The Los Angeles Angels are walking a fine line—pushing for relevance in the AL West while navigating the cautious return of their franchise cornerstone. Mike Trout, sidelined since April 30 with a left knee injury, is showing real progress in his rehab. But despite the encouraging signs, both Trout and the team are prioritizing long-term health over immediate results.
“Mike Trout ran on the field again today and said this time it was at about 80 percent intensity. Said he felt great,” MLB.com’s Rhett Bollinger reported Wednesday. Trout himself echoed the optimism: “I came out, I feel good. I’m really excited with where I’m at right now. We’re upping the intensity and there’s no soreness.”
The 11-time All-Star, who last played in just 29 games in 2024—mirroring a frustrating trend from the past few seasons—has been active in hitting drills, cage work, and throwing. But the biggest test still lies ahead.
“Running the bases is a big hurdle,” Trout admitted. “I just trust what [the trainers] tell me… just building it up.”
Mike Trout Nearing Return, but Los Angeles Angels Taking No Chances With Star’s Knee
Manager Ron Washington is aligned with the cautious approach. “He wanted to do more, but he’s on a ramp-up program, and we’re not going to rush it. We don’t want any setbacks.”
Before the injury, Trout was slashing just .179/.264/.462, but had still managed nine home runs and 18 RBIs in 106 at-bats—showing his power hasn’t waned. Interestingly, the Angels are 10-8 without him and 12-17 with him this season, and recently swept the Dodgers.
With a 22-25 record and 5.5 games behind the Mariners, the Angels are hopeful Trout’s return will spark a push—but they’re committed to getting it right. As Trout put it: “Football is my life”—wait, wrong star. But for Trout and baseball, the sentiment feels the same.