Mike Trout’s incredible baseball career has been put on hold for the first time.
The Los Angeles Angels outfielder will undergo surgery Wednesday to repair a UCL tear in his left thumb, the team announced Monday night. He’s expected to miss six to eight weeks.
Trout suffered the injury Sunday while sliding into second base on a steal against the Miami Marlins. He exited the game and did not return, then on Monday took an MRI that revealed the tear.
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It’s the first time in Trout’s young career that he’s been placed on the disabled list. The 25-year-old arguably has been the best player in baseball since breaking into the major leagues in 2011 — he’s already won the American League’s Most Valuable Player award twice in his first five full seasons and boasts a ridiculous 52 career Wins Over Replacement.
Trout also had been enjoying a stellar 2017 campaign prior to Sunday’s injury, batting .337 with 16 home runs, 36 RBI and 10 steals through 47 games and leadinh the American League in on-base percentage (.461) and OPS (1.203).
The New Jersey native’s current timetable would put his return sometime after the All-Star break in mid- to late July. The Angels enter Tuesday’s play second in the American League West at 26-28.
Thumbnail photo via Steve Mitchell/USA TODAY Sports Images
