With the World Baseball Classic just a month away, Team USA has finalized its roster - and there’s a notable name missing. Mike Trout, the 2023 captain and longtime face of American baseball, won’t be suiting up this time around.
According to reports, Trout was considered “unlikely to be insured” early in the process, which all but ruled out his participation. And when you look at his recent injury history, it’s not hard to understand why.
Since the start of the 2019 season, Trout has missed 442 games - nearly half of the contests he could’ve played in. That’s a staggering number for a player who, when healthy, is still one of the most dangerous hitters in the game.
Let’s walk through the timeline. In 2019, Trout’s season was cut short by a right foot injury.
The following year, during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, he managed to stay on the field, but the year itself was anything but normal. Then came 2021, when a right calf strain landed him on the 60-day injured list.
In 2022, it was back inflammation and rib cage issues. In 2023, a fractured left hamate bone kept him sidelined.
And in 2024, things didn’t get much better - two separate tears in his left knee meniscus, followed by a bone bruise and lingering soreness in that same knee, derailed yet another season.
It’s a tough pill to swallow for fans who remember what Trout brought to the WBC just a year ago. In 2023, he was a force at the plate, hitting .296 with a home run, seven RBIs, and a .962 OPS. He wasn’t just productive - he was a leader, setting the tone for a star-studded American lineup.
But with his health still a major concern, Trout’s focus now shifts back to the Angels and the upcoming MLB season. Whether or not his long-term future remains in Anaheim is a conversation for another day. What’s clear is that Trout is doing everything he can to stay on the field, and right now, that means skipping the World Baseball Classic.
For Team USA, it’s a significant absence. For Trout, it’s another reminder of how fragile even the brightest stars can be. But if we’ve learned anything from watching his career, it’s that when he’s right, he still has the ability to change a game - and maybe even a season.