The Angels’ outfield has taken a major hit.
Mike Trout needs surgery on his left knee for a torn meniscus, Angels general manager Perry Minasian told reporters Tuesday.
ESPN reported that the procedure is not expected to end his season, however, it is not clear when he’s expected to return to game action.
“It’s just frustrating, but we’ll get through it,” a visibly emotional Trout told reporters Tuesday.
Trout played a full game on Monday against the Phillies, going 0-for-3 with a walk, a run scored and a stolen base.
He said he first felt something similar to an ache in his knee that didn’t feel serious after the top of the third inning when he came back to the Angels’ dugout.
But he said he felt the pain overnight and wanted to clear his mind Tuesday when it still nagged him, and the results of testing showed it was a tear.
“It was just after when I did activity when I sat down and got back up, that’s when I started to feel it,” he added. “I wasn’t feeling it hitting, I wasn’t feeling it running. It was just sore. I was kind of telling myself maybe I just banged it on something.
“It was just aching all night.”
The three-time American League MVP has had trouble staying on the field since 2018, playing only 140 games once over the past seven years, and two of the last three seasons have seen him suit up in fewer than 100.
In 2021, a calf injury limited him to just 36 games, while wrist surgery kept him to 82 last year.
He has not played in at least 150 games since 2016.
Before this latest injury, Trout had an MLB-best 10 homers with an .867 OPS.
The 11-time All-Star’s presence in the lineup will surely be missed for the Angels, who have started the season under new manager Ron Washington with an 11-18 record and in fourth place in the AL West.
Even with Trout, the team has a .690 OPS, which ranks 19th in all of baseball.
“I’ve talked to a couple of guys in there that’s had” meniscus repair,” Trout said. “It’s a pretty simple procedure. I’ll have it right away and get back as fast as I can, [but] this is tough.”