Trout plans to play today and for AL
Mike Trout is ready to return to the Angels lineup.
After the Angels game on Friday night, Trout said that the back spasms that caused him to miss the previous three games have subsided enough for him to be in the lineup tonight.
“I feel that treatment went well today and I'll be in there tomorrow,” Trout said. “Obviously I'll see how I feel in the morning, but my intent is to play tomorrow.”
Trout also said he will play in the All-Star Game on Tuesday at Dodger Stadium.
“That's the plan,” Trout said.
Trout came out of Tuesday's game against the Houston Astros and has been out of the starting lineup ever since, although each day Manager Phil Nevin said there was hope for him to play.
“It's tough,” Trout said. “I want to be out there. It (stinks) to be in the dugout, but I want to get it right.”
Angels head athletic trainer Mike Frostad said before the game that he's not sure if this back issue will be something that Trout needs to manage for the rest of the regular season.
“We're just taking it day by day right now,” Frostad said. “He's improving and the plan is to get him back in there as soon as we can.”
Party house
Shortstop Andrew Velazquez was a part of the reveal of Major League Baseball's All-Star House in the Hollywood Hills on Friday.
The house was decked out to host watch parties throughout the weekend.
There were batting cages, a DJ and an MLB The Show game room. Velazquez was invited because he lives in the area. He also has an interest in fashion and other areas in which MLB is trying to engage a younger audience.
“It's a sick venue and setup,” Velazquez said. “I think they are trying to touch on off-the-field, the newer generation of fans baseball, with TikTok and reels.”
Velazquez, who is known around the Angels for his stylish attire, said he would like to get into that arena when he's done playing.
“I don't like the term (influencer), but in sports, you have this inherent influence because you have an audience,” Velazquez said.
“I've thought about that. Hopefully, it's way down the line.”
Also
Although Shohei Ohtani hasn't spoken to the media yet about his decision to decline a Home Run Derby invitation, Nevin suggested it was a wise choice for Ohtani to reduce his workload.
“Go and take a couple of at-bats in the game, whether he pitches or not,” Nevin said. “But the Derby does take a lot out of you. There's guys who handled it every year and loved doing it. And I know he had a great time last year, but I think he understood the toll it took on his body and he doesn't want to go through that when we come back.” ... Right-hander Griffin Canning (back) is still “in a holding pattern,” Frostad said, while they wait for his back to heal enough. The Angels still have not tried baseball activity with Canning in nearly two months, since he was shut down. Frostad said Canning's next evaluation hasn't been scheduled yet. ... Right-hander Jimmy Herget (right shoulder impingement) has thrown off a mound a couple of times, and he is expected to begin a rehab assignment after the break, Frostad said. ... Infielder David Fletcher (hip surgery) did well in his first three games at Triple-A Salt Lake, Frostad said. He was scheduled to take Friday off before returning to action. The Angels have been planning for Fletcher to return during the first homestand after the break, on July 28.