ANAHEIM —The last time Mike Trout played in an All-Star Game was two kids ago.
That’s one of the reasons that it meant so much to him to finally get selected for another All-Star Game. Trout’s sons — ages 5 and 2 — were excited to get the news, via FaceTime, that their dad would be going to the All-Star Game.
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“It means a lot,” Trout said, his voice cracking. He added, “I love playing, but it’s an experience for my kids and family.”
Trout, 34, played in the All-Star Game in 2019 — and that one was hardly a celebration because it came just weeks after the death of friend and teammate Tyler Skaggs. Since then, Trout was selected to play in the game in 2021, 2022 and 2023, but each of those years he was injured and couldn’t participate.
Now, Trout is again on the injured list because of a hamstring problem, but he seems confident he’ll be ready to return to the Angels lineup within a few days, clearing the way for him to play in the July 14 game in Philadelphia.
Trout grew up and still has a home in south New Jersey, about 35 minutes from Philadelphia, so that makes this game even more meaningful to him.
“It feels good,” Trout said. “Like I said before, it was definitely on the list when it came out (that the game would be in Philadelphia). So it’s pretty cool.”
Trout, who is hitting .234 with 17 homers and an .866 OPS, was elected to start, along with the New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge and the Minnesota Twins’ Byron Buxton. Judge is injured, though.
This is the 11th time that Trout has been elected to the All-Star Game. He was also selected as a reserve in his rookie year. He was named the All-Star Game MVP in 2014 and 2015.
There are still some hurdles to get Trout to the game this year.
He injured his hamstring running the bases on June 17. He said at the time he expected a short injured list stint, and to this point, that looks to be true.
Trout ran at 90% on Saturday afternoon. He then took batting practice on the field, which he hadn’t done since going on the injured list.
“Tomorrow the plan is to run some bases and maybe go back-to-back 90-plus speed,” Trout said. “Do that. See how I feel going into the off day, and then see where I am on Tuesday.”
The Angels open a three-game series on Tuesday in Texas.
“I’m not setting my mind on that right now,” Trout said. “It might be where I come in after the off day and run again and then play Wednesday. Or if I feel good Tuesday, maybe (play that day). I don’t know. I just don’t like setting exact dates and then something comes up… In the past, I’ve set timelines and just been a little short. So I don’t want to set anything like that, but definitely really confident where I’m at.”
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NO CONCUSSION FOR O’HOPPE
A day after catcher Logan O’Hoppe had to come out of the game because a foul ball hit him in the mask, O’Hoppe said he was cleared of a concussion.
He was still out of the lineup on Saturday, as a precaution.
“I’m fine,” O’Hoppe said. “It’s been a lot the last two weeks. You get your bell run as much as I have the last two weeks, you want to be careful with it. That’s why I came out.”
O’Hoppe said even though he’s had some scares, he has never actually had a concussion. He spent a week on the concussion-related injured list after he was hit in the mask by Jacob Wilson’s backswing last year. O’Hoppe said even then it was just precautionary.
O’Hoppe said he’s considering wearing a different helmet, but he’s not planning to change the mask he wears.
“I haven’t been diagnosed with a concussion in my career, so I’m going to continue to use it,” O’Hoppe said.
NOTES
Right-hander Grayson Rodriguez (back) gave up one run in 5⅓ innings in a rehab start at Triple-A, striking out five and walking none. In two minor league starts, Rodriguez has allowed two runs in 9⅓ innings. …
Left-hander Yusei Kikuchi (shoulder) will throw a bullpen session on Sunday. It will be his first one since he went on the injured list more than two months ago. …
Manager Kurt Suzuki said that right-hander Ben Joyce (shoulder surgery) felt good a day after facing hitters for the first time in more than a month. Suzuki said Joyce threw only fastballs on Friday, but he may expand the repertoire the next time. …
Infielder Adam Frazier (elbow) said he’s been throwing, so he still hasn’t made the 100% effort throws he would need to play in a game.
UP NEXT
Red Sox (LHP Ranger Suarez, 4-3, 2.94) at Angels (RHP Ryan Johnson, 1-3, 7.40), Sunday, 6:30 p.m., Peacock, 830 AM