OAKLAND -- Outfielder Josh Reddick took 25 swings off a tee on Monday as he continues to rehab his fractured thumb, a process he says is "ahead of schedule."
Manager Bob Melvin said that the team plans to increase Reddick's workload this week, with an eye on him taking on-field batting practice by the end of this week. For now Reddick will continue to take reps in the cage.
"Even with the way it feels now, you can tell it's healing faster," Reddick said. "It's a positive sign. When they give you the go-ahead to start swinging, you get excited. I think Thursday makes a month [on the disabled list], so it's gone by pretty quick for me."
Reddick was placed on the DL on May 20 after fracturing his thumb in a game against the Yankees, and initially said he'd be sidelined four to six weeks. Although he's encouraged that his rehab's coming along quickly, he didn't have a specific date in mind for a return, and hopes he's not out the full six weeks.
He was hitting .322 when he sustained the injury.
"I think once full rounds of batting practice come along, I think that's when I'll get the OK to begin a rehab assignment," he said.
Reddick doesn't feel pain in the thumb when taking swings but said, "Catching, I still have some issues."
Though the pain isn't severe, he doesn't want to test his limits, even with his rehab ahead of schedule.
"I'm not going to push it to come back when it still hurts. I want to make sure it feels right before I do come back," he said.
Reddick didn't travel with the team during its most recent road trip but remained active in the community. He attended Sunday's Stanley Cup Final Game Five in San Jose, which the Sharks lost, 3-1, and attended a "watch party" at Oracle Arena on Friday, when the Warriors played the Cavaliers in Game 4 of the NBA Finals.
"The one thing with DL time is that you get cabin fever a lot," he said. "It kept my mind off of baseball as well. Any time you can go to a Stanley Cup Final game, especially with the area team here, it's always going to be a blast."
Worth noting:
Henderson Alvarez, who underwent surgery on his right shoulder last July, returned to the mound on Monday for the first time since he was shut down in May with fatigue in the shoulder. He threw 55 pitches over 3 1/3 innings, giving up three runs on six hits and striking out two in an appearance with Class A Stockton.