Major League Baseball and is far ahead of the Boston Red Sox’s duo of J.D. Martinez, and Mookie Betts, who have OPS+’s of 180 and 178.
In regards to WAR, Mookie Betts has a slight edge. Going into play on Monday, Betts has recorded 8.4 WAR, slightly ahead of Trout’s total of 7.9 WAR total (Baseball Reference).
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Trout’s excellence is not limited to baseball, we had a chance to appreciate this side of the slugger during the first game of Player’s Weekend. There are certain moments during a season that demonstrate that family goes beyond baseball, Trout showed this with his nickname choice on Friday night.
Originally in the line-up as “KIIIIIID”, Trout honored his late brother-in-law, Aaron Cox, by wearing “A.COX” on the back of his jersey. Aaron Cox was drafted by the Angels and recently retired, before passing away earlier in August. The Angels held a moment of silence before Friday’s game for their former farmhand.
Via ESPN, Trout discussed his return and emotions after the game on Friday. The All-Star was asked if Friday was the toughest game of his career.
"“It was. My brother came out here, but the family is back home.” Trout said, “Every so often, you can’t help but think about it. He was a friend of mine and obviously my brother-in-law, but we were really close.”"
These feelings are very understandable, a death is hard on any family. In Trout’s situation, it was great to see that the Los Angeles Angels organization was behind their superstar.
Mike Trout had been with his family in New Jersey while recovering from his wrist injury.
Our prayers and best wishes will continue to go out to the Trout/Cox family. Click here to read more on former Los Angeles Angels prospect Aaron Cox’s passing.