Anyone suggesting Mike Trout is past his prime may want to reconsider that take.
True, Trout, 31 (he turns 32 in August), has nursed various injuries in recent seasons, playing in just a combined 89 games in 2020 (COVID-shortened year) and 2021. But he played in 119 games last season – his most since playing in 134 in 2019. And it’s what he did in those 119 games that has fans (and certainly the Angels) giddy over what Trout is still capable of over the next several years of a future Hall of Fame career.
His 40 home runs last season represented his third campaign of 40-plus homers, and his first since he slugged a career-high 45 in 2019 – which also happened to be the third of his three MVP seasons.
He missed nearly a month last year with a spinal issue he says can be managed through the remainder of his career. Once he returned to the field, Trout came out swinging and the back wasn’t an issue.“I was having a good year and then the back thing popped up,” he told The Los Angeles Times.“Once the back thing popped up, I was trying to get back as fast as I could. And once I was able to do that, it was just finish strong.”
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