Mike Trout is downplaying news that he's dealing with a "rare" spinal condition that could affect him for the rest of his career.

The Los Angeles Angels' head athletic trainer revealed the condition Wednesday.

"I think he meant that I have to stay on top of the routine I do on a daily basis to keep it from coming back," Trout said.

"I'm appreciative of all the prayer requests, but my career is not over."

Trout left a game on July 12 with what was first called back spasms, then went on the injured list a week later with what was called rib cage inflammation.

"This is a pretty rare condition that he has right now in his back," trainer Mike Frostad said. "The doctor (Robert Watkins III), who is one of the most well-known spine surgeons in the country -- if not the world -- doesn't see a lot of these.

"And for it to happen in a baseball player -- we just have to take into consideration what he puts himself through with hitting, swinging on a daily basis just to get prepared, and then also playing in the outfield, diving for balls, jumping into the wall -- things like that. There's so many things that can aggravate it. But this doctor hasn't seen a lot of it."