CLEVELAND — Los Angeles Angels star Mike Trout had surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee on Friday, and the three-time AL MVP is expected to return this season.

Trout had a partial medial meniscectomy procedure performed in California. The team said the outfielder will remain in Anaheim for the start of his rehab process.

This is the fourth consecutive year that the 11-time All-Star has dealt with a significant injury.

“When they went in, it was exactly what we said it was and nothing else,” Angels manager Ron Washington reported before his team opened a three-game series in Cleveland. “So we’re all good.”

Washington said he spoke to Trout following the surgery.

Trout, 32, isn’t exactly sure when he injured his knee. He was leading the majors with 10 homers and had 14 RBIs and six steals before he was sidelined.

“He was in a good place, a really good place before he got hurt,” Washington said. “He went through a little bit of struggle, but I would rather have it now because once he finds it, he can go for three months.

“But mentally he was in a good place and for that to happen, I can understand how it took him down.”

When it was announced he would miss more time, Trout expressed frustration at being out for an extended period again.

Washington said his message to Trout was all positive.

“I let him know how much we miss him,” he said. “I’m happy the surgery went well, and I’m looking forward to his rehab and getting after it and getting back as fast as he possibly can. In the meantime, I told him, ‘Enjoy your rehab.'”

Trout missed most of the 2021 season with a strained calf, and several weeks in 2022 with a back injury. Last season, a broken hand sidelined him from July on.

NEW YORK — Yankees ace Gerrit Cole is scheduled to throw off a mound Saturday for the first time since getting injured in spring training.

“Whether that’s a full bullpen or what exactly that looks like, we’ll see,” New York manager Aaron Boone said before Friday night’s game against Detroit. “I think it’s gone well so far, his build-up and checking the boxes and the level of intensity of throwing and things like that. So far, so good. Getting off the mound will obviously be another step.”

The reigning AL Cy Young Award winner has been on the 60-day injured list all season with right elbow inflammation. He’s not expected back until at least June.

Cole, 33, has been throwing on flat ground. The right-hander was shut down in March because of nerve irritation and edema in his pitching elbow.

In other injury news, infielder Jon Berti played third base Thursday in a rehab game with Double-A Somerset and went 1 for 4 with a walk and two strikeouts. He was set to go through a workout Friday and potentially come off the injured list Saturday.

The speedy Berti has been sidelined since April 11 with a left groin strain.

“Looking forward to getting him back in the mix,” Boone said.

Right-handed reliever Nick Burdi (right hip inflammation) is slated to pitch Sunday for Somerset and could be reinstated from the IL after one or two minor league rehab outings.

Yankees reliever Tommy Kahnle (right shoulder inflammation) is expected to begin a rehab assignment after throwing live batting practice once or twice more. His next such session will be Saturday.

Cole went 15-4 with an AL-best 2.63 ERA and 222 strikeouts in 209 innings over 33 starts last year. The six-time All-Star is in the fifth season of a $324 million, nine-year contract that pays $36 million annually. Cole has the right to opt out after the season and become a free agent, but if he opts out, the Yankees can void the opt-out by adding a guaranteed $36 million salary for 2029.

MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Twins placed center fielder Byron Buxton on the 10-day injured list Friday because of inflammation in his troublesome right knee, with guarded optimism his absence can be kept to the minimum.

Buxton exited early from the game at Chicago on Wednesday after experiencing soreness in the knee that he’s had two surgeries on and limited him to a designated hitter role last season. The discomfort caused him to pull up short while trying to steal second base for a third consecutive time, after the first two attempts were thwarted by foul balls.

The move was made retroactive to Thursday. Both president of baseball operations Derek Falvey and manager Rocco Baldelli said Friday they believe Buxton is on a realistic track to be ready to return when he’s eligible May 12, or at least a few days after that. An MRI test on his knee revealed no structural damage, Falvey said.

Meanwhile, third baseman Royce Lewis has been “tracking in a pretty good direction,” Falvey said. Lewis tore his right quadriceps while running the bases during his second at-bat in the season opener, and he has resumed swinging, jogging and some light work on the field.

Buxton is batting .250 with eight doubles, one triple, one home run, 12 runs and 11 RBIs in 28 games this season. The Twins recalled multi-position player Austin Martin from Triple-A St. Paul to take his roster spot. Willi Castro was in center field Friday in the series opener against Boston.