Ashley Landis / Associated Press
Although Mike Trout initially considered opting out of the 2020 season, the Los Angeles Angels star confirmed Wednesday that he will be on the field this year.
“I’m playing,” he said, according to Dylan Hernández of the Los Angeles Times.
Trout was previously concerned about possible COVID-19 outbreaks within the MLB, but is now encouraged by league protocols, according to The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya.
Players have been tested for COVID-19 every other day since arriving at camp, while last week’s results saw only six positive results from 10,548 samples, including five players and a staff member, per ESPN There were 58 players and eight staff members who tested positive the week before.
This helped calm Trout’s concerns, which is expecting a child in August with his wife Jessica
“Honestly, I still don’t feel that comfortable,” said the 28-year-old earlier this month, by Michael DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times. “It is going to be difficult. I have to be very cautious the next two weeks. I do not want to give positive. I do not want to return it to my wife. It is a difficult situation that we are in.” “
The trout he decides to play this season is important to both the Angels and the Major Leagues, as he is one of the sport’s biggest stars.
In eight full seasons in the majors, the outfielder has eight All-Star picks, three MVP and a Rookie of the Year award. He finished in the top two of the MVP vote in seven different seasons, finishing fourth in the only other year.
He has contributed 72.7 wins over the replacement since joining the league, for FanGraphs, well above Buster Posey (47.1), who is second in this section.
Trout’s presence will be key as the Angels try to compete for a World Series title during the shortened 2020 campaign.
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