Hoyer hopes rehabbing Soler can chat with Manny

CHICAGO -- Jorge Soler, sidelined since mid-May with a strained right hamstring, is rehabbing at the Cubs' complex in Mesa, Ariz., and general manager Jed Hoyer said the team hopes the outfielder has a chance to talk hitting with new player-coach Manny Ramirez.

Soler, ranked No. 5 on MLB.com's list of the Cubs' top 20 prospects, is doing agility work and hitting in the batting cages. He has not played in extended spring games. Ramirez did play on Wednesday, hitting a home run in Tempe, and is expected to soon join Triple-A Iowa, possibly by the weekend.

The Cubs haven't asked Ramirez to talk to Soler, but Hoyer hopes the two players will chat.

"I think Manny can help any right-handed hitter, for sure," Hoyer said.

This is the second straight season in which Soler has been limited because of injuries.

"The concern is losing at-bats," Hoyer said. "At some point you need to play and go out there and face pitching. He's had Spring Training the last two years, and missed three quarters of the year. That's big development time to miss. Hopefully, we can get him healthy this time and keep him on the field for the rest of the year."

Soler injured the hamstring after his first at-bat for Double-A Tennessee and has been limited to seven games with the Smokies. He missed time in Spring Training with a sore left hamstring.