Trout playing DH through 'painful' finger sprain

On Thursday night, Mike Trout acted as the Los Angeles Angels' designated hitter for the second straight game, as the superstar played through a finger sprain and is unable to throw.

The natural center fielder hasn't been stationed in the outfield since Monday, with Kole Calhoun shifting over from right in one game and Michael Hermosillo getting the start on Thursday.

"Obviously I want to be out in center," Trout told Alden Gonzalez of ESPN following the 8-5 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays. "But it is what it is."

While he couldn't pinpoint the origin of the sprain, the 26-year-old believed he suffered the injury last weekend during a three-game series against the Oakland Athletics.

"I think it was just over time," Trout added. "I don't know one spot when it happened, but it's pretty painful."

The six-time All-Star and two-time MVP has gone 1-for-3 with five walks over the last two games in the DH spot. For the season, Trout boasts a .332/.471/.683 slash line in what has been his best offensive season in a career of remarkable production to date. His 211 wRC+ towers above even the second-best qualified hitter.

With how important Trout is to the lineup, missing out on his defense could be somewhat costly to the Angels. By FanGraphs' defensive value, Trout has saved over three runs in center field or, put alternatively, roughly one-third of a win en route to his league-leading 6.3 WAR.

The Angels continue a four-game series against the Blue Jays on Friday night with a Trout Nutcracker promotion and wrap it up on Sunday afternoon with a youth Trout youth jersey giveaway.