Mike Trout lifted his head to watch a routine fly ball in Monday's first inning, then put his head down to jog to the dugout while the final out was recorded. At that point, Trout said, "I thought I got hit by a line drive."
Upon reaching third base, he knew something wasn't right. As he retreated into the clubhouse, he feared that he might have ruptured his Achilles tendon. The prognosis wasn't that bad, but it was sobering nonetheless.
Trout, the Los Angeles Angels' star center fielder and arguably the game's best all-around player, has a Grade 2 strain of his right calf.