Mike Trout may be one of baseball’s best but he also harbors a deep passion for another – Golf. Often trading his bat for a club, the Los Angeles Angels slugger can regularly be found on the golf greens in the offseason. Many MLB stars take an avid interest in the sport, but Trout has taken it to another level. But as unforeseen circumstances arise to throw a wrench into his plans of building a course of his own, the question arises – could the slugger have saved himself some trouble had he simply started out early?

In recent weeks, his baseball time has suffered as Trout struggles to recover from an injury. Meanwhile, his golf project has garnered more interest. Among Trout’s famous playing partners is one of the greatest golfers of all time – Tiger Woods. While almost no one can beat Woods’ age record for first having picked up a club, Trout has sure wished similarly.

Mike Trout Yearns After a Tiger Woods Record

Woods and Trout’s friendship is one of those cross-sports relationships that never fails to put a smile on a fan’s face. The two have now turned into business partners too, as Woods helps the Angels player with his ambitious $350 million project. Although the two have never faced off professionally before, there is one record Trout seemingly wants to break.

On June 22nd, the 3x AL MVP appeared for an interview with the Dodgers’ Mookie Betts, discussing all things baseball. Then the conversation turned to golf as Betts observed that Trout was quite the player. Going back to his early days, the Angels player told him, “I started playing golf around 16. Wish I’d started a little younger. I probably did but I never really – didn’t get into it.”

Interestingly, Trout has played baseball from an even earlier age, growing up a die-hard Philadelphia Phillies fan. Had it been golf, would fans know Trout as a pro golfer today? Although it probably wouldn’t have saved him from injuries either way.

Trout is Back on the IL Less Than 48 Hours After Being Activated

It’s a double whammy. Not only is Shohei Ohtani‘s pitching done for the season due to a  torn UCL, Mike Trout is back on the IL. After suffering an injury on July 3rd, the 11x All-Star missed 38 games as he underwent surgery for a hamate fracture in his left hand. While he was brought back as the Angels played the Reds, it was clear that Trout could still not make a proper swing.

READ MORE – “Lots of Meetings Everyday”: Mike Trout Blames Baseball Season for Delay in Life-Long $350,000,000 Dream Partnership With Tiger Woods

“He’s dying to play, but it’s pain in his hands and you need your hands to hit,” said Angels GM Perry Minasian. “It’s a significant injury he’s coming back from. The last thing we want to do is have him start compensating and it affects other parts. So we’re going to give it at least 10 days to calm down.”

While the Reds just swept the Angels, the club has not looked so hot since the trade deadline. The team is in dire straits and needs its injury-prone players back as soon as possible.

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