Angels' Mike Trout removed from rehab game with knee soreness

Mike Trout was removed after the first two innings of his first minor league rehab game Tuesday night with soreness in his surgically repaired left knee, the Los Angeles Angels announced.

The superstar center fielder is day-to-day.

Trout started in center field and struck out looking in his only at-bat for the Triple-A Salt Lake Bees, then came back onto the field to sign autographs.

Speaking after the Angels' 5-1 win against the Marinersin Seattle on Tuesday night, manager Ron Washington said Trout will remain in Salt Lake City and will be reevaluated Wednesday.

Trout has been out since suffering a torn meniscus in that knee April 29, undergoing surgery four days later, but was days away from returning to major league action.

Washington previously told reporters the plan was for Trout to play five innings Tuesday, serve as the designated hitter Wednesday and play another seven innings Thursday, after which he might be activated off the injured list.

Trout, 32, is a generational talent who finished within the top two in American League MVP voting seven times from 2012 to 2019. But he has been ravaged by injury in recent years, playing in less than 50% of the Angels' games from 2021 to 2023 because of ailments to his right calf, upper back and left hand.

The three-time MVP held an .867 OPS with 10 home runs through his first 29 games of 2024 before suffering his latest injury.