Angels’ Mike Trout battling wild pitches, injuries, early-season slump originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Mike Trout was furious. The Los Angeles Angels outfielder reached his limit with the Seattle Mariners‘ pitching staff.
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After enduring a 94-mph sinker on Bryan Woo’s second straight up-and-in pitch last Friday, Trout absorbed a 94.2-mph fastball off his left hand by Mariners reliever Casey Legumina last Sunday.
Woo later apologized when Trout trotted by the mound, but Sunday, the three-time AL MVP didn’t anticipate any atonement.
“We know where they’re trying to get me out, fastballs up and in, so it’s just frustrating,” Trout said, as reported by MLB.com. “You know, if you can’t control it up there, you shouldn’t do it. So it is what it is.”
Trout missed Monday’s outing, but returned for the final two games of the series against the Atlanta Braves. His mood didn’t improve much, going 1-for-9 with one run scored during the back-to-back losses at Angel Stadium.
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Are Trout’s struggles extending beyond his mounting injuries?
Are the injuries starting to catch up to the 34-year-old potential Hall of Famer.
Angels’ Mike Trout fishing for slow-start answers
An 11-time All-Star who has spent extended time on injured-reserve lists over his 15-year career, Trout has only dressed for more than 119 games twice since 2019.
Immediately after Legumina’s hit by pitch, Trout suffered a contusion on his left hand. With his hand swelling, team trainers were forced to use scissors to cut off the batting glove.
For a change, Trout’s troubles didn’t include another trip to the IL.
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He returned last Tuesday for his 400th career home run bobblehead promotional night, but Trout went 1-for-5 with two strikeouts during the 7-2 defeat.
Over his past eight starts, Trout enters Friday’s series opener at the Cincinnati Reds hitting .069 with 12 strikeouts.
Are the series of injuries beginning to catch up to Trout?