After he originally was on the fence about returning to play amid the coronavirus pandemic, Los Angeles Angels superstar Mike Trout has announced that he will indeed play in 2020, with his team's opener just two days away.
Trout had some trepidation about playing and subjecting his family to potential health issues since his wife, Jessica, is pregnant with the couple's first child.
Earlier this month, Trout said he would have to decide"what's right for my family".
With some time to be with his team-mates while preparing for the season, Trout apparently saw enough to make him content about starting the season on time.
"I'm playing," Trout told reporters on Wednesday. "Everything's been great so far."
With the birth of his child expected in August, Trout said he would depart the team for a short stretch, but isn't sure about protocols he will have to take in order to return to the field.
Trout said he was pleased with current health and safety protocols taken by the team during workouts at Angel Stadium and with the safety being taken around the league.
The eight-time All-Star, three-time MVP and 2012 Rookie of the Year is comingoff a 2019 season in which be batted .291 with 45 home runs and 104 RBIs.
He led baseball with a .438 on-base percentage and topped the American League with a .645 slugging percentage, which gave him a 1.083 OPS.
He is a career .305 hitter over nine seasons and 1,199 games, amassing 285home runs, 752 RBIs and 200 stolen bases.
The Angels open their season on the road on Friday against the Oakland Athletics.
