Los Angeles Angels superstar Mike Trout is inching closer to a return from a bone bruise in his left knee that has sidelined him since April 30. The 33-year-old has resumed batting practice and agility work, and he’s expected to begin running the bases during the team’s upcoming series against the Yankees — a critical milestone in his rehab.
“Mike Trout will run the bases during the Yankees series,” The Athletic’s Sam Blum reported. “That’s the last hurdle for him, but he might have to do it multiple days. It sounds as if his return (if all goes well) will be relatively soon, but not close to imminent.”
Mike Trout Nears Return, but Los Angeles Angels Weigh Role Amid Caution and Momentum
When Trout is cleared, the Angels will face a key decision: does he return to the outfield or transition into more of a designated hitter role to preserve his health? Trout, who was moved to right field to reduce physical toll earlier this season, has battled frequent injuries in recent years — playing just 36 games in 2021, 82 in 2023, and only 29 so far in 2024.
Manager Ron Washington is prioritizing Trout’s health first. “Once Mike is back, we can have that conversation right there,” he told Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register, deferring questions about Trout’s eventual position.
If Trout takes on more DH duties, it would force Jorge Soler into more right field time — a defensively risky shift. Despite Washington praising Soler’s effort in 13 games out there — calling it “an outstanding job” — the team is reluctant to overextend him. “Running him out there five, six days in a row, we’re not going to do that,” Washington noted.
Still, the Angels are thriving in Trout’s absence, riding an eight-game win streak (their longest since 2014) before Saturday’s loss to Miami. Players like Taylor Ward (15 HR, 37 RBI), Nolan Schanuel (.383 OBP), Zach Neto (.286 AVG), and Logan O’Hoppe (.547 SLG) have stepped up, keeping the Halos afloat — and perhaps buying Trout a little more time.