Mike Trout and Christian Yelich have both suffered season ending injuries that will force them off the field for the remainder of the 2019 season. These two actually shared a lot in common building up to their injuries. We can start with last year’s MVP voting standings. Yelich took home the crown in the National League voting with a .326 batting average while knocking in 110 RBI’s. Trout finished second in the American League voting behind Mookie Betts with a .312 batting average and 79 RBI’s. Both finishing in the top two in voting.
The roles have been switched regarding this season as Yelich is “battling on the bench” for a top spot in the NL MVP voting just as Trout was a year ago. The Los Angeles Dodgers, who are the top dog in the NL, happen to have this guy by the name of Cody Bellinger who has tore up the league this season. Bellinger’s numbers this season along with his teams performance speak for them-selves. A .305 batting average, 45 homeruns, and 110 RBI season from Bellinger might just be enough to push him to the top spot and drop Yelich to two as Cody continues to grind this season out.
Back to these two staying the same path, both Trout and Yelich’s injuries were suffered in the same week which broke many baseball fans (like myself) hopes and dreams as the playoffs are right around the corner. Yelich suffered this injury in the first inning against the Miami Marlin’s. Marlin’s pitcher, Elieser Hernández, threw a slider that ran in on Yelich as he took a cut at it and sawed it off his right knee cap. Yelich immediately fell to a knee, then took a seat at home plate with his head hung in between his legs. After trainers treated him on the ground for a couple minutes, Yelich got up and walked off the field and into the clubhouse under his own power.
After the game Yelich spoke to the media saying “If you see the X-ray, you don’t need a doctor to tell you that it’s broke, I knew way before the game was over that it was a wrap.” X-rays came back showing a fractured right knee cap, stopping Yelich’s MVP season in its tracks.
Trout’s foot injury has been something he’s been playing with for quite some time now. Trout told the media after he finally decided to hang them up this season “I have been dealing with it for like the last month… and it progressively got worse.” After waiting some time, Trout finally decided to act on his injury as the Los Angeles Angels are ruled out of the MLB playoffs already. Surgery on his foot is scheduled for Friday, September 20th which will confirm his absence for the rest of the season, and just like Yelich, battle for MVP from the bench.
These two have had monster seasons to remember. I mean, they havent played a game in a week and wont return to the field this season and still continue to have the best odds to win the NL and AL MVP awards. Trout finishing his 2019 season with a .291/.438/.645 slash line, 104 RBI’S, and a career high 45 homeruns. As Yelich came in at a .329/.429/.671 slash line, 97 RBI’s, and one shy of Trout with 44 long balls.
Its not everyday you get to watch players like Trout and Yelich, and now that they are injured and still completing for the MVP awards, it really makes you sit back and appreciate the players that have changed the game.
Beyond The Banks 