The best position player in the Major Leagues, Mike Trout, is scheduled to undergo season-ending surgery this week. The surgery is to address Morton’s Neuroma, a painful condition in the foot that makes it feel as if you are always stepping on a small marble.
Trout, 28, was making a strong push for the AL MVP, an award he’s won twice and been the runner-up four times. While he still has a strong resume to win the award, Astros third baseman Alex Bregman has the opportunity to pass Trout.
In 2019, Trout hit .291 with 45 home runs, 104 RBIs, 11 stolen bases, 110 runs scored, and a 179 wRC+. At the time of this article, his .438 OBP, 184 OPS+, and 110 walks lead the Major Leagues while his 45 home runs, .645 SLG%, 1.083 OPS, 16 hit-by-pitches and 14 intentional walks lead the American League.
He had a decent season defensively, good for -1 DRS and a -0.7 UZR (-1.0 UZR/150) in center field.
Alex Bregman is his only real competition for the AL MVP as he’s slashed .295/.419/.579 with 36 home runs, 104 RBIs, 113 runs scored, and a 164 wRC+ this season while also playing a great third base with seven DRS and a 1.8 UZR (4.3 UZR/150).
Trout’s 45 home runs this season is a new career high, and if he’d stayed healthy, he easily would have eclipsed 50.
This is not a major surgery in at all and he will be ready long before Spring Training barring any complications.
