Los Angeles Angels superstar Mike Trout could be making his much-anticipated return to the field before the end of the week, according to a report by MLB.com's Rhett Bollinger. Trout, who has been out of action since suffering a torn meniscus in his left knee on April 29, could potentially be activated from the 60-day injured list when the Angels begin a four-game series against the Athletics on Thursday.

Trout's last health update was in late June, where he expressed his hope of returning to action before the end of July. It seems that his target timeline is finally falling into place, as he is set to face live pitching at the Angels' Spring Training complex this weekend. Following that, Trout is expected to begin a Triple-A rehab assignment on Monday.

If all goes as planned, Thursday's game against the A's would mark almost exactly three months since Trout last played. The three-time AL MVP has unfortunately been plagued by injuries, with the torn meniscus being the latest setback in a series of ailments. Since the start of the 2021 season, Trout has only been able to participate in 266 games due to various health issues, including a right calf strain, back problems, and a left hamate fracture.

Despite his limited playing time, Trout has still managed to deliver exceptional performances on the field. Since Opening Day 2021, he boasts an impressive .951 OPS over 1,133 plate appearances. In the current season, Trout has hit 10 home runs and recorded a slash line of .220/.325/.541 in 126 plate appearances, resulting in a 138 wRC+.

However, there has been a slight drop-off in Trout's numbers compared to his usual level of dominance. It is worth noting that these statistics are based on a relatively small sample size, but given Trout's age (33 in August), injury history, and the rarity of players maintaining his level of production, some decrease could be expected.

Unfortunately, Trout's return will come during yet another challenging season for the Angels. With a disappointing 41-56 record, the team is on track for another non-winning season. As the trade deadline approaches, the Angels may also consider selling some assets, although their approach is expected to be somewhat limited.

Trout's return to form and continued good health for the remainder of the season could provide him with a solid platform heading into 2025. However, questions remain regarding how long Trout will tolerate the Angels' struggles before potentially requesting a trade. The possibility of a deal could be hindered by Angels owner Arte Moreno's resistance to rebuilding, as well as concerns from potential suitors about Trout's substantial contract and injury history.

As fans eagerly await his return, the Angels hope that Trout's presence will provide a much-needed boost to the team as they navigate the second half of the season.