Spangenberg ready for rehab assignment

MIAMI -- As of Saturday, the Padres were hopeful that infielder Cory Spangenberg would be set for a Minor League rehabilitation assignment at some point late next week.

That plan changed Sunday when Spangenberg -- on the disabled list since June 28 with a bone bruise in his left knee -- essentially breezed through a handful of on-field drills, impressing the team Instead of needing more time, Spangenberg will join Double-A San Antonio for a rehab stint on Monday. He'll play second base and third base and attempt to get his timing back at the plate.

"[I took] sprints, bunch of cuts, to see if the knee could handle it," Spangenberg said of his pregame drills on Sunday at Marlins Park. "I ran the bases today, took ground balls at game speed, hit.

"Everything feels good, so I'm good to go."

Spangenberg, who was hitting .254 at the time he suffered his knee injury, last appeared in a game on June 27 against the D-backs. He was initially told the recovery window for his injury would be four-to-eight weeks.

"The way our trainers explained it, they said once it healed, it's probably going to be healed," Spangenberg said. "It just took a little bit longer than I was hoping, but it feels good now, so hopefully I can get back soon."

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Spangenberg had one of his best games of the season a day before the injury, as he had three hits and scored two runs in a victory over the D-backs. He's provided the Padres with some speed (seven steals) and versatility off the bench.

"Hopefully I go get my timing back, put some good swings on balls. Hopefully the knee feels good after playing a bunch," he said. "I think the big thing is just get my timing back."

Spangenberg was rehabbing at the team's Spring Training facility in Arizona when he informed interim manager Pat Murphy that his knee felt much better. The team had him fly to Miami this weekend to be checked out.

"It was kind of sudden," Murphy said. "For whatever reason, it felt 100 percent better. He said, 'Murph, I think I'm closer than you think.' So we brought him here and looked at him. He looked great. It cleared up quickly and he's ready to go."