Mike Trout’s rehab with Triple-A Salt Lake has been paused as he traveled back to Southern California for a re-examination of his left knee on Wednesday. The Los Angeles Angels’ star center fielder felt discomfort in his surgically repaired knee after striking out in the first inning of Tuesday night’s game, his first rehab appearance. Trout played only two innings before being pulled. “He felt something after the at-bat and informed us,” Salt Lake manager Mike Johnson said. “We took him out as a precaution.”
Following the Angels’ 2-1 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday, manager Ron Washington provided limited updates on Trout, the three-time American League MVP. “He’s coming back to L.A. to be reevaluated. We’ll see what happens,” Washington said. Trout last played for the Angels on April 29, when he injured his knee and subsequently underwent surgery for meniscus repair.
In Salt Lake, Trout was scheduled to play five innings in center field on Tuesday, act as designated hitter on Wednesday, and play seven innings on Thursday. The 11-time All-Star had a .220 batting average with 10 homers and 14 RBIs in 29 games this season. The cause of his knee injury remains unclear.
Additionally, the Angels signed veteran right-hander Johnny Cueto to a minor league contract on Wednesday. Cueto, 38, will join Salt Lake after leaving the Texas Rangers’ organization, where he went 2-1 with a 5.92 ERA in eight starts for Triple-A Round Rock. Cueto, a two-time All-Star, has a 144-111 record and a 3.50 ERA over 16 major league seasons.
