Mike Trout set for return from IL as Angels quietly make a roster move

Mike Trout has spent the entire month of May on the sidelines—essentially an unwanted “vacation”—due to a bone bruise in his left knee that has kept him out since May 1. But there’s good news for Los Angeles Angels fans: Trout is reportedly ready to come off the injured list and return to action.

While the Angels have yet to make an official announcement, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reported that Trout is expected to rejoin the team for their May 30 road game against the Cleveland Guardians. The report was supported by a recent roster transaction that appears to make room for Trout.

“Angels star Mike Trout will be activated from the injured list when the team plays in Cleveland on Friday night, a source confirmed,” Fletcher wrote. “The Angels had no official announcement, but their official transactions page listed Matthew Lugo being optioned to Triple-A on Thursday.”

Trout May Face Some Early Limitations

Just a few days ago, manager Ron Washington said Trout was still unable to run the bases at full speed during what was considered a final test of his recovery. Even so, the Angels appear satisfied with the progress he’s made and are confident enough to bring him back.

Mike Trout #27 and Anthony Rendon #6 of the Los Angeles Angels celebrates a 7-1 win over the Tampa Bay Rays at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on April 8, 2024 in Anaheim, California.

Back on May 20, Trout had already expressed optimism about his recovery: “I came out, I feel good,” he said. “I’m really excited with where I’m at right now. We’re upping the intensity and there’s no soreness.”

Solid Production Before the Injury

Despite missing nearly a month, Trout had put together some solid numbers before being sidelined. In 106 at-bats, he had 9 home runs, 19 hits, 14 runs scored, and 18 RBIs. While his batting average sat at .179, he was showing strong form in the outfield and remained a presence in the lineup.