Trout's season officially ends due to injury

MINNEAPOLIS -- Mike Trout’s 2023 season is officially over.

Trout, who has played in just one game since sustaining a left hamate fracture on a swing against the Padres on July 3, was transferred to the 60-day injured list before Sunday’s 9-3 loss to the Twins at Target Field. Trout, a three-time AL MVP and 11-time All-Star, played against the Reds on Aug. 22 but suffered a setback in that game. He tried to ramp it up in an attempt to return but ran out of time.

“He had some setbacks and was still feeling some issues in there,” Angels manager Phil Nevin said. “I think the biggest thing is he’s starting to swing and he’s feeling a lot better and more comfortable so he can go into the offseason knowing he’s fine for next year.”

It ends another frustrating season for Trout, who was limited to 82 games and hasn't played in at least 140 games since 2018. He batted .263/.367/.490 with 18 homers, 14 doubles, a triple, two stolen bases and 44 RBIs. It’s the third straight season he’s been plagued by injuries, as he played in 36 games in 2021 because of a calf strain suffered in mid-May and 119 games in '22 because of a back strain in July that kept him out for a little more than a month.

He missed the All-Star Game with the injury and played in just one game after the All-Star break. Trout, 32, was expected to return at some point this season, as the initial timeline was six to eight weeks, but he suffered a setback while trying to return in late August.

“I know it's disappointing for him,” Nevin said. “I’m frustrated for him, not at him. Everyone wants to see Mike Trout play. And nobody more than us. He helps us. He’s one of the greatest players in the game.”

Trout, though, will continue his rehab and will continue to swing the bat through the end of the season, so that he can head into the offseason healthy. He hit off a tee on Friday and has been slowly progressing in the batting cages but still has some discomfort.

“He’s still working,” Nevin said. “He was there this morning doing some work. He swung in the cages yesterday and felt better. But there is still some stuff in there. We made this decision yesterday but he’ll continue to do that all next week.”

Trout was moved to the 60-day IL to make room for right-hander Carson Fulmer on the 40-man roster. Fulmer had his contract selected from Triple-A Salt Lake on Sunday, as lefty Tyler Anderson was scratched from his scheduled start and placed on the 15-day IL with left knee pain.

Fulmer, pitching after opener Andrew Wantz gave up one run over two innings, saw his first MLB action since 2021 with the Reds. He allowed three runs on four hits and a walk over four innings before a 50-minute rain delay ended his outing after 70 pitches.

Fulmer, a former first-round pick by the White Sox in 2015, was signed to a Minor League deal by the Angels on May 29 after he was released by the Mariners in late March. The 29-year-old posted a 5.27 ERA with 33 strikeouts and 28 walks in 41 innings with Salt Lake and was scheduled to make his final start of the year on Saturday. But he was told the news on Saturday that he would instead be heading to the big leagues for the first time since May 2021 and was elated, as he wasn’t even sure if he’d be back in baseball after being released by Seattle.

“It was hard to get a job this year after last year, so to be back is amazing,” Fulmer said. “Any opportunity is something I’m thankful for. I’m definitely fortunate.”

Nevin was pleased to see Fulmer get an opportunity late in the season to show what he can do heading into next year. Fulmer, who has a career 6.42 ERA in 134 2/3 innings, could pitch again in the club’s final series over the weekend against the A’s at Angel Stadium.

“He’s tough, a great teammate and a competitor,” Nevin said. “He has to throw more strikes. He knows that. But he gave us some valuable outs before the rain came in. He gave us a chance to win. He’s a guy who has gotten a lot of big outs in the big leagues and all I heard was that he was a competitor and I saw it right away.”