Mike Trout's Rehab Game Cut Short Due to Knee Soreness

Los Angeles Angels superstar Mike Trout faced a setback in his recovery as he was removed from his first minor league rehab game after just two innings due to soreness in his surgically repaired left knee. The team announced that Trout is now considered day-to-day. In his brief appearance for the Triple-A Salt Lake Bees, Trout struck out in his only at-bat but later engaged with fans by signing autographs. Angels manager Ron Washington provided an update following the team's 5-1 victory over the Seattle Mariners, stating that Trout will remain in Salt Lake City for further evaluation on Wednesday. Trout has been sidelined since April 29 due to a torn meniscus, which required surgery shortly thereafter. The initial plan for his rehab included playing five innings on Tuesday, serving as the designated hitter on Wednesday, and then playing seven innings on Thursday, with the hope of activating him off the injured list soon after. At 32 years old, Trout is regarded as a generational talent, having finished in the top two of American League MVP voting seven times between 2012 and 2019. However, injuries have plagued him in recent years, limiting his participation to less than 50% of the Angels' games from 2021 to 2023. Despite these challenges, Trout had a strong start to the 2024 season, boasting an .867 OPS and 10 home runs in his first 29 games before this latest injury.