Angels' Mike Trout says recovery going 'slower than I thought'

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Although Mike Trout has not resumed running nearly seven weeks after surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee, the Los Angeles Angels outfielder is optimistic about his recovery.

Trout provided an update on his progress Tuesday before the Angels hosted the Milwaukee Brewers. The three-time AL MVP hasn't played since April 29.

"It's getting there," Trout said. "Obviously slower than I thought, but it's the first time with a knee injury. I'm trusting the process and taking it day by day."

The 32-year-old Trout first felt pain in his knee during a win over his hometown Philadelphia Phillies, and an MRI exam confirmed he had torn his meniscus -- although he had no idea when or how the injury occurred in a fairly normal game. He had surgery May 3.

He has progressed to workouts on a stationary bike and an elliptical machine. Angels manager Ron Washington said the team hopes Trout can resume running soon.

"Just got to get the strength back," Trout said. "Kind of felt like this last week has been a little turning point where I can start ramping it up a little bit, see how it feels. It's just trying to find exercises that don't make it ache the next day or irritate it. Finally figured something out that's been working. Just trying to get that strength back."

Counting Tuesday's game, Trout has missed 293 games since the start of the 2021 season and has played in only 266.

He doesn't expect this injury to linger as long as his strained calf in 2021 -- a confounding setback that kept him out for all but 36 games that season.

"I can't run," Trout said. "Certain things get me kind of achy and sore the next day. Trying to limit that, because I don't want to get here and then have a setback and have this (up-and-down) thing. Just trying to progress as fast as I can the smart way."