CLEVELAND -- Mike Trout said that he still hopes to be back in the Los Angeles Angels lineup this season despite a long and frustrating recovery from a calf injury which has kept him sidelined since May 17.
Three-time American League MVP, he said Saturday that he hadn't thought about closing it for the year.
Trout stated, "I'm just trying get back." "Of course, time is running out, but my main goal is to get back on track, no matter what the hour is."
After injuring his right leg while running the bases on May 17, the center fielder stated that he believed he would be back.
Trout stated, "It's one the most difficult things I've ever been through in my professional career." Although I've suffered some injuries, this is the most difficult. I didn't realize how much my calf was used.
"I'm feeling better. It seems like I have been doing a lot lately. Every other day, almost every two days, I've been participating in a variety of baseball activities. Recovering is the most important thing. Because I work a lot during the day, I try to recover faster the next day. The next day is pretty painful.
Trout, 30, said that he could not give a date for when he will begin his rehabilitation assignment. However, he has been running every day.
Trout participated in on-field activities in Detroit Tuesday and trained again in Cleveland for Friday's game.
Trout stated that if Trout does a lot of baseball work and then gets sore the next day it can be very difficult. "I want to be able to do several baseball activities so that the next day I can go back and play the same thing. It's improving every day."
Joe Maddon, Angels manager, said that he speaks with his superstar every day.
Maddon stated, "I know that his desire is for us to come back here this year." He wants to be back. You can see it in his eyes, he wants to be playing. He'll do whatever it takes to get back onto the field.
The nine-time All-Star bats.333 and has eight home runs. He also has 18 RBIs in 36 games.
The Angels are at 62-62, and fourth in the AL West. They are 11 games behind Houston. Los Angeles is eight games behind Houston in the wild-card race.
