CLEVELAND — Mike Trout initially anticipated to return to the Los Angeles Angels’ lineup on Monday in Boston.
It seems the timeline was moved up one collection and three days.
Trout was activated off the injured listing and went 1-for-5 because the designated hitter in Friday evening’s 4-1 win over the Cleveland Guardians. The Angels slugger missed 26 video games with soreness in his left knee finally recognized as a bone bruise. The three-time American League MVP had two operations final yr on the knee after tearing his meniscus.
“Felt good. Struck out on two at-bats, however apart from that felt all proper,” mentioned Trout, who batted fifth for the primary time in 1,532 begins.
Trout lined a base hit to left-center within the fourth inning. He thought he had successful in his first at-bat within the second inning, however Cleveland third baseman José Ramírez made a pleasant seize on a low line drive.
“I believed he had some good at-bats contemplating that he hadn’t seen dwell pitching shortly,” supervisor Ron Washington mentioned. “He hit the ball arduous 3 times right this moment. They made some some good pitches when he struck out. However welcome again, Mike.”
Trout’s return additionally helped the Angels snap a five-game dropping streak and enhance to 28-30.
It was the primary time since Sept. 26, 2011, Trout’s rookie season, he began a sport hitting decrease than third.
Washington is joyful to have Trout again, particularly since he famous Trout wasn’t aggressive in speeding in his return. Washington additionally is aware of that Trout is not able to return to his regular spot batting second or third.
“He hasn’t seen something. So if you have a look at what we now have, that is the place he sits,” Washington mentioned earlier than the sport. “It would not make sense for him to guard [Logan] O’Hoppe. So I am going to put Mike behind him to guard O’Hoppe. He is not able to be on the prime of the lineup, particularly with these guys up there. As we go alongside the subsequent couple of days, he is not going to stay fifth.”
The 33-year previous Trout is hitting .180 with 9 residence runs, 18 RBIs and a .712 OPS in 30 video games. He would be the designated hitter for the weekend collection in opposition to the Guardians earlier than probably returning to proper discipline when the Halos head to Boston on Monday for a three-game collection.
Although Trout has shied away from eager to be the designated hitter, he has finished properly in that spot. In eight video games this season, he’s 9-for-33 (.273) with six residence runs and 9 RBIs.
Trout mentioned whether or not or not he performs extra video games than initially deliberate at DH the rest of the season is one thing that continues to be to be seen.
“Bone bruises are difficult. I do know I’m going to be sore however I can take care of it,” he mentioned. “I undoubtedly need to be cautious, particularly the primary couple video games.”
Trout has missed 404 of the Angels’ 665 video games — nearly 60% — since Could 17, 2021, when he tore his calf muscle in opposition to Cleveland and was sidelined for the remainder of that season. That is the fifth straight yr he has had a stint of not less than 25 video games on the IL.
He missed 5 weeks of the 2022 season with a again harm, and all however one sport after July 3 in 2023 after he broke a bone in his hand on a foul ball. Trout performed in 29 video games final season earlier than the meniscus harm.
“There’s so many video games that any sense of newness or one thing to make you excited is one thing that you simply’d latch on to. So right this moment is unquestionably a second like that,” O’Hoppe mentioned about Trout’s return. “He is the guts of this group. So we’re joyful to have our coronary heart beating once more for certain.”
