GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Brewers outfielder Corey Ray transitioned from rehabber to player this week, appearing in a game for the first time since undergoing knee surgery last season.
Ray, Milwaukee's No. 2 prospect per MLBPipeline.com, was cleared for participation on Wednesday by Dr. Neal ElAttrache, who repaired a meniscus tear in Ray's left knee in October. Ray played three innings in the field and had two at-bats in Class A Advanced Carolina's Spring Training game on Thursday with no ill effects.
Ray's availability for Opening Day remains unknown.
"There is a plan mapped out for Corey to progress him through game action, but the timetable on his exact return isn't precise at this moment," Brewers farm director Tom Flanagan said. "It's dependent on how he progresses through the schedule. However, Corey has made excellent progress, and he has really done a phenomenal job handling everything involved in the rehab."
Ray celebrated his season debut on Twitter, writing, "After a long, challenging rehab I can officially put on a uniform again. Thank you to everyone for all the prayers and the encouraging words."

Ray was the fifth overall pick in last year's Draft, and he played mostly for Carolina in his first professional season.
Susac receives good news
Two uncomfortable hours in an MRI tube yielded a positive result for injured Brewers catcher Andrew Susac, who learned there is no structural damage to the trapezius muscle behind his right shoulder. With that knowledge, Susac expects the Brewers to accelerate his rehab in his return from muscle tightness.
"We can kind of more aggressively take it over now that we know there's nothing structural," said Susac, whose bid for an Opening Day roster spot was impacted by the injury. "We had my prior MRIs from 2013, and everything looks on par with that."
Susac had black marks on his right arm and hand from another battery of tests to determine whether there was a pinched nerve involved. Those tests were uncomfortable, he said, but also brought good news.
Susac remains day to day, manager Craig Counsell said.
Worth noting
• Catcher Jett Bandy was fine after being hit on the left leg by a pitch in Thursday's game against the A's, Counsell said. Bandy caught Zach Davies' start in a Minor League game on Friday.