Trout day to day after exiting with calf tightness

July 15th, 2019

ANAHEIM -- Angels superstar Mike Trout left Sunday’s 6-3 win over the Mariners in the top of the third with right calf tightness, but he said after the game that he’s confident that it’s just a minor injury. He’ll undergo an MRI exam as a precaution Monday and is considered day to day.

Trout said he felt tightness in his calf while tracking down balls hit to the outfield by Domingo Santana and Tim Beckham in the first inning. He told the trainers and manager Brad Ausmus about his calf, then he was removed after having gone 0-for-1 with a soft lineout in the first. Kole Calhoun replaced him in center field in the top of the third.

"It was kind of after those balls in center in the first inning," Trout said. "Felt a little something. Kind of went away. It was just smart to come out."

Trout added that he didn’t feel anything in his calf prior to the game and he doesn’t believe this will be a lingering issue. He said he could feel it while running, but not while hitting.

“I don't think it's that serious,” Trout said. “I think they're just being cautious. Calves are tough. You want it to be one or two days and not six weeks."

Ausmus is also hopeful that it’s not a serious injury, but he said he’ll wait to speculate on how long he’ll be out until Trout gets back the results from his MRI exam.

“We don't think it's a long-term thing, but we'll know more tomorrow,” Ausmus said. “He was lobbying to stay in the game."

Trout entered the game on a hot streak, as he was hitting .429 with eight homers and 18 RBIs over his previous seven games. The eight-time All-Star and two-time American League MVP Award winner leads the AL with 30 homers this season and is again the AL MVP Award front-runner.

Trout missed time earlier this year with a right groin strain sustained in early April. He is batting .305/.455/.666 with 75 RBIs and 74 runs scored in 90 games.

"I feel fine,” Trout said. “My mentality is just to play it safe. Calves can be tough and you don't want it to get worse. I don't feel terrible right now. We'll see how I feel tomorrow."