LOS ANGELES — Mike Trout won’t make the All-Star Game, but the Los Angeles Angels slugger hopes to be healthy enough not only for the second half of the season, but also for next year’s World Baseball Classic. .
Trout said Monday that he will play in the WBC for the first time and serve as Team USA captain.
‘It means a lot. I missed an opportunity the first time around and I knew that was the one I couldn’t miss,” Trout said. “I’m going to be able to accelerate it a little faster. I can’t wait to play for our country.
Trout was also placed on the Angels’ 10-day injured list with left rib cage inflammation. He missed the Angels’ final four games before the break due to upper back spasms. With the move being retroactive to July 12, he will be able to leave IL on Saturday during the Angels’ series in Atlanta.
The 10-time All-Star selection dropped out of Tuesday’s All-Star Game to rest from injury, but was at Dodger Stadium on Monday to watch the festivities.
“It’s just one of the things that has to be done right before I start swinging,” Trout said. “It’s frustrating for sure. I can’t quite pinpoint what caused it. It just started to bother me.
Trout is batting .270 with 24 homers and 51 RBIs in 79 games this season, though the three-time AL MVP has only one multi-hit game and six RBIs in the last three weeks.
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