Mike Trout, the Los Angeles Angels outfielder, demonstrated promising speed during spring training in Tempe, Arizona, reaching 29.9 feet per second on an infield single. The 34-year-old three-time AL MVP expressed confidence in returning to elite levels, targeting 30 feet per second. His manager noted positive signs in Trout's recovery from knee injuries.
In Tempe, Arizona, Mike Trout showcased his recovering speed during a spring training game on Saturday against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Attempting to beat out an infield single, Trout clocked 29.9 feet per second, his fastest sprint since sustaining a meniscus tear in his left knee in late April 2024. This mark, measured by Statcast, surprised Trout, who has downplayed his velocity amid ongoing rehabilitation.
“I feel great,” Trout said, noting he is down roughly five pounds from last year. “I saw that. So yeah, I feel really good. … 29.9? Huh. I’m going to get to 30. Because I got more in the tank. But the 29.9 surprised me.”
Trout, a three-time AL MVP and 11-time All-Star, averaged 27.9 feet per second last year, ranking in the 62nd percentile with a top speed of 29.7 feet per second. This was a decline from his 29.5 feet per second in 2023 (96th percentile) and 28.9 in 2024 (90th percentile), where he regularly exceeded 30 feet per second. The slowdown stemmed from left knee issues, including two meniscus tears and surgeries in 2024, plus a bone bruise on April 30 in Seattle after stepping awkwardly on first base. He returned May 30 but did not regain his usual pace.
Manager Kurt Suzuki commented on the performance, joking with Trout the next morning. “It’s a great sign and we were all in the clubhouse joking about it,” Suzuki said. “Shoot, that's amazing to see. He feels good. He's moving around good. I think mentally, he's in a good place. So you know, everything's trending in the right direction.”
Trout sat out Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers but is scheduled to start in center field on Monday against the Kansas City Royals. His left knee feels strong after a full offseason, and he aims to reclaim center field after shifting to right last year. On Thursday, he played left field for the first time since 2013 against the Chicago Cubs, misplaying a sinking liner in the sun but viewing it as valuable experience.
“It’s nothing too crazy over there,” Trout said. “The sun is ridiculous out there for like the first six innings. But yeah, it was all right. I’ll be back in center tomorrow. It’s just one of those things where we talked about it and it’s just to get some reps just in case I have to go out there.”
