Mike Trout Says He's 'Pumped' to Be Back with Angels in Photo After Knee Injury Rehab

Mike Trout is looking forward to returning to the Los Angeles Angels lineup after 26 missed games during Friday's series opener against the Cleveland Guardians.

"Pumped to get back out there with the boys," Trout wrote in the caption of a social media post on Friday afternoon.

Trout last played on April 30. He was later placed on the IL with a left knee bone bruise. He will bat fifth and play at DH in his return.

Manager Ron Washington has previously said the Angels have had to "hold Mike back" from rushing his return amid a second straight season impacted by left knee issues.

Trout was limited to just 29 games in 2024 before his season was cut short by a torn meniscus in his left knee.

The three-time MVP underwent an initial procedure on the injury in May. His rehab process was shut down in August after a second tear in his meniscus necessitated an additional surgery.

Trout had again appeared in 29 games before he was sidelined in early May with what was originally described as left knee soreness.

He had slashed .179/.264/.462 with nine home runs and 18 RBIs prior to suffering the injury.

Trout told MLB.com's Rhett Bollinger that he had been "hitting and throwing every day" with no pain for over a week prior his reinstatement from IL. He also hit against a minor league pitcher on Wednesday, per Jeff Fletcher of SoCal News Group.

Trout has missed more than half of the Angels' games over his past five seasons in Los Angeles. The Angels moved him from center field to right field this spring as part of an effort to keep him healthier during the 2025 season, per Bollinger.

Angels reporter Erica Weston wrote on Friday that Trout said he intends to DH for now but will resume outfield activities "in the coming days."

The Angels are hoping Trout's return will hope the team snap a five-game losing streak when the Guardians series opens on Friday night against 7:10 p.m. ET.