The Angels still don’t know when Mike Trout can return as he continues to deal with an injured calf.
The Los Angeles Angels enter play Tuesday with a losing record, which puts them fourth in the American League West division. Such a reality is nothing new for fans of the team.
The present problem is that Mike Trout is not even around to help the cause and try to end what is a far-too-long postseason drought. The legendary outfielder hit the IL back in mid-May and was initially expected to miss up to two months. That timeline has not changed, but any hope of an early return was wiped away this week.
Trout doesn't know when exactly he'll be able to start jogging – he said it will be once his body allows it – but thinks he'll have a better idea of a potential return date then
— Jack Harris (@ByJackHarris) June 7, 2021
Mike Trout still can’t run and Angels fans must be worried
So the Angels are trying to get back to .500 and Trout has no clear timetable for his return. Fans will now be hoping the initial timeline stays in place and he can return right after the All-Star break.
Trout is a living legend in the game of baseball so his absence is obviously huge. He already posted a WAR above 2.0 in only 36 games this season and an injury is the only thing that could ever slow him down.
Calf injuries are difficult because it is not like a broken bone that heals itself. Trout’s return is going to depend on when he can run without feeling too much pain. Every body is different and the fact he cannot yet jog is something to keep an eye on.
The goal in Los Angeles now is to at least stay in realistic contention by the time Trout returns. If not, they may be sellers at a time when the best player in the game returns to the lineup. That is just plain wrong and bad for baseball.