Angels star Mike Trout might need to manage 'rare' back condition for rest of career

Toyloy Brown III, USA TODAY
·2 min read
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Los Angeles Angels All-Star outfielder Mike Trout might have to manage pain from a "rare" back condition for the rest of his career, the team's trainer said.

“I think we have to have some concern on that,” Angels' head athletic trainerMike Frostad told reporters. “But long-term, we do have to look at this as something that — he has to manage it, not just through the rest of this season, but also through the rest of his career probably.”

Trout's return this season is unclear as he has received a cortisone shot and might need one more week before he can participate in baseball activities. He hasn't played since he left a July 12 game against the Houston Astros with back spasms.

A week later, the team diagnosed his back troubles as caused by rib inflammation. Frostad said the 10-time All-Star's injury is “costovertebral dysfunction at T5.”

Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout hasn't played since leaving a July 12 game with back spasms.
Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout hasn't played since leaving a July 12 game with back spasms.

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“This is a pretty rare condition that he has right now in his back,” Frostad said. “The doctor (Robert Watkins), who is one of the most well-known spine surgeons in the country, if not the world, doesn’t see a lot of these.

“And for it to happen in a baseball player, we just have to take into consideration what he puts himself through with hitting, swinging on a daily basis, just getting prepared. And then also playing in the outfield. … There’s so many things that can aggravate it. But this doctor hasn’t seen a lot of it.”

Last season, he didn't play again after suffering a right calf strain in May 2021.

But Trout told the Orange County Register that his goal is to be back this season and he's not concerned about his career.

"I got to stay on top of the routine I do on a daily basis to prevent it from coming back," he said. "I feel good where it's at right now. Every day it's improving. I felt really good today."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mike Trout diagnosed with 'pretty rare condition' in back