Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout made his first rehab start for Inland Empire on Wednesday night, going 0-for-3 against Stockton.
Serving as the designated hitter, Trout grounded to second in the first inning and struck out in the third. In his final at-bat, he flied out to center against right-hander Kyle Friedrichs.
More importantly, Trout came away from the outing feeling no pain in his injured thumb.
"I didn't feel it the first couple of at-bats, and that's what I was worried about," Trout said after the game, according to the Orange County Register.
The public address announcer for the 66ers -- the Angels' Class A team based in San Bernardino, California -- said in the seventh inning that Trout will make another minor league appearance on Thursday and likely will play in the field.
Trout tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his left thumb on May 28 during a headfirst slide and had surgery three days later to repair the ligament and dorsal capsule.
Despite the injury, Trout had been voted in as a starter for next week's MLB All-Star Game in Miami. But the Angels announced Monday that Trout would not participate.
"Based on the timeline established for Mike to return from his thumb injury, he will be rehabilitating into the All-Star break and will therefore not be able participate in the All-Star festivities,'' Angels general manager Billy Eppler said in a statement on Monday.
Trout is batting .337 with 16 homers, 36 RBIs and 10 steals. He was the AL MVP in 2014 and 2016 and was the All-Star Game MVP in 2014 and 2015. His 2017 selection by fans was his fifth election and sixth All-Star team.
"Trying to cram and get ready for an All-Star Game, although it's a great honor and I know something he really enjoys, just is not the way you go about the rehab scenario,'' Angels manager Mike Scioscia said earlier in the week.
While the Angels are inching toward getting Trout back in the lineup, they had to put reliever Huston Street on the 10-day disabled list.
The Angels said Street had a right adductor/groin strain. In a corresponding move, Los Angeles recalled right-hander Eduardo Paredes.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.