ANAHEIM — Mike Trout stood in the same spot outside the Angels’ clubhouse where he’s described many of his previous injuries. Often, he’s made predictions about his return that proved to be inaccurate, as he spent longer than expected on the injured list.
As he was explaining on Friday that he doesn’t think the bone bruise in his left knee is a big deal, he was asked why this time feels different.
“Well, there’s no structural damage,” Trout said. “And the progress from yesterday to today. Yesterday, I was in some pain. Today, I can walk normal. Doc said, just stay off it. Don’t do anything for a couple days. Then get back into it slowly and go.”
Trout also said “it’s definitely possible” that he will have the minimum 10-day stay on the injured list.
“I’m not concerned at all,” Trout added.
The Angels and their fans certainly hope all of that is true, despite the track record.
When Trout strained his calf in 2021, broke his hamate bone in 2023 and tore his meniscus in 2024, the prognosis each time was for him to return within the season. Aside from one game before a setback in 2023, the three-time American League MVP never came back from any of those injuries.
Still, Trout said what he felt in his knee this week has been nothing like the discomfort that he felt with his meniscus last year. He tore it twice, requiring two surgeries. He was in the midst of a rehab assignment when he tore it the second time.
“This is way better than what happened last year,” Trout said. “I knew, looking at the MRI, something was obviously wrong. But structurally, it’s good. Just bruising around the bones. Just letting that thing calm down. Then I’ll be good to go.”
Angels general manager Perry Minasian, who has been along this ride with Trout for the last four seasons, was not willing to make any predictions about how long he’ll be out.
“No idea,” Minasian said. “Hopefully it’s better sooner than later. Timeframe-wise, I have no clue. Until he can start running, that’s probably the first threshold. We’ll know more once he starts running.”
Manager Ron Washington said there will be a discussion when Trout is ready to return about how he’s used. The Angels moved him from center field to right field to reduce the workload on his legs. He started the first 29 games of the season, including seven at DH.
Could he spend more time at DH now?
“That decision, we’ll make when we sit down and talk to him, and have him involved in that decision,” Washington said. “We’re not going to make that decision, just us.”
In the meantime, right field is going to be split among several players. Jorge Soler was in right for the second straight game on Friday, but Washington said he won’t play him out there more than a couple of days in a row. The Angels can also play Kyren Paris in center and move Jo Adell to right. Gustavo Campero can play right. Niko Kavadas, who was called up to take Trout’s roster spot, can also play right field, although he’s more likely to be used at DH.
JOYCE UPDATE
Right-handed reliever Ben Joyce said he stopped throwing after it didn’t feel right when he tried last week. Joyce is on the injured list with right shoulder inflammation.
Joyce said he’s going to wait until next week to try to throw again.
“Just a little bit of the same right now,” Joyce said. “Just trying to get over the hump and re-evaluate as we go right now.”
NOTES
Third baseman Yoán Moncada (right thumb sprain) will begin a rehab assignment on Saturday. …
Right-hander Sam Bachman (thoracic outlet syndrome) is getting closer to a rehab assignment. He’s been facing hitters. …
Right-hander Robert Stephenson (Tommy John surgery rehab) faced hitters for the first time in his rehab on Friday. …
Washington said he still plans to use left-hander Reid Detmers the same way, after he had back-to-back rough outings. Detmers recorded just one out, while being charged with nine earned runs, in the last two games. Detmers’ ERA rose from 2.57 to 8.16. “He had a couple bad games, and from what I saw prior to that, he looked like he was on his way to being exactly what we wanted him to be,” Washington said. “Now, he had a bump in the road, and we’re going to see how he reacts. And that’s all we can do. We’re certainly not sending him out. And when he’s able to get the ball, we’re gonna give him the ball.”
UP NEXT
Tigers (RHP Jack Flaherty, 1-3, 3.34 ERA) at Angels (RHP Kyle Hendricks, 0-3, 6.65 ERA), Saturday, 6:38 p.m., FDSN West, 830 AM