Angels News: Mike Trout Getting Adjusted to Routine Days Off

Mike knows this will help him in the long run

At 31- years old, Angels superstar Mike Trout is still considered one of the best players in the league, and he's still playing like it. The three-time MVP is in his 13th big league season and has gone through his fair share of injuries. 

To limit those injuries, Angels manager Phil Nevin decided to have routined scheduled off days for his outfield superstar. Of course, in typical superstar fashion, Trout wasn't a fan of the idea, but Nevin wasn't budging. We're a little over a month into the season, and Mike has played great and is injury free. 

The 10-time All-Star told OC Register's Jeff Flecther that although he still isn't a big fan of sitting games, he's getting accustomed to the idea. 

“I used to fight it, big time,” the Angels superstar said. “I still do, when (Manager Phil Nevin) says I have a day off, I give him some crap, but he’s strong with his reasoning and I trust him. Instead of being all (ticked) off that I’m not in the lineup, I take the day and move on to the next.”

The reason for these scheduled off days is to reduce injury to a 13-year veteran. The nine-time silver slugger has been ridiculed with injuries these past couple of seasons. 

In 2022, he suffered a severe back injury that almost forced him to retire. In 2021, he only played in 36 games as he dealt with a nagging calf injury that kept him out for the rest of the season. And, in 2019 alone, he dealt with a foot, calf, and toe injury that kept him out for some time. 

The Halos cannot afford to have him miss extended time due to injury, and Mike doesn't want to miss any time at all. 

“It’s a long season,” Trout said. “I’d rather take a day now than be out. If I didn’t have the injuries I have had in the past, it would be a different story, but freak things happen. You do the best you can to prevent them. You’ll be better in the long run.”

It's working so far; hopefully, it will work for the rest of the season.