ANAHEIM -- Angels star Mike Trout has progressed to swinging the bat without any issues and his next step in his recovery from a bone bruise in his left knee will be running on a treadmill and on the field.
Trout, who has been out since April 30 after injuring his twice surgically repaired left knee on an awkward step on first base in Seattle, is eligible to return from the injured list on Sunday. But Trout said Saturday he won’t be ready by then, as he still needs to start running before he’s cleared to return. With Trout out, No. 13 prospect Matthew Lugo made his first career start in left field on Saturday against the Orioles, as the Angels have been searching to replace Trout’s production.
“I feel good,” Trout said. “It’s been a very positive last few days. I’m not running, but I’ve been swinging the last three days. I’m up to 40 swings with no pain. Off the tee and flips in the cage. But the biggest thing will be running.”
Trout, 33, said he doesn’t have an exact timeline for his return, but is confident it won’t be too much longer. He’ll join the Angels on their three-game road trip to San Diego that begins on Monday and said it’s likely he starts his running progression there. He’s been riding a stationary bike with no pain but it doesn’t have the same impact as running.
“I don’t have a day, but I feel great,” Trout said. “Talking to doctors, it's kind of like a scab kind of thing. We're just adding exercises each and every day. And I’m coming in feeling good with no soreness so I’ll keep progressing.”
Trout, a three-time AL MVP and 11-time All-Star, was hitting .179/.264/.462 with nine homers, one double, a triple, two stolen bases and 18 RBIs in 29 games. He played in every one of the game's first 29 games before sustaining his injury while trying to beat out an infield single.
Trout initially feared the worst after being injured, as he had surgery on his meniscus twice last year. But this injury isn’t considered an aggravation of his meniscus tear, as he said it simply was the bones in his knees colliding when he stepped on the first-base bag. But Trout said it’s been healing over the last 10 days and is remaining optimistic about returning soon.
“The sharp pain I was feeling is gone,” Trout said. “Get a little dullness here and there. But it’s one of those things where you don’t want to go crazy and have a setback. The progress has been so good the last couple days. It’s been great. I was worried in the beginning but the sharpness I felt that day in Seattle is gone.”