Angels star Mike Trout provides update on expected return

When Los Angeles Angels superstar Mike Trout suffered a torn meniscus in late April there was no official timetable for his return. Just a couple of months later Trout has a target in mind for when he wants to be back on the field and in the Angels lineup.

It is the end of July.

Specifically, Trout said on Saturday night that he would be disappointed if he is not back by the end of July as he continues to recover from his latest injury.

"Oh yeah, I'll be back before that," Trout said via the Associated Press before the Angels game against the Detroit Tigers. "I'm not putting like, an exact timetable on it, but once I do all the tests and I can run, hit and throw, I'll be out there. I'm happy where I'm at right now. It makes me relieved not to feel [any consistent pain]."

Trout was having an outstanding season for the Angels before he was injured, hitting 10 home runs in 29 games with a .868 OPS.

When healthy and when at his peak, Trout was the best player in baseball. Even though he is not quite at that level anymore, especially as he gets into his 30s and deals with repeated injuries, he remains a top-tier player at the plate.

The biggest thing that has slowed him down in recent years has been injuries as he has appeared in more than 100 games just once over the past five years.

Even though Trout has been a superstar, the injuries have certainly added a "what if" element to his career and what he could have been capable of with better health. Not to mention the "what if" that comes with him being stuck on a consistently mediocre (or bad) Angels team that has rarely even gotten him close to the playoffs.

Without him, the Angels have understandably struggled. His return will not change the outcome of their season, but they will still certainly rather have him in the lineup every night than not have him in there.