Trout ending season strong despite concerns about back

ANAHEIM >> Just about two months after the baseball world was shaken by news that Angels star Mike Trout had a rare back condition that could affect him throughout his career, Trout has done all he can to ease those concerns.

Since Trout returned from a five-week stint on the injured list on Aug. 18, he’s started 36 of 39 games. He’s been the DH for three of those. Going into Friday’s game, Trout had hit .287 with 14 homers and 1.001 OPS in 35 games. Although his on-base percentage is a little down and his slugging percentage is up, it’s added up to almost exactly his 1.000 career OPS.

Perhaps more important than the way he’s swung the bat has been the way he’s handled his back injury.

“I think he’s done a great job,” head athletic trainer Mike Frostad said on Friday. “He’s consistent with everything he does. He’s developed a good routine for himself. And I think it’s been great. We’re seeing him out there everyday again, which is what we want from Mike Trout.”

Frostad was the one who started the firestorm on July 27 in Kansas City, when he updated reporters on Trout’s back. Trout had been out for a couple of weeks with what the Angels were calling back spasms, but on that day Frostad said the condition was more specifically a “costovertebral dysfunction at T5.” Frostad said it was rare, and that Trout would have to stay on top of it throughout his career.

After a few hours of people texting Trout concerned about his career, Trout said he wasn’t worried. He said he understood perfectly that he’d need to do some extra work to maintain his back to keep the condition under control.

He seems to have done that. Frostad said Trout had not reported any issues to him since coming back.

Now, Frostad said there’s nothing extra that Trout, 31, will need to do over the winter. The plan is for him to be used without any special restrictions next year.

Future for Barria

Jaime Barria said through an interpreter that “a stronger mentality,” was the key to “the best year I’ve had.”

Barria has a 2.70 ERA after 33 games and 76-1/3 innings, working mostly in long relief.

The Angels had bounced Barria between starting and relieving, between Triple-a and the majors, for most of his big league career, but this season he settled into a role in the bullpen and he accepted it.

“I definitely want to start, but whatever role they want, I’m willing to do,” he said. “I’ll do whatever they ask.”

Barria’s success in lowleverage spots raised the question of whether the Angels should either have him start or pitch in a more prominent role in the bullpen. Manager Phil Nevin said he believes Barria still provided plenty of value doing what he did, particularly by saving the other pitchers.

“I think really there’s a lot of different places where he can pitch in a game,” Nevin said. “He’s always ready. He’s always wanting the ball.”

Also

The Angels honored Kurt Suzuki in a pregame ceremony. Suzuki, a product of Cal State Fullerton, announced last week that he’s retiring at the end of the season. Suzuki’s three children threw out first pitches. A handful of Suzuki’s former teammates and managers, dating to his days at Fullerton, recorded video messages for Suzuki. The Angels then presented Suzuki with a surfboard.