Tempe, Ariz. — A CT scan has showed the stress fracture in Mark Trumbo's right foot has healed enough for the Angels slugger to resume running and full baseball activities.
"That's the news I was hoping for," Trumbo said before Wednesday's spring-training workout in Tempe Diablo Stadium. "It's a relief. I've never had an extended injury, so anything you spend five months trying rehabilitate from, that's a new experience for me."
Trumbo, who was examined in Los Angeles by Dr. Phil Kwong, the team's foot-and-ankle specialist, played the final month of the 2011 season with the injury, which was diagnosed in late September.
The first baseman hit .254 with a team-leading 29 home runs and 87 runs batted in and finished second in voting for the American League rookie of the year award, but he has been displaced at first base by Albert Pujols, who signed a 10-year, $240-million deal with the Angels in December.
Tuesday's medical clearance will accelerate Trumbo's transition to third base, a position at which the Angels hope he can play 40 to 50 games this season. Trumbo has been taking ground balls hit right at him for about a month, but he will now begin fielding grounders hit to each side and to charge slow rollers and bunts.
Trumbo, who has been taking batting practice for a month, will gradually increase his running program over the next few weeks, so as to avoid any setbacks. Though he is not expected to be ready for the Angels' exhibition opener Monday, he could be ready to play shortly thereafter.
"It's all up to me," Trumbo said. "If I don't feel any pain, I can keep going, but it's not smart to go right back into it and go full bore right away."
