“I know that it’s just a pain tolerance thing,” Trout said before the Angels’ game against the Texas Rangers. “Once it gets to a point where it’s bearable, I’ll be out there.”

The three-time AL MVP and 11-time All-Star began taking swings against a hitting machine last Friday before the club’s three-game series in Houston. He said he hasn’t yet faced the machine at top velocity.

Trout has been working out in the outfield, saying the injury primarily affects batting.

“Defense right now, every day has been good,” he said. “There are certain movements I do in the outfield where, backhand, where I hit it funny, it acts up a little bit. But nothing’s holding me back on defense. It’s just the swinging part.”

Trout has played in 81 of the Angels’ 119 games, hitting .263 with 18 home runs and 44 RBIs.

The Angels trail first-place Texas by 11½ games in the AL West and are 6½ games out of the AL’s final wild-card spot.