Los Angeles Angels

Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout and his wife, Jessica, welcomed their first child Thursday, a boy named Beckham Aaron Trout:

The Angels placed Trout on the paternity list Thursday.

Per MLB.com's Jesse Sanchez, Trout can be on the paternity list for three days, and if he needs more time away from the club, it can move him to the restricted list.

Per general manager Billy Eppler, Trout will not have to be quarantined amid the COVID-19 pandemic upon his return because he will undergo testing during his absence.

Perhaps Beckham will join a line of children who followed in the footsteps of their successful MLB-playing fathers, including Barry Bonds, Ken Griffey Jr. and Cavan Biggio. The Angels posted this tweet Saturday following the news of Beckham's birth:

Maybe we'll see the elder Trout manage his son in a few decades, but for now, the three-time American League MVP is enjoying being a first-time father.

Los Angeles Angels superstar Mike Trout has been placed on paternity leave, the team announced Thursday. 

The 28-year-old has gotten off to a nice start in the shortened 2020 season, hitting .292 with a home run, four RBI and three runs in six contests. 

Before the MLB began its 60-game season amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Trout expressed concerns about playing baseball again, namely expressing concerns he might contract the coronavirus and pass it on to his pregnant wife Jessica, who is expecting their first child. 

"It's a tough situation for everybody," he told ESPN's Alden Gonzalez in early July. "I talked to a lot of guys across the league and they're texting me a lot. I'm not gonna name any names, but they're all thinking the same thing: 'Is this gonna work?'"

The early signs haven't been positive, with the Miami Marlins and Philadelphia Phillies shut down for a week after 19 members of the Marlins organization and two Phillies staffers tested positive for the coronavirus. 

"It takes one guy to bring that in this clubhouse," Trout said in early July. "And given how contagious this virus is, it's going to be hard to contain."

As for the 28-year-old's absence, it will be tough for the Angels to make up the production of the three-time AL MVP and eight-time All-Star. Trout is arguably the best player in baseball and was rewarded as such in the 2019 offseason with a 12-year, $430 million extension. 

Brian Goodwin will take over in center field for the Halos. 

Shohei Ohtani's first start in two years did not go as the Los Angeles Angels star had hoped.

The right-hander tossed 30 pitches, recorded no outs and gave up four runs in a 6-4 loss to the Oakland Athletics before manager Joe Maddon replaced him with reliever Matt Andriese.

Ohtani required Tommy John surgery at the end of the 2018 season, and it forced him to stay off the mound for all of 2019. The former Rookie of the Year and designated hitter remains a force at the plate, but his quest to remain a two-way star took a big hit with Sunday's setback.

In his first season in the major leagues, Ohtani was a revelation both on the mound and at the plate. In 10 starts, he compiled a 3.31 ERA and 1.16 WHIP with 63 strikeouts on 22 walks over 51.2 innings. Batters hit just .203 off him for the year, while Ohtani knocked 22 home runs himself.

Expectations were high for his return Sunday.

Instead, the performance was a dud.

Ohtani's fastball, which had sat at 94 miles per hour in 2018, barely reached 93 mph. Of the 30 pitches he threw, none produced swinging strikes, and he mustered 15 strikes total—five of which were called looking, per Statcast.

Part of the issue was Ohtani falling behind in the count to three straight batters after allowing a single to Oakland's Marcus Semien to begin the bottom of the first inning. Ramon Laureano, Matt Chapman and Matt Olson all drew walks.

Ohtani then fell behind on Mark Canha, who would knock a single to right for two runs batted in. After Robbie Grossman became the sixth straight member of the A's to reach base, Maddon had no choice but to go to the bullpen.

Statcast shows Ohtani relying mostly on his fastball and slider, using the combo for 26 of his 30 pitches. Getting behind in the count early will certainly limit what a pitcher can throw, but the lack of Ohtani's splitter and curveball Sunday effectively robbed him of using two of his best pitches.

The long-term outlook here is that Ohtani made it off the mound without any health issues. The problem for the Angels is that even at full strength, he did little to impress.

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout was nothing but congratulatory toward Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts, even though the latter broke his record for the largest contract extension in Major League Baseball history.

According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, Trout texted Betts a congratulatory message after the Dodgers star signed a $365 million contract extension.

"It's pretty cool to have him out here," Trout said. "What a great person."

He added, per ESPN's Alden Gonzalez: "I've never heard anything bad about him."

ESPN's Jeff Passan reported Betts and the Dodgers reached an agreement on a 12-year, $365 million extension. That means he will be paid $392 million over 13 years when tacked onto the one-year, $27 million deal he was previously under.

Passan also noted the deal broke Trout's record of $360 million.

They will both turn their attention toward leading their teams to a title or perhaps an all-Los Angeles World Series, although Betts likely has a better chance based on recent history. The Angels haven't been to the playoffs since 2014 and last won a postseason game in 2009.

The Dodgers have won seven straight National League West crowns and reached two World Series in that span, although their last championship came in 1988.

They are paying Betts plenty of money to try to change that.

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, per Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times.

Trout was previously concerned about potential outbreaks of COVID-19 within MLB, but he is now encouraged by the league's protocols, per Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic.

Players have been tested for COVID-19 every other day since arriving in camp, while last week's results saw just six positive tests out of 10,548 samples, including five players and one staff member, per ESPN. There were 58 players and eight staff members who tested positive the week before.

This helped ease concerns for Trout, who is expecting a child in August with his wife, Jessica.

"Honestly, I still don't feel that comfortable," the 28-year-old said earlier this month, per Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times. "It's gonna be tough. I've got to be really cautious these next couple weeks. I don't want to test positive. I don't want to bring it back to my wife. It's a tough situation we're in."

Trout deciding to play this season is big for both the Angels and MLB, as he's one of the biggest stars in the sport.

In eight full seasons in the majors, the outfielder has eight All-Star selections, three MVPs and one Rookie of the Year award. He finished in the top two of MVP voting in seven different seasons, finishing fourth in the only other year.

He has contributed 72.7 wins above replacement since entering the league, per FanGraphs, well above Buster Posey (47.1), who ranks second in this stretch.

Trout's presence will be key as the Angels try to compete for a World Series title during the shortened 2020 campaign.

Los Angeles Angels pitcher Keynan Middleton intends to use his platform in Major League Baseball as a way to fight for societal change. 

In a post on social media, Middleton wrote that he wants to be "a voice for unity" in this country:

Middleton's message comes after he took a knee during the national anthem prior to Monday's exhibition game against the San Diego Padres. 

“I'm very proud that he stood up for his beliefs,” Angels manager Joe Maddon told reporters after the game. “It's not easy to do that. A young man like that. He's the only one out here doing that.”

Six members of the San Francisco Giants, including manager Gabe Kapler, also took a knee during the national anthem before their exhibition vs. the Oakland Athletics. 

Giants outfielder Jaylin Davis, who was among that group of six, offered a similar explanation to Middleton's for why he made the decision to kneel:

MLB players have been using their platform to speak out against systemic racism and offer support for the Black Lives Matter movement. A number of players joined forces to release a video pleading with everyone "to do what's right, to say something, to acknowledge the pain of the Black community."

The league and all 30 teams have committed to donating money to various organizations supporting Black Lives Matter, including the Jackie Robinson Foundation, NAACP Legal Defense Fund, Equal Justice Initiative, Color of Change and Campaign Zero. 

Los Angeles Angels designated hitter and pitcher Shohei Ohtani confirmed he will take the mound for the team this year after he didn't pitch in 2019 while he was recovering from Tommy John surgery.

Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reported the news, noting Ohtani said he will start Los Angeles' third game of the year. That game is scheduled for Sunday, July 26, against the Oakland Athletics, and Bollinger explained that means Ohtani will start on Sundays with the team having three Monday off-days during the season.

Ohtani arrived in the major leagues for the 2018 season with plenty of hype because of his ability to both pitch and be a regular and productive part of the lineup.

He was the American League Rookie of the Year in his first season, slashing .285/.361/.564 with 22 home runs and 61 RBI at the plate and finishing with a 3.31 ERA, 1.16 WHP and 63 strikeouts in 51.2 innings on the mound.

Even when he didn't pitch last year, Ohtani was solid at the dish with a .286/.343/.505 slash line, 18 home runs, 62 RBI and 12 stolen bases on the offensive side.

Alden Gonzalez of ESPN noted Los Angeles' plan is to pitch Ohtani once a week instead of every five days and also keep him out of the lineup the days before and after he is the starting pitcher. That is what he did during the 2018 campaign, which resulted in the Rookie of the Year recognition.

On Sunday, Ohtani faced 22 batters during an intrasquad scrimmage and tallied six strikeouts while allowing just five singles.

He appeared ready to be a key contributor on the mound for an Angels squad with high expectations that is attempting to make the playoffs for the first time since the 2014 campaign.

Los Angeles added manager Joe Maddon and slugger Anthony Rendon this offseason. Adding Rendon to an offense that already featured Mike Trout, Albert Pujols, Justin Upton and Ohtani figures to make the Angels a potential competitor in the American League West.

A productive Ohtani on the mound would make them all the more dangerous.

A mint condition Mike Trout signed rookie card was sold for $280,000 at auction on Saturday, per Goldin Auctions. 

Goldin received a total of 18 bids, with a few late offers still trickling in hours before the event closed.

The card was from the 2009 Bowman Chrome Draft Prospects Series and is one of only 25 that were made available. PSA Card gave it a GEM MT 10, the highest possible grade. 

Goldin Auctions noted this card is the only one of the 25 to receive the PSA 10 grade. 

Trout's 2009 Bowman Chrome Draft Prospects Series autograph card first became "the most expensive modern day baseball card ever sold at auction" after a 9.5 Graded Gem Mint went for $922,500 at auction in May, according to Rich Mueller of Sports Collectors Daily. 

Mueller also noted that sale price "tied the record for any modern sports card ever sold publicly, matching the 2003-04 Upper Deck Exquisite All-Access 1/1 Michael Jordan/LeBron James sold by Goldin earlier this year."

Trout was drafted No. 25 overall by the Los Angeles Angels in 2009. He quickly established himself as the best MLB player of his generation after making his big league debut two years later.

In eight full seasons, he has been named to the All-Star team eight times and won 2012 AL Rookie of the Year and the AL MVP award three times.

The mother of Los Angeles Angels star Mike Trout used the three-time American League MVP to emphasize the need to wear protective masks amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Debbie Trout shared a photo of the center fielder running the bases while wearing a mask:

MLB players aren't required to wear masks while practicing but have the option to do so. Cloth face coverings and medical-grade masks can help limit the spread of the coronavirus.

Citing his wife's pregnancy, Trout expressed a level of caution about playing this season with the pandemic ongoing.

"I love playing this game. We want to play," he said, per the Los Angeles Times' Maria Torres. "It's going to come down to how safe we're going to be. If there's an outbreak, you definitely have to reconsider. There's a lot of questions. I love baseball, but I have to do what's right for my family. It's going to be a tough decision if something happens down the road."

Trout added that "it's going to take a group effort" in terms of ensuring others aren't exposed to COVID-19, alluding to how one person who doesn't wear a mask could unintentionally carry the coronavirus to another person.

Los Angeles Angels manager Joe Maddon offered his take Friday on players potentially opting out of the 2020 MLB season amid the coronavirus pandemic. 

According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, Maddon said:

"Everybody's talking about high-risk and those kinds of individuals opting out. To me the person that should opt out is the person who does not want to follow the protocols to a T at any age, at any risk. That’s hasn't been promoted enough.

"If you in your heart in hearts don't believe you could do all of this stuff, the way we need you to do all of this stuff, you're the person who should opt out."

Maddon's comments came three weeks before the scheduled start of the 2020 season on July 23. Players began reporting to training camp in their respective cities this week to prepare for the upcoming campaign.

A handful of players have already declared that they won't play this season because of concerns related to COVID-19, and Angels superstar outfielder Mike Trout is among those who have yet to come to a final decision.

Trout's wife, Jessica Cox, is pregnant and due in August. On Friday, Trout told reporters about his concerns regarding playing during a pandemic with a pregnant wife at home: "Honestly, I still don't feel comfortable. Obviously, with the baby coming, there's a lot of stuff going through my mind right now, my wife's mind and my family. Just trying to be the safest and most cautious way to get through a season."

Trout also told reporters on a Zoom call that he is still weighing his options:

"We're playing it by ear. I think the biggest thing is this is our first child. I've got to be there. If I test positive, I can't see the baby for 14 days. We would be upset. I've got to keep Jess safe. I've got to keep the baby safe. ... I try to talk to my wife every night about this. I know I'm risking myself. I could meet somebody and get this virus. That's the last thing I want to do.

"I love baseball. I love playing this game. We all want to play. It's going to come down to how safe we are going to be. If there's an outbreak or something happens these next few weeks, we've got to reconsider."

Maddon expressed understanding for Trout's concerns:

"Being a father for first time is very significant. To do it under these circumstances, there's a lot of layers involved. A lot of concern, for his baby and his wife, but with the perspective that he needs to stay well because he needs to be around people. There's a lot to think about. You can't take any of this lightly. You don't know what sacrifice means until you have your own kid."

While teams will travel to play games during the 2020 season, Major League Baseball has put protocols in place in an attempt to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Among them is limiting travel by only having teams in close geographic proximity play against each other.

Teams will only play divisional opponents and opponents in the corresponding division in the other league, meaning the New York Yankees will only face AL East and NL East teams.

Other protocols include regular COVID-19 testing for players, coaches and umpires, social distancing in locker rooms, the elimination of lineup card exchanges and the isolation of players during road trips.

The Angels haven't reached the playoffs since 2014, but they are a popular dark horse pick to win the World Series this year, especially in a short-season scenario where some pitching deficiencies can possibly be overcome.

With a three-time American League MVP in Trout being joined by a reigning World Series champion and top third baseman in Anthony Rendon, the Angels could be a dangerous team in 2020.

If Trout opts out and the Angels are without arguably the best player in baseball, however, the climb to the top will be much steeper.