ARLINGTON, Texas — Mike Trout left the Los Angeles Angels‘ 8-3 win over the Texas Rangers on Sunday after being hit in his left hand by a pitch, but the team said X-rays were negative, and the three-time American League MVP is day-to-day.
Trout was struck by a 1-1 slider from Rangers right-hander Spencer Patton leading off the fifth inning. Trout said he had difficultly picking up the 81 mph pitch in the shadows on a day when Globe Life Field’s roof was open and that he lowered his hands to protect his midsection.
“Like a normal day, I probably just turn like this [pivoting his left shoulder inward] and just get hit,” Trout said.
Trout jumped around and shook the hand in pain. He initially walked toward the visiting dugout and then marched about halfway down the first-base line, where he was met by Angels trainer Mike Frostad and manager Joe Maddon. Frostad checked to see if Trout could squeeze the hand and then walked him off the field and back to the clubhouse.
Maddon said he could immediately see Trout was in more pain than expected on that type of pitch and took him out.
“I just decided, let’s get it looked at, get some ice on it and get you back sooner,” said Maddon, who added that he will “more than likely” sit Trout for Monday night’s game at the Houston Astros.
Trout is hitting .267 this season with two home runs and two RBIs. He doubled on a flair to short right field during the Angels’ three-run third inning on Sunday in which they took a 4-1 lead.
Trout said he initially feared the hand was broken and that he was frustrated with where the pitch struck him. “Could have hit me anywhere else, but hit me in my hand,” he said.
Trout, 30, played only 36 games last season through May 17 because of a calf injury, and he hasn’t played more than 140 games in a season since 2016.
Trout had surgery in 2017 after tearing ligaments in his left thumb on a slide into second base.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Source: www.espn.com