MINNEAPOLIS -- Joe Mauer will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Rochester, Paul Molitor said after Sunday's 7-3 win over the Angels at Target Field.
"He is going to meet up with [Rochester] tomorrow," Molitor said. "Try to get him in games on Tuesday and Wednesday."
The Twins will monitor the progress of Mauer and while they are optimistic he could return to the Major League level soon, they also do not want to rush him back and risk triggering the concussion-like symptoms that have hindered him for the past three weeks.
"I'm hopeful," Molitor said. "We haven't checked all the boxes. One of them is including playing a nine-inning game. Probably DH the first game and see if we can get him out there the next day."
Mauer, who is working his way back from a cervical neck strain, took batting practice, fielded ground balls at first and ran the bases during a half-hour workout before Sunday's game.

Byron Buxton, who is recovering from a fractured toe, also ran the bases.
Buxton, now on his second stint on the DL this season, has been down since May 30 as he tries to mend the big toe on his left foot. That injury occurred on April 29 when he fouled a ball off his foot while playing a rehab game in Class A Advanced Fort Myers. He was there on a rehab assignment after battling migraines early in the season.

He ran on a non-weight bearing treadmill and did tee work on Saturday before progressing to his Sunday baserunning workout
"Byron is going to stay with us and continue his work as it's coming along," Molitor said. "Improvement the last couple of days. We're going to take him with us so he can do his work as well as continue advancing his hitting and see how it goes those first couple of days in Detroit."