Trout has made progress in his rehabilitation ahead of the game at Citizens Bank Park, with successful training in the outfield.

Mike Trout, enjoying the All-Star break in his hometown of Millville, New Jersey, is spending valuable recovery time with family and friends after undergoing two surgeries for a left knee bone bruise. The seasoned Philadelphia sports fan, who grew up 45 miles south of the city, revealed to the media today at Citizens Bank Park that he is now able to participate in right field defensive drills, marking a significant step in his recovery.

“The training feels good,” Trout said about his recovery, “it’s a gradual process, and I’m looking forward to getting back to the outfield soon. Tomorrow, I plan to work on fly balls and reading the ball.” Since returning on May 31, he has only served as the designated hitter, and he is still uncertain about the timeline for his defensive return. “The key is whether I can handle the workload of nine innings in the field—how my body responds after repeated sprints is the real test.”

With three AL MVP awards and eleven All-Star selections, Trout emphasized that the Angels are in a crucial phase as the July 31 trade deadline approaches. They are just four games away from the final AL Wild Card spot and are striving to avoid becoming sellers while seeking improvements. “We’ve shown competitiveness,” he pointed out, “we need to maintain our hot streak in the second half: solid defense and executing tasks efficiently when there are runners in scoring position.”

At 33 years old, Trout has posted a batting line of .238/.365/.471 with 17 home runs, 4 doubles, and 41 RBIs in 70 games this season. In the 41 games since his return, his numbers have improved to .283/.433/.478. A bone bruise caused by a baserunning incident on May 1 had sidelined him for nearly all of May.

“It’s a blessing to stay in the lineup,” Trout reflected. Recent injuries have caused him to miss the 2023 game in Philadelphia, having only played there in 2014 and 2022. “In the past, I could only be there to recover without hitting; now I can at least contribute.”

Interim manager Ray Montgomery views this outfield training as a positive sign: “If he can patrol right field, it will not only enhance our defensive strength but also allow hitters like Jorge Soler and Logan O’Hoppe to rest through designated hitting, optimizing lineup flexibility.” He added, “Trout is a defensive asset in the outfield, and we must carefully advance his rehabilitation process.”

Trout is also approaching two significant milestones—his 400th career home run and 1000 RBIs, needing just five more to reach each. Among active players, only Giancarlo Stanton has hit 400 home runs, while only eight current players are part of the 1000 RBIs club. “Fifteen years in my career have flown by,” Trout admitted, “these milestones are incredibly meaningful, and I’m eager to achieve them myself.”