To say that Mike Trout’s 2024 season was a disappointment would be an understatement. With less than 30 days under his belt, Mike tore the meniscus in his left knee. He immediately underwent surgery to repair the tear. Then while rehabbing in a July Salt Lake Bees game he felt continued pain. It was soon revealed that he had suffered another tear on the same knee. This cut his season to the fewest games he has ever played in a season. He was leading the league in home runs when his injury struck
"We'll get through it" 😢 @EricaLWeston @Angels l #RepTheHalo pic.twitter.com/2pxLf8JJfn
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His career stats remained hovering just under 1,000 walks, 1,000 RBI, and 400 home runs. His batting average was remarkably lower than in previous seasons, hitting with a .220 average. This reduced his career average to just under .300. He still managed to produce 1.1 Wins Above Replacement and despite lower batting average his OPS+ was 140 (average for all MLB players is 100).
This year saw the passing of Willie Mays. Many saw in Trout a player who might surpass Mays as the greatest player to ever live. Season-ending injuries in each of the last four years, plus the COVID shortened 2020 season, have cut into Trout’s ability to build cumulative career stats. His present comparison is more akin to Ken Griffey Jr. who had a stand-out start to his career and then had to push through injuries over the last 10 years of his career.
The ability and desire remain for Mike Trout, the question will be to what degree his body will allow him to compete. More frequent games as the Designated Hitter seem likely in addition to the possibility of his first move out of Center Field since 2013.