Mike Trout is seemingly nearing a return to action, as the Angels superstar has been taking part in batting practice sessions and running drills, and is set to start running the bases within the next few days’ time. Trout has been out since April 30 due to a bone bruise in his left knee, and when he does get back, it isn’t clear whether or not Trout will return to outfield duty or if he’ll get more time as a DH in order to help preserve his health. Halos manager Ron Washington told Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register and other reporters that the focus right now is just on getting Trout healthy, and “once Mike is back, we can have that conversation right there” about his spot in the lineup.
After years as the Halos’ center fielder, Trout began 2025 in right field, already as a way to try and reduce the wear-and-tear on the oft-injured star. Of course, if Trout takes on more of a regular DH role, that would force Jorge Soler into more right field work, which wouldn’t bode well for the L.A. defense given Soler’s long history of subpar glovework. While Washington has felt Soler has “done an outstanding job” in 13 appearances as a right fielder this season, the team feels keeping Soler in right field only in limited fashion is the best solution to help Soler’s overall game. “Running him out there five, six days in a row, we’re not going to do that. But give him two days, a change from just hitting, will help him focus more,” Washington said.
More injury updates from around the AL West…
- Corey Seager hasn’t played since May 10 due to a right hamstring strain, though Rangers manager Bruce Bochy told reporters (including Shawn McFarland of the Dallas Morning News) that the star shortstop could be ready to return at some point this week. Friday seems to be the loose target date, though Seager could be back earlier given the increased ramp-up of his prep work — Seager has been taking part in running and fielding drills, and also took part in a live batting practice on Saturday. The plan is to have these baseball activities get Seager into game-ready mode without the need for a minor league rehab assignment. This is already Seager’s second hamstring-related IL stint of the season, which is why he has been limited to 26 games and 107 plate appearances in 2025. As usual, Seager has been excellent (.300/.346/.520 with six home runs) when he has been able to play, and the offensively-challenged Rangers could badly use that bat in their struggling lineup.
- Mariners starters Bryce Miller and Logan Gilbert each threw simulated games on Friday, with Miller throwing around 25 pitches and Gilbert going higher with 35. It was exactly a month ago that Gilbert was pulled from a start due to a flexor strain in his right elbow, and while Friday’s session was a good step forward, the right-hander suggested to MLB.com’s Daniel Kramer and other reporters that he has a ways to go in his throwing progression. This could mean another sim game and perhaps multiple minor league rehab starts before Gilbert is back in Seattle’s rotation.
- Miller (on the 15-day IL since May 12 due to elbow inflammation) is hopeful of returning as early as this week, though manager Dan Wilson expressed some caution. In perhaps more of a long-term concern, Miller told Kramer and company that some tests revealed that his elbow was structurally fine overall, but “there’s something in there that causes inflammation and something I can’t just take out without missing the rest of the year. So this ideally gets me to the end of the year, and then we can reassess and see if I need to clean it up or anything.” These comments somewhat expand on the lingering health issues the righty hinted at when speaking with the media at the time of his initial IL placement, and the exact nature of these injuries may not be known until or unless Miller does get a clean-up procedure at season’s end. With a 5.22 ERA over his first 39 2/3 innings this year, something has clearly seemed amiss with Miller’s performance, and there’s naturally some risk in trying to tough out several more months of pitching before properly addressing the problem.
I’ll give Trout a month and a half.
he’s out for the season
Waiting for the “Trout had a setback in his recovery” article.
The Angels are hitting a little, Trout might not be able to hold his own in the Angel’s lineup. He was awful into May prior to his injury. Turned into Adam Dunn.
If Trout can get the bat going and the Angels can find a starter or two, they could win that division. The Mariners aren’t all that good, the Rangers can’t hit, the Astros starting pitching is imploding. The Angels are in it.
Only thing the Angels are in is a race to lose 90 with the Sacramento Athletics
I dont know, that division is shaky, if Blanco goes to the rack with a TJ, the Astros are toast. The Rangers are 26th out of 30th innruns scored. The Mariners should pull away but they’re offense is not that good, Gilbert and Kirby havent made their returns yet, both are still less than 100% and at risk of season ending injury, Miller too.
If Kochanowicz goes down, it’s no big deal. If Detmers blows out his arm, next man up. Somehow they are .500. I think it bodes well for the Halos.
The Anfels roster is God awful. Even with the 8-2 L10, they’re still below .500 and -50 in run differential.
You guys, just mute that Cora troll and it all goes away.
He does this in every thread.
Muting now.
Muting now as well.
Free Mike Trout for the love of Major League Baseball.
It’s up to Trout to release himself.
I wonder if Trout actually loves the game or if he’s secretly like Rendon and doesn’t mind stubbing his toe every year to give himself a couple months off. Also, he isn’t exactly complaining about missing the playoffs, it interferes with his football Sundays in the fall. If he really wanted to win he wouldn’t have signed that big contract with Anaheim. The Phillies, Mets, Dodgers, Padres, Yankees, etc. had the funds, and have much smarter front offices than the Angels. If he hit free agency back when he was supposed to there would have been a huge bidding war like there was with Soto.
JKBC: “I wonder if Trout actually loves the game or if he’s secretly like Rendon”
Troll much?
He’s not gonna openly talk about hating the game like his teammate, but I doubt he cares *that much* about being the absolute best anymore. He’s getting paid either way.
Players go to the highest bidder. Do you think Soto cares if the Mets win? Nope. The mets from office and Padres are really smart. They have noth won nothing. The Padres have a lod of overpriced guys and they will be looking to shed payroll. They already have Machado for hundreds of millions, Boegarts, Tatis. Did I miss anyone? Xander hots .230 now and sgned ot age 40. Machado 41mm to age 40. How are those going to age. Even the Yankees have not won it all in a long time. As if you know what teams are going to win it all?
Have you looked at the Angels franchise in the last I dunno, 10-15 years?
bw,
A 101 OPS+ isn’t “awful.”