Angels’ Mike Trout Hopeful for Quick Return After Injury

ANAHEIM, Calif. – Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout, on the injured list after sustaining a left knee injury, expressed optimism about his recovery on Friday.

Trout, who previously underwent two surgeries for meniscus tears in his left knee last season, suffered discomfort after lunging toward first base during a game on Wednesday. After exiting the game, further evaluation revealed no structural damage.

“Talking to the doctors, I’ve had two meniscuses shaved down, and I just hit it perfectly on the bag,” Trout said. “Both bones hit each other, and I bruised both of them.” He mentioned that he is following a protocol to ramp up his activity slowly.

Asked if he believes he can return quickly, Trout responded, “Yeah, it’s certainly possible.” Despite struggling to maintain consistency at the plate, his presence is crucial for a struggling Angels offense.

The 2025 season marks Trout’s fifth consecutive year facing injury challenges, significantly limiting his game appearances. Over the past four seasons, he has played only 41% of the team’s games.

Trout has been active in 29 games this season, recording nine home runs while also accumulating 36 strikeouts and a batting average of .179. His current struggles mirror the overall offensive difficulties faced by the Angels, who rank near the bottom in several hitting categories.

In Trout’s absence, the team plans to use various players in right field. Manager Ron Washington stated that they will include Trout in discussions about his playing position when he returns.

“We’re not going to make that decision just us. We’re going to include Mike,” Washington said. “If for some reason he has to DH more, then we’ll go that route.” Trout aims to prevent future injuries by adjusting his technique on the field.

“I’ll just try not to lunge at the bags, I guess,” he said. “Yeah, obviously, I gotta be a little bit careful.” With no structural damage detected, Trout remains hopeful that he will make a quick return to the lineup.