MLB fans, at least those who were able to watch given MLB.TV's ill-timed outage, were dealt a scare when three-time American League MVP Mike Trout was hit by a pitch on his first at-bat of the 2025 season.
In the top of the first inning with one on and one out, Trout stepped to the plate, took a fastball for a ball, then swung through a slider to even the count at 1-1. Then, White Sox pitcher Sean Burke delivered a high-and-inside fastball that veered a bit too close to Trout and hit the Los Angeles Angels superstar on the hand. Trout shook his hand in frustration, then waved off manager Ron Washington and the club's trainer as he walked to first base, indicating that he was alright.
Mike Trout gets hit in the hand in his first at bat of 2025, but he stayed in the game pic.twitter.com/xPwX7NHZJ6
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) March 27, 2025
MLB fans, knowing Trout's recent injury history, couldn't believe the Angel's star's misfortune.
Does anyone have worse luck?
— Philly Sports BYU (@PhillySportsBYU) March 27, 2025
Dude…
— Sam Fosberg (@discussbaseball) March 27, 2025
CAN WE NOT HIT MIKE TROUT???? IS THAT OK????? IS THAT JUST TOO MUCH TO ASK FOR??????? WHAT THE HELL
— swilly ☻ (@swillysports) March 27, 2025
The last thing I wanna see on Opening Day after about 4 seasons of injuries is Mike Trout getting drilled with 95 on the hand 😡
— Jake (@D1SCHER) March 27, 2025
Mike Trout first AB of 2025 and Sean Burke hits him on the left hand with pitch in- he’s fine but cmon man
— Patrick O'Neal (@Patrick_ONeal) March 27, 2025
Trout enjoyed one of the best starts to a career of any player in MLB history, winning three MVP awards while finishing second in the voting three more times in his first eight seasons. Excluding the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, Trout has not played 130 or more games since 2019. In '21, a calf strain limited him to just 36 games played. The following season, he dealt with back inflammation. A broken hamate bone in his left hand cut his '23 season short, then a torn—and re-torn—meniscus ended his '24 season early.
Trout was able to remain in the game, but what a scare it was to start the season.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Mike Trout Had Baseball Fans Terrified After Getting Hit on Hand in First At-Bat.
