Mike Trout’s rehab stint at Triple-A Salt Lake has at least tentatively been interrupted as he traveled back to Southern California on Wednesday to have his left knee re-examined.
Trout, the Los Angeles Angels’ star center fielder, felt a twinge in the surgically repaired knee while striking out during a first-inning at-bat on Tuesday night. It was his first rehab game for the Bees and he played just two innings before exiting.
“After the at-bat, he came back in and felt the need to say something,” Salt Lake manager Mike Johnson told reporters before Wednesday’s game. “We took him out as a precaution.”
After the Angels notched a 2-1 win over the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday afternoon, manager Ron Washington said he had few details to share about Trout, the three-time American League MVP.
“Nothing other than he’s coming back to L.A. to be reevaluated, so we’ll see what goes on with that,” Washington said.
Trout last played for the Angels on April 29, when he injured the knee. He underwent surgery to repair meniscus damage four days later.
The initial plan in Salt Lake was for Trout to play five innings in center field on Tuesday, serve as the designated hitter on Wednesday and play seven innings in the field on Thursday.
Trout, an 11-time All-Star, was batting .220 with 10 homers and 14 RBIs in 29 games this season. He was unable to figure out how he hurt the knee.
Also Wednesday, the Angels signed veteran right-hander Johnny Cueto to a minor league contract. Cueto, 38, will report to Salt Lake.
Cueto was in the Texas Rangers’ organization earlier this season and went 2-1 with a 5.92 ERA in eight starts for Triple-A Round Rock. He opted out his minor league deal and was subsequently released by Texas on July 2.
Cueto, a two-time All-Star, has pitched for five teams over 16 major league seasons. He has a 144-111 record, eight shutouts and a 3.50 ERA in 368 appearances (363 starts). He recorded 92 of his wins for the Cincinnati Reds from 2008-15.