Several notable players have opted out of the season because of the coronavirus, and superstars such as Mike Trout and Kris Bryant have expressed concern over playing in 2020. Trout, whose wife is pregnant, said July 3, “Honestly, I still don’t feel comfortable with the baby coming.” But the center fielder erased any doubts about his status for this season on Wednesday (Twitter links via Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic).
“I’m playing,” said the three-time American League MVP.
Trout’s biggest worry is that the league will experience a COVID-19 outbreak, though he has approved of MLB’s health and safety protocols thus far, per Ardaya. Notably, the latest coronavirus test results the league and the union released last week offered encouraging news.
The fact that Trout plans on taking the field this year is not only great for the Angels, who will need their best player if they’re going to snap a five-year playoff drought, but the sport as a whole. Trout has been the game’s foremost player throughout his career, and at just 28 years old, he’s already an eight-time All-Star who looks like a lock to eventually enter the Baseball Hall of Fame. He turned in otherworldly production yet again last season with a .291/.438/.645 line and 45 home runs in 600 plate appearances.
Good for baseball. MLB needs its best player out there playing. I wish the best of health to Trout and all other MLB players this season.
Talk about some big stories today. First the Betts deal and now this. It helps to have some good news when this season has been so out of whack.
It’s still hard to take the season seriously, but at least there’s a little more legitimacy to the season now that Trout’s playing. I just hope they can finish the season.
Without Trout, baseball would just flounder.
That’s kind of funny.
Every time there’s a Trout article we always end up herring a lot of fish puns.
I guess we’re just hooked. But don’t be mean; I didn’t expect to get creamed.
Such a bad halibut…
I just tuna them out.
Can you imagine a year without highlights of him scaling the fence?
100% Class act – thanks from all of us who have to stay home.
A whale of a player. He’d be a fish out of water sitting at home. Bassball wouldn’t be the same without him. Anyone that didn’t think he’d play fell for it, hoo, line and sinker.
It’s up to the players now. If they act responsibly, we can have a season. If they are not careful and can’t keep themselves under control for two+ months, we wont.
Trout will become HOF eligible in his first game this season, so as long as he takes the field Friday, he will become a HOF lock that night.
wow!
He’s got my vote
Put him in HOF now!!!⚾️
I love to see Trout play. Hopefully the players and crew can stay safe and provide us some much needed diversion over the next few months.
This is some good news to read… Coming from a Halos fan, our playoff chances would have been cut in half if he didn’t play. I think it most likely shows he is comfortable with how the team and league has handled the last few weeks. He went from worried and wearing masks to saying this. And I feel he believes that the team has a better team this season as well. And a season with out him in his prime would be pretty boring. Go get em Trout! Be safe and show us what you got!
When it’s all said and done Trout best player ever to never win a WS. Should of gone closer to home possibly with the Philles.
Possibly. But he is not 1/2 the way to bonds and will be hard pressed to even get close to him in hr, rbi or war. But best non cheating to not win World Series for sure.
God Bless America. We been waiting with baited breath Mike. Now we go on living knowing you are making a sacrifice such as playing baseball. Wal mart employees everywhere thank you!!!
Good for MLB & thank you, Mike Trout. He had a tough decision to make in regards to work or family.
As a single parent I’ve been forced into this choice more times than I care to recall. It is never easy.
As a poster above pointed out he essentially becomes a HOFer his next AB. Pretty cool. I don’t get to see him play* that often. But he’s (with good reason!) a fangraphs darling.
His accomplishments on the diamond are nothing short of amazing.
Plus, I like that he has weird hobbies – lots of people say I do too!
:)
*saw him play at the park once. he was 0-4 with a BB. got gunned down trying to swipe second. made some routine plays in CF but nothing spectacular. this merely proves that baseball is hard, man.
Baseball can now quit holding its breath