Beckham's return unlikely until after road trip

KANSAS CITY -- Although Gordon Beckham began his injury rehabilitation assignment with Double-A Birmingham on Thursday night, the second baseman isn't expected back with the White Sox until after this six-game road trip to Kansas City and Colorado.

Beckham strained his left oblique during Spring Training, made his last Cactus League appearance on March 14, and started the season on the disabled list. He is eligible to come off the DL on Saturday.

"Those obliques are tricky, and we have to make 100 percent sure he's ready to go and it's not going to creep back up," manager Robin Ventura said. "I know he batted yesterday and said he felt fine, but I wouldn't expect him until after our road trip at the earliest."

During Thursday's game with the Barons in Montgomery, Ala.,Beckham finished 0-for-3 as the team's designated hitter.