Hicks on track to begin rehab stint Friday

MINNEAPOLIS -- Outfielder Aaron Hicks is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Rochester on Friday, Twins general manager Terry Ryan said Wednesday.

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Hicks, on the 15-day disabled list since June 14 with a right forearm strain, has been taking batting practice and throwing without any issues at Target Field. He's expected to work out again on Thursday before heading to Rochester.

"If everything is in order, which I expect it to be, he'll fly and join Rochester on Friday," Ryan said.

Hicks is eligible to return on Monday, but Ryan said it's too early to say how many games Hicks will need before he returns. Ryan said Hicks needs to produce at Triple-A before he's called back up.

"He'll dictate that," Ryan said. "I'm hopeful everything goes well and he goes down and takes off. No decisions have been made on anything. He's just going out on a rehab assignment. That's all."

Once Hicks is ready to be activated, Minnesota will have to make a decision with its outfield. The Twins could bring up Hicks and use him as a corner outfielder with Byron Buxton in center, or they could option Buxton or Hicks depending how they fare in the coming days. If Minnesota decides to keep Buxton and Hicks, Shane Robinson would likely be the odd man out. The Twins could decide to go with a defense-first outfield that includes Eddie Rosario, Buxton and Hicks, with Torii Hunter getting more playing time at designated hitter.

But Ryan said it's still too early to make any decisions about the outfield just yet.