Puig to start Minor League rehab, eyes return

DENVER -- Yasiel Puig and his troublesome left hamstring will start a Minor League rehab assignment on Thursday with Class A Rancho Cucamonga at Lancaster and could rejoin the Dodgers next week, according to manager Don Mattingly.

Puig has been limited to 11 games this season because of the injury, which he suffered April 13. After trying to play through it, he was finally placed on the disabled list April 26.

Puig lasted less than two games in his first rehab assignment, pulling up on a groundout May 7 and was shut down again.

Mattingly, however, said he's received reports that Puig is running well with no extra rest needed. As evidence, Mattingly said Puig would bypass serving as designated hitter and be inserted immediately into the Rancho field.

"He's been doing real well in Arizona," Mattingly said of Puig, who has been training at Camelback Ranch. "He's doing outfield drills and more running than in a game."

Puig has been limited to two home runs and four RBIs this year. When Puig returns, Mattingly has indicated he will play right field, with Andre Ethier moving to left field, which presumably would cost Alex Guerrero playing time.