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SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, July 20, 2024 (Gephardt Daily) — Los Angeles Angels outfielder and three-time American League MVP Mike Trout is expected to return to Salt Lake City next week on a rehab assignment.
Trout, who started his AL Rookie of the Year-winning season with the Salt Lake Bees in 2012, has been sidelined since suffering a torn meniscus in his left knee against the Philadelphia Phillies on April 29. He underwent surgery on May 3.
Trout, the No. 25 overall pick by the Angels in the 2009 MLB Draft, had been targeting a late-July return to the Angels. He was in Arizona on Saturday to face live pitching and has been designed for a short rehab assignment with Triple-A Salt Lake, according to the Angels.
Trout is expected to start his rehab assignment Tuesday when the Bees open a six-game series with the El Paso Chihuahuas at Smith’s Ballpark. He could return to the Angels as soon as Thursday for Los Angeles’ homestand against the Oakland Athletics.
Before being called up to the big leagues on April 28, 2012, Trout had a .403 batting average, a .467 on-base percentage and a .623 slugging percentage in 20 games with the Bees.
The 11-time MLB All-Star won the AL MVP in 2014, 2016 and 2019, and is a nine-time winner of the Silver Slugger Award.
Trout, 32, is hitting .220, with an on-base percentage of .281 and a slugging percentage of .390 — all career lows — in 40 games with the Angels this season.