Crawford walks twice, hitless in first rehab game

BOSTON -- Carl Crawford played in an organized game for the first time this year, starting his 20-day Minor League rehab assignment with the Gulf Coast League Red Sox on Saturday.

In five plate appearances as the designated hitter, Crawford went 0-for-3 with two walks and a run scored. He grounded out to second twice and flied out to center.

"His legs were still underneath him at the end of the game, he felt pretty good," said manager Bobby Valentine.

Crawford had left wrist surgery in the offseason and was diagnosed with a sprained UCL in his left elbow in April. The GCL Red Sox are off on Sunday and Crawford will likely DH again on Monday.

"He's going to maybe play in the field on Monday or DH on Monday, probably DH again," Valentine said.

So when will Crawford play in the outfield?

"I think next week sometime," the manager said. "[We'll decide] as it progresses."

The Red Sox are unsure when Crawford will advance past the GCL for rehab games at a higher Minor League level.

"When he's ready to move he'll move," said Valentine, who has yet to manage the outfielder. "We really can't put a timetable on that. It's a more controlled environment [in the GCL] and we want to make sure we control it as much as possible."

Another injured outfielder, Jacoby Ellsbury, took batting practice on the field before Saturday's game vs. the Braves. He also fielded ground balls in the outfield. He partially dislocated his right shoulder on April 13.

So what remains for Ellsbury before he can begin a rehab assignment?

"He needs to throw more, he needs to be confident that he can get back to bases and dive, things like that that are shoulder related," Valentine said. "And swing more."